Having a baby is a life-changing experience that impacts a woman physically, mentally and emotionally. For some women, getting back to their pre-birth routine is a somewhat straightforward experience, while for others, it is more of a challenge. One factor that women may struggle with is knowing or wondering when to have sex after giving birth. Distinguished consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Shazia Malik is here to answer any doubts you may have.
It may come as a surprise but women can become pregnant again just three weeks after giving birth. It is best to wait until postpartum bleeding lochia has stopped before resuming intercourse, which normally takes around three to four weeks after giving birth. However, the amount of time it takes for bleeding to stop depends on multiple factors, including the type of birth , if any complications have occurred and the recovery period.
Recovery is dependent on each individual. Two women who give birth on the same day may not have the same recovery period. Women who give birth vaginally must wait until postpartum bleeding lochia has stopped before engaging in sexual intercourse, while for women who give birth via caesarean section C-section , it is essential to wait until the wound has completely healed. The average time it takes for a C-section wound to heal is typically six weeks.
As previously mentioned, it normally takes six weeks for any wound or infection to clear up after giving birth via C-section.
If you have sex within two weeks after delivering a baby , this may increase the risk of developing an infection or a haemorrhage. During or after the birth process, some women may require an episiotomy a cut made near the vaginal opening to create enough room for the baby or stitches due to an infection. It is crucial that women wait to have sex again until these wounds have fully healed in order to prevent pain or infection.
