HEALTH & LIVING: During the first weeks after giving birth, women face physical, psychological, social, and emotional challenges as well as changes in the sexual function practices.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), postnatal or postpartum period refers to the first six weeks after childbirth. This is an ideal time to deliver interventions that improve the health and survival of both the newborn and the mother.
Although the period following childbirth is full of joy and great expectations for parents and their families as they look forward to getting to know and love their little one, this period remains a critical phase in the lives of both the mothers and their newborn babies. Pregnancy and childbirth bring many changes to the postpartum sexual health and wellbeing of mothers.
Sexual practice during the postnatal period is one of the important elements that has been identified in women’s healthcare which needs increasing attention worldwide. Health promotion and education on postpartum sexual health is limited in the current maternal health care services in developing countries like Uganda.
Research shows that women in many parts of the world recommence sexual intercourse before the completion of 6 weeks after delivery for various reasons such as maintaining intimacy, fulfilling their partners’ desires, wishing to reduce possible conflicts in their relationship that may arise from a disparity in sexual desire.
On the other hand, other research studies show that although the early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse may encourage the husband to stay at home more and reduce the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections in-case he engaged in unprotected sex outside, this may lead to sexual morbidities such as vaginal dryness and loss of libido, painful sexual intercourse, vaginal discharge or bleeding, vaginal loosening as well as unwanted pregnancy when the resumption of intercourse is not accompanied by appropriate contraceptive measures. This in turn can lead to poor maternal and child health outcomes.
In most cases, women may encounter decreased sexual sensation and painful sexual intercourse reduced sexual satisfaction, and an inability to achieve orgasm. The WHO recommends that all women should be assessed regarding resumption of sexual intercourse and possible dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse) as part of the overall assessment two to six weeks following childbirth.
Whereas there is no definitive timeline on how long one should wait to have sex after giving birth as long as both partners are comfortable, most healthcare providers recommend women to wait at least four to six weeks following normal delivery or cesarean section. This is because the risk of having a complication after delivery is highest during the first two weeks after delivery. Women with their spouses are therefore advised to take things slowly when they resume sexual activities.
Remember, in addition to the woman’s physical recovery, she is also adjusting to a new family member with less sleep and a change in her regular routine. Conclusively, women who sustained perineal tears or got an episiotomy (surgical cut to widen the vaginal canal during normal delivery) may need to wait longer till this heals.
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The author; Lilian Nuwabaine Luyima is a BSc Nurse & MSN-Midwife & Women’s Health Specialist
