What is happening and can it harm the baby?
A gynecologist may advise the expectant mother to have sex more often immediately before giving birth. This is done to stimulate labor. A lot of questions immediately arise. Isn't this dangerous? Will it harm the child? If possible, how?
The first and last trimesters are considered the most dangerous when carrying a child. During orgasm, strong contractions of the uterus occur, which can cause miscarriage. For this reason, it is better not to have sex. However, everything is very individual and depends on how the pregnancy progresses for each individual woman.
When the health of the expectant mother is in order, then such therapy will benefit her. The reasons why husband therapy is indicated before childbirth are as follows:
- improved mood;
- promotes a large release of endorphin hormones, this has a very positive effect on the child;
- softens the cervix, which in the last stages is in strong tone;
- stimulates labor;
- improved blood flow. Husband therapy also stimulates placental blood flow, which is very useful before childbirth.
- is a workout for the uterus immediately before childbirth.
Male sperm contains a hormone. When it enters the uterus, the latter has a softening effect on it and facilitates the birth process.
It is almost impossible to harm a child during sex. The fetus is reliably protected by the placenta and fluid, which prevents any external influences on the baby. In addition, the uterus is tightly blocked by a mucus plug. The latter protects the baby and the uterus from microbes entering the amniotic fluid. As soon as the plug begins to come off, sexual relations should be stopped. It is not possible to carry out husband therapy after your water has broken. This can really be dangerous. If partners have sexually transmitted diseases, they can harm the child. And after the water breaks, you should immediately go to the hospital.
New life and libido
Is it possible to have sex after childbirth when a woman complains of lack of desire? No answer required. Why does libido decrease? This is influenced by various factors:
- The birth of a baby is a great stress for the mother’s body;
- New worries about caring for a baby lead to chronic fatigue;
- Constant lack of sleep exhausts a weakened body;
- Prolactin reduces libido physiologically, so nature switches the young mother’s attention to the child.
The first three problems can be solved by a young father, taking on some of the hassle, giving his wife the opportunity to rest and get enough sleep. After all, in many ways, how much sex a couple will have after childbirth depends on the degree of fatigue of the young mother.
Fighting hormones is more difficult. As a measure to activate libido, you can try to have sex despite the woman’s lack of desire. It will probably soon be restored, since emotional pleasure from the process and the production of hormones responsible for sexual pleasure - endorphin, oxytocin and testosterone - can suppress the influence of prolactin.
Husband therapy before childbirth. How to do it correctly?
The expression “it’s possible, if you’re careful” is appropriate here, slowly, excluding sudden movements and without putting pressure on the stomach. Sex should not be active and prolonged. If painful sensations occur, then it is necessary to stop sexual intercourse. Bloody discharge during sexual intercourse is a reason to call an ambulance.
The most acceptable position for a pregnant woman is the position lying on her side, the spoon position. In this case, pressure on the stomach and sudden movements of partners are excluded.
It is worth abandoning the supine position in the later stages. In this case, there is a lot of pressure on the stomach.
Other positions are also acceptable. For example, “cowgirl”, in which the woman independently controls the process and depth of penetration. The disadvantage of this position is that deep penetration is possible. Therefore, make movements not up and down, but only back and forth.
A suitable pose is a woman on all fours, a man behind. In this case, the future dad should once again be reminded to be careful. In a fit of passion, a man can increase the range of movements and cause discomfort to a woman.
When choosing a position for sex during pregnancy, a girl should rely on her feelings and follow the doctor’s recommendations. A man needs to be understanding of a woman’s condition. He should tune in to calm and slow sex so that sexual intercourse does not cause discomfort.
First sex after childbirth - how men and women feel
The sensations after the birth of a baby during sexual intercourse change.
The most common complaints are about the following changes. Loss of sensitivity is due to the fact that after labor the vagina greatly expands and the muscles relax. In this regard, a woman may stop feeling orgasm, a man also loses sensitivity, which reduces arousal.
To quickly strengthen the vaginal muscles, you can perform special exercises. Properly performed procedures will restore blood supply, and this will have a positive effect on orgasm and increased sexual tone.
The exercises involve pulling the anus in as far as possible. You can perform it sitting, standing or lying down, as you wish. Perform once per second, for an hour, do the exercise thirty times.
The exercise is convenient because it can be done while walking, relaxing in front of the computer, bathing the baby; there is no need to set aside special time, which mothers usually sorely lack.
Due to a lack of lubrication, pain will appear, this is due to a decrease in the level of the hormone estrogen, which is responsible for relaxation and pleasure. This problem can be eliminated if you use a gel lubricant during sex.
Depending on the individuality of the male and female body, they also encounter other changes; the doctor will tell you how to solve them during a personal meeting.
Husband therapy only with mutual consent
Sex during pregnancy is beneficial if the woman wants to do it. Quite often during this period girls have no sexual desire. Therefore, it is worth explaining to your partner your reluctance. In turn, the partner must understand and not insist on intercourse. If a woman is not emotionally ready for sexual intercourse, then the process can cause a negative reaction and provoke stress. Pleasure and benefits from sex during pregnancy can only be possible if it occurs with the mutual consent of the partners.
