Sexual intercourse during breastfeeding

One of the issues that concern the couple with the arrival of the baby is how will be the intimacy between the two from now on. The truth is that after birth there are changes in women at all levels, and of course, also in their sexuality.

If the mother also chooses to breastfeed, in the postpartum there is a hormonal revolution that, of course, influences her sex life. To better understand these changes we will talk about sexual intercourse during breastfeeding.

The action of hormones

To understand what happens in women in postpartum, we have to talk about the action of hormones, since changes are determined by hormonal causes.

During pregnancy, the high levels of progesterone and estrogens added to the fact that the erogenous areas such as breasts and external genitals are more irrigated, the woman can get to experience fuller sexual intercourse and more intense orgasms.

But after delivery, the hormonal map changes radically. These changes have a biological basis. The sucking of the baby stimulates the production of prolactin, a hormone that is involved in the production of milk, a mechanism that slows down the secretion of estrogens causing, in most cases, a decrease in libido.

It is natural that during the postpartum period both the body and the mind of the mother are focused on newborn care. The mother nourishes the baby with her milk, so she has to be available to him at all times, both day and night.

In the mother who does not breastfeed, the biological mechanisms are different, but the emotional situation is the same. In both cases, all attention is on the baby, so it is normal to have a decrease in sexual appetite.

You don't have to feel guilty about it at all, but be aware of the process and discuss it with the couple. It is no coincidence that no mammalian female is zealous while breastfeeding. The psychologist Mónica Serrano told us in an interview that we have done in the blog that only humans and kangaroos have sex during breastfeeding.

Not everything is a matter of hormones

In addition to the decrease in sexual appetite in women caused by physical, hormonal and psychological changes, there are other symptoms that hinder sex in the postpartum.

Postpartum lochia, as well as the lack of vaginal lubrication that women experience in the first weeks 6-8 weeks after delivery make sexual intercourse difficult.

If we add to this the points of the episiotomy or caesarean section if there are any, in some cases pain in intercourse, and the fatigue of caring for a newborn baby (not to mention if there are more children), it is completely understandable Do not feel like having sex at this stage.

The man must understand the changes that occur in women during the puerperium and accompany their partner in this new phase of your sexuality. It also produces changes after childbirth, so it is a new opportunity to experience a different sexuality, go looking for moments of intimacy that gradually contribute to recovering desire and finding new spaces for communication.

Video: I'm Happy to Breastfeed My Baby While Having Sex. This Morning (March 2024).