Sex during pregnancy Unless your Dr or midwife has advised you differently, sex during pregnancy is perfectly safe for you, your partner and the baby. However, everyone feels differently about having sex when their pregnant. Some people aren’t affected by the pregnancy at all, except for the expanding bump! But others don’t feel like making love as often, or may not be feeling especially sexy if they have extreme tiredness or nausea. A common worry for men as well as women, is that sex will harm the baby. If you have had repeated miscarriages, or a threatened miscarriage, you may be advised to avoid penetrative sex for a certain time. This doesn’t mean you can’t have other kinds of sexual contact with your partner. The important thing is to keep talking to each other about how you are feeling Sex after the birth of your baby Please don’t expect your sex life to be the same as before the baby, or the pregnancy even. It will be different! Having a baby changes everything about your lives, including your sex life! It’s important to realise that lovemaking may not feel brilliant for either partner for a while, so be prepared to be patient Childbirth is a pretty traumatic experience for most women. They will also have extreme hormone changes after the birth. This coupled with the demands of being a new mum and dad will affect when you will feel ready to have sex.

How soon can you have sex after the birth? Ideally, a woman shouldn’t consider having penetrative sex until after her post-natal check-up. This is normally performed about 6 weeks after the birth. Even then she may not feel ready, particularly if she has had stitches. If you’re experiencing problems talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP as they are there to help you. When you feel ready to give it a try you must bear in min. Talk to your midwife, health visitor, GP, or visit a contraception and sexual health service to discuss contraception BEFORE you resume sex. Breastfeeding will not stop you getting pregnant. You could become pregnant even before your first period after having the baby. Pelvic floor exercise can help to promote healing of the birth canal, and can also improve your sexual enjoyment, plus reduce problems with bladder control later in life. Your midwife will have taught you how to do these exercise, if in doubt ask again!