Husband therapy before childbirth is one of the best alternatives to drug stimulation for both mother and child. An evening walk, a romantic light dinner by candlelight and pleasant music will help you get into the right frame of mind. Having sex during pregnancy is beneficial for both partners. This gives new sensations and emotions to the spouses.
Physiological consequences
The birth of a child often leads to stretching of the vaginal muscles and a decrease in their tone (especially if the baby is large). Sensitivity decreases, mommy does not experience arousal and orgasm, so she naturally loses interest in the intimate process and does not want to do “this.”
You can restore the condition of the genital organs by performing Kegel exercises. Doing it is similar to actively holding back urination: the muscles of the anus and those adjacent to the vagina are retracted. You need to study systematically. 30 such contractions of one second each, performed hourly, will help quickly bring the necessary muscles back to normal.
To have sex after childbirth, a man must take care of the comfortable state of his wife: give her the opportunity to rest, increase her self-esteem, and during intimacy itself be more gentle, attentive and delicate than before. Listen to a woman’s desires and feelings, because now they can be completely different: different caresses, positions, time. The key to harmony is the desire to understand and feel each other’s desires and state.
When should you not do this?
If any pathology is present, husband therapy before childbirth should be postponed. In placental previa, the placenta is very low in the uterus. Intimacy with such a violation can cause premature birth. You can't have sex:
- if there is a threat of miscarriage;
- premature dilatation of the uterus;
- pregnancy with several children;
- leakage of amniotic fluid.
If you experience pain or pathological discharge during sexual intercourse at different stages of pregnancy, you should refrain from husband therapy before childbirth. Bleeding or leakage of a large amount of clear fluid is a reason to immediately go to the hospital.
When can you start having sex after cesarean section?
There is a category of women who believe that they can begin active sexual life only six months after the operation. Only in this case will the body be fully restored and prepared for sexual activity. Other women believe that the joys of sex can be experienced within a couple of weeks, and therefore very quickly agree to intimate intimacy. Experts advise sticking to the golden mean in these matters. There are certain recommendations when you can start sexual activity:
- Recovery time for a woman’s body after cesarean section: 6-8 weeks. Only after this period is over will it be possible to again enjoy all the joys of sexual life.
- The period of 6-8 weeks is taken arbitrarily. Of course, someone’s body can recover as early as the fourth week after surgery. And for some, even 8 weeks will not be enough. Therefore, a woman should be very attentive to her physiology. It is important to consider your mental state.
- As soon as the bloody discharge after the operation ends and the stitches are healed, you can start having sex after a cesarean section.
- The condition of the sutures can be determined by ultrasound. The doctor will give his recommendations when you can start sexual activity, based on the results of the ultrasound.
- Assess your psychological state. Are you ready for intimacy? Have you become attracted to your husband? If all this is available, then the time has come.
Accordingly, summarizing the above, we can conclude that the onset of sexual activity after cesarean section is determined on an individual basis. The conditional period is considered to be 6-8 weeks. After an examination, doctors will be able to accurately determine whether or not you can have sex. It is important to take into account not only physiology, but also the psycho-emotional state of a woman, her mood and her desire.
What do moms think?
Does husband therapy help before childbirth? This question worries future mothers and fathers. In addition, there is some fear of intimacy in this position. There is also the question of how effectively the technique works.
Sometimes “grandmother’s methods” do not produce the desired result. Cleaning, active and long walks, and physical exercise do not lead to childbirth. Physical exercise is beneficial for an expectant mother, but there are limitations. Excessive physical activity can lead to undesirable consequences. Another popular method to speed up childbirth is to lift heavy objects. This method is also unsafe. And when starting cleaning, you should remember that someone close to you should be nearby. Since if labor begins, the necessary assistance will need to be provided.
Contraception: what is the best way to protect yourself?
Some women are terrified of becoming pregnant again after the recent birth of their child. However, in reality these fears are not groundless. A long absence of menstruation or hormonal imbalance does not mean that conception is impossible. That is why the gynecologist immediately discusses the further method of contraception .
If we consider hormonal contraception, there are several options. The simplest one is to take birth control pills . The drug is selected strictly on an individual basis. In addition, you can give a hormone injection, the effect of which lasts 5 weeks. The longest method is considered to be one in which a capsule that releases hormones is placed in the forearm. It is valid for 5 years.
After childbirth, an intrauterine device is often inserted . This is one of the most reliable methods of protection. It is better not to use the calendar method, as it is unreliable. In addition, menstruation after childbirth can occur six months or even a year later. The most optimal way of protection that does not harm your baby when breastfeeding is a condom . However, it is worth remembering that after childbirth, a woman does not produce enough vaginal lubrication. It would be useful to use special gels and creams.
What do doctors think?
