People are often reticent to talk about intimacy, which is why gynecologists and obstetricians are trained to be proactive and raise the subject.
If you want to take the lead, here are 11 questions you ought to question. Don’t be shy. your doctor will have all the answers — there’s really nothing any gynecologist hasn’t heard before.
1. my partner is really looking forward to resuming a normal sex life, but I’m not so keen. is it risky to have sex too soon after giving birth, and how long can I reasonably place it off?
2. how soon should we begin thinking about contraception — and are hormone-based birth control methods, such as the pill or Depo-Provera, safe for nursing mothers?
3. I’m worried that it’s going to hurt when we have sex. What can we do to lessen the pain and enhance the pleasure, and should I be concerned if I’m finding it painful weeks or months after giving birth?
4. my partner is a “breast man,” but I’m worried about leaking. how will lactation or nursing affect our sex life?
5. since having the baby, my sex drive is at an all-time low. is this typical and how long will it take for my libido to return to normal?
6. after giving birth to a huge baby, I’m worried that sex isn’t going to feel as good as it did. is my body ever going to snap back, and is there anything we can do to compensate if it doesn’t?
7. my partner is raring to go, but I feel embarrassed about my flabby body and hideous stretch marks. Will my body ever return to normal, and what can I do to look and feel more attractive in the meantime?
8. after nursing and holding the baby all day, the last thing I want is anyone else touching me, but my partner feels rejected if I pull away. how can I get the personal space I crave and still give him the intimacy he needs?
9. we share our bedroom with the baby. Will this place a damper on romance, and could the baby be negatively affected if we’re intimate?
10. we haven’t been intimate since our baby was born, and I’m concerned that the dry spell might never end. What can we do to reignite the romance after such a long time?
11. my partner wants to spend time alone as a couple, but I’m worried to leave baby and can’t relax if we’re away for long. is this normal and what can we do about it?
Tips to keep you and your loved ones well from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Eat a variety of fruit, vegetables and whole grains every day.
Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat and alcohol.
Eat a balanced diet to help keep a healthy weight.
Be active for at least 21/2 hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles.
Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day. Include activities that raise their breathing and heart rates and that strengthen their muscles and bones.
Wear helmets, seat belts, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Wash hands to stop the spread of germs.
Avoid smoking and breathing other people’s smoke.
Build safe and healthy relationships with family and friends.
Be ready for emergencies. make a supply kit. make a plan. be informed.
Balance work, home and play.
Get support from family and friends.
Take time to relax.
Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. make sure kids get more, based on their age.
Tips to keep you and your loved ones well from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Eat a variety of fruit, vegetables and whole grains every day.
Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat and alcohol.
Eat a balanced diet to help keep a healthy weight.
Be active for at least 21/2 hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles.
Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day. Include activities that raise their breathing and heart rates and that strengthen their muscles and bones.
Wear helmets, seat belts, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Wash hands to stop the spread of germs.
Avoid smoking and breathing other people’s smoke.
Build safe and healthy relationships with family and friends.
Take time to relax.
Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. make sure kids get more, based on their age.