My son is almost 7 months old and still nursing. Sex is still uncomfortable, sometimes downright painful, I think due to dryness.( Lubes don't really help) I don't think it's the episiotomy, as that is healed - I am afraid I will never enjoy it again, and Hubby enjoys less knowing it is no good for me. Help!
2007-01-15 05:25:55 · 8 answers · asked by mandygirl78 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Have you tried Astroglide? It's some pretty good stuff. (The dryness is likely hormonal, so increasing fluids as suggested above probably won't help.)
Also, have hubby help you relax beforehand. Maybe a nice soak in a bubble bath and a massage from hubby. If you are tense, that is likely to make it less enjoyable. And you could be tense worried about if it will be uncomfortable.
Try aromatherapy to help you get in the mood as well.
Talk to your caregiver about a vaginal estrogen cream. (A couple of examples include Estrace and Estratab, both of which have been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics for use in breastfeeding mothers.) Estrogen therapy has the potential to lower your milk supply. Although estrogen suppositories don't seem to affect supply the way oral estrogens do, most experts advise that lactating women avoid any estrogen until at least the 6th month postpartum and once the baby is well-established on solids due to the risk of it lowering milk supply.
ETA:
ee_lime mentioned having that "touched out" feeling. I think one thing that helped me with that was setting a simple ground rule for my hubby. He couldn't start foreplay with my breasts. That would be an immediate turn OFF to me. Once he got me hot other ways, he could go there if he wanted to.....but if that was the "site of first contact" I'd want to run the other way!
2007-01-15 05:32:26 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am breastfeeding my 5 month old and do not feel the urge to have sex at all, I just feel like I am touched out by the end of the day. And when I do try to have sex it is painful, lube or not. I had an epesiotomy too but i dont think that is what hurts. I am sure when my breastfeeding days are gone, I will not be sore anymore and I should get my drive back hopefully. I am going to just not worry about having sex as long as we are happy without it, and enjoy the days with my little one who is getting big to fast, and know that me and the husband have the rest of our lives to have sex. Good luck
2007-01-15 05:39:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have a 2 and a half month old and my drive is less than it would but mostly for me it is still recovering from all the stitches and not so much dryness. I would try a couple different lubes and more forplay, yeah I know where are you going to find the time with a little one. You can also try different positions.
2007-01-15 05:30:00 · answer #3 · answered by appylover 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I breastfeed and after I finished healing I never had any trouble with sex. I do sometimes have trouble with dryness but if lubrication doesn't help you then it isn't dryness.
Are you sure your doctor didn't give you an extra stitch to make you tight for your husband. @sshole doctors do that.
Being touched out may lead to lower drive, but babywearing moms tend to report higher sex drive than other moms because they tend to have babies that cry less.
I really doubt that the discomfort is caused by breastfeeding.
2007-01-15 05:41:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
For lubrication, I 2nd the advice of Astroglide (a little bit goes a loooong way), also that heated KY gel is great.
It may be that you feel 'touched out', but also consider the identity change in being mother and lover... it's sometimes hard to draw the line.
Don't give up breastfeeding, it's too valuable for your little one and probably isn't the culprit.
2007-01-15 07:50:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't stop breastfeeding.
Unfortunately, it is b/c of the breastfeeding. Drink your water, use your lubes and opt for some oral sex instead when you can. When you stop breastfeeding you will return to normal. But don't give in on the breastfeeding just for the sex...at 7 months, you're almost halfway through anyway.
2007-01-15 05:36:25 · answer #6 · answered by LittleFreedom 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Umm wow that stinks, I would suggest drinking your 8 glasses of water a day. My wife hasn't had this issues and she's been breast feeding for about the same amount of time now. You might even try 8 glasses of gatorade it's better at rehydrating you.
2007-01-15 05:29:21 · answer #7 · answered by Therious 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Don't breast feed and have sex at the same time.
2007-01-15 05:28:27 · answer #8 · answered by victorschool1 5 · 0⤊ 6⤋