Gynecologists advise couples expecting a baby to have sex to stimulate labor. Don't forget about the precautions mentioned earlier. Of course, this may not happen immediately after intercourse. But it is quite possible the next day or within a few hours after that. This method of stimulation is suitable when the child is in no hurry to go out into the world and the mother is overdue. Since walking is fraught with negative consequences for the female and children's body. Therefore stimulation is required. Husband therapy is very suitable in this case as a safe and natural way to speed up the onset of labor. Official medicine does not confirm this. But the experience of doctors and mothers who used this therapy suggests the opposite. It is likely that if there is a name for this technique, it will soon receive official status.
How long to abstain after childbirth: what gynecologists recommend, what is the reason
At the time of discharge, the doctor should advise the mother about postpartum sex. If natural childbirth occurs without complications, then sexual relations are allowed after a month and a half. It is during this period of time that all reproductive organs have time to recover.
Also, at the end of the 6th week, the uterus stops contracting. If a cesarean section was performed, then the uterus is restored in the eighth to tenth week after labor.
It is recommended to go to a gynecologist for an examination within the specified period. After making sure that all organs have recovered, the doctor will allow sexual activity, but if not everything goes smoothly, he recommends abstaining for another two weeks.
It is worth adhering to these rules for two reasons:
- When the placenta comes out, an open wound forms on the wall of the uterus; if you start intimate relations ahead of time, heavy bleeding will begin.
- The birth canal and genital organs are susceptible to easy infection after injury. Once inside, the infection will inflame the uterus, leading to endometritis.
To avoid serious complications, you need to follow your doctor’s advice and not set a time limit for resuming sexual relations on your own.
When you can be sexually active after childbirth, as well as the problems women face during this period - watch an interesting video:
Readiness of the uterus for childbirth. The influence of husband therapy on cervical maturity
The female body is designed in such a way that nature itself prepares everything for the upcoming birth.
The state of the uterus, ready for childbirth, is called “uterine maturity” in medicine. It shortens and becomes elastic in order to provide the most comfortable passage for the child. Immediately before birth, this therapy has a positive effect on the maturity of the cervix. It relaxes her and softens her. This makes childbirth easier.
Features of resuming sexual activity if there are stitches
When ruptures of the vagina or perineal area occur during childbirth, the obstetrician must apply stitches. In addition, they are always sutured after a caesarean section. In this case, two stitches are placed : one on the uterus, the other on the incision in the outer abdomen.
Today they use threads that dissolve on their own. It should also be noted that the recovery period after such an operation is at least 2 months . Although it is recommended to hold off on sex for the entire three months. However, if at the next examination by a gynecologist the doctor says that everything is fine with the woman, then you can have sex .
The sutures must heal completely so that there is no risk of divergence of the external incision or internal uterine rupture. Otherwise, this is fraught with intra-abdominal bleeding.
The seam should become soft, touching this area should not cause discomfort. If suddenly the incision begins to bleed or become inflamed, then under no circumstances should you have sex .
Myths
Now let's look at myths about having sex during pregnancy that are not confirmed:
The first myth is that it is impossible to cause mechanical harm to a child during sex. Mild discomfort may occur for the mother if safety precautions are not followed. But this depends on the state of health and the partners themselves.
Myth two: In the past, it was believed that if future parents had sex, the child might be born with bruises. This doesn't happen. To confirm it, you should look at myth No. 1.
Myth three: You shouldn’t have sex during pregnancy. In the absence of pathologies or any diseases, you can make love until childbirth. Just less active and in positions that are comfortable for the expectant mother.
Myth number four: You need a condom when having sex during pregnancy. A pregnant woman cannot become pregnant again. Therefore, a condom is not needed. It will be needed if the woman has a new partner.
Myth number five – you can infect the fetus during sex. Nature is such that it reliably protects the unborn baby from infections, so this is impossible.
Myth number six: the amniotic sac can rupture during sex. This container for a child is very durable, resilient and elastic, resistant to various mechanical influences. Regardless of the stage of pregnancy, it is impossible to rupture the amniotic sac during intercourse.
Should you have sex during pregnancy or not? The decision made depends only on the spouses and the doctor. Prejudices and myths on this topic should not become a reason to refuse natural pleasure.
Childbirth in the knee-elbow position
Women began giving birth in this position quite recently.
The woman is kneeling, her torso is extended forward, her arms are bent at the elbows, resting on a pillow. The head lies on the pillow, hands are placed under it. The midwife receives the baby from behind. As follows from what was written above, there is an alternative, the choice is quite wide and it is up to the expectant mother. But we must always remember that in the rejection and denial of the traditions of official medicine and specialized obstetric institutions (and, accordingly, the medical care that they are ready to provide without delay) there is a certain degree of risk - a pregnant woman, remaining to give birth at home, risks First of all, your health and the health of the baby. Domestic specialists in the field of medicine, in turn, are becoming more democratic today - and this is noticeable in various kinds of innovations in maternity hospitals; In many ways, they meet expectant mothers halfway and try to take into account all their wishes. Although, without a doubt, in some medical institutions for quite a long time it will be possible to hear from medical staff the question “Is the husband’s presence allowed at childbirth?” response like “What are you talking about?! We have a normal maternity hospital...”
