Making the leap from coupledom to baby-makes-three is exciting, exhilarating, and wonderful. But it’s also exhausting, exasperating, and overwhelming.
There’s the leaky boobs, painful C-section scars, and recovery from vaginal tearing to contend with. Throw in a dash of hormones, sprinkle with sleep deprivation, and toss with the responsibility of keeping a totally perfect little human alive and happy – it’s the perfect recipe for taking sex off the table!
“A baby changes everything,” you’ve probably heard your mom, friends, and even Faith Hill proclaim. So understandably, sex is probably the last thing on your to-do list right now (I mean … after all that’s happened down there …!) It generally takes at least six weeks for your body to recover and to be ready for intimacy. However, a medical thumbs-up after your six week postpartum check-up doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready, and that’s okay too. In fact, hormonal changes in your body could make you averse to sex for – yikes! – up to a year.
Also, a whopping 80% of gestational moms experience the baby blues and let’s not forget about the dads who suffer from postpartum depression too. Turns out that sex could be one massive, multifaceted, emotional topic.
That being said, physical intimacy is key to a healthy relationship. Studies show that a relationship that’s not nurtured will deteriorate; you’ll become co-parents arguing about tasks. You have to put work into your relationship for it to stay the same, and work even harder at it to improve it.
So, what to do? Take action as soon as possible to regain the spark in your relationship. Say goodbye to the old footloose life, it’s time to strategize.
Unless we model the importance of romance in relationships, our kids will grow up devaluing it.
It brings a whole new meaning to “doing it for the kids,” doesn’t it?
Source: prevention.com, womenshealthmag.com, womenshealthsa.co.za, huffpost.com, nytimes.com, healthline.com, parents.com, indywithkids.com, parentmap.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.