How do I maintain desire after childbirth?
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body undergoes many changes. Her hormones are altered, her breasts grow larger, her skin may become more sensitive, and she may experience mood swings. These changes can also affect her libido, leading to a decrease in sexual desire during and after pregnancy. After giving birth, some women may still feel exhausted, while others may find that their bodies have changed in ways that make them uncomfortable with being naked or touched. In addition, breastfeeding can interfere with sexual intimacy due to the release of oxytocin during orgasm. All these factors can contribute to a drop in sexual desire for months or even years following childbirth. Fortunately, there are ways to rekindle your passion and regain the spark you once had. The following tips will help you get back into bedroom action and reconnect with your partner.
1. Communicate openly about what you want. Talking openly with your partner is essential if you're struggling to find the time, energy, or interest for sex after childbirth. Be honest about how you're feeling and ask your partner to be patient as you work through this new phase together. Make sure to set aside time regularly for date nights so that you can spend quality time alone without distractions from parenting duties. Avoid criticizing yourself or blaming your partner; instead, focus on finding solutions together.
2. Schedule sex. It may sound impersonal, but scheduling sex can be beneficial for couples who struggle to find time for intimacy amidst all of life's other demands. Set aside specific times each week when you know you won't be interrupted by children or chores. This way, you can plan ahead for the upcoming session and ensure it happens consistently over time. You might also consider using an app like "Our Love Nest" which allows users to schedule dates based on their availability and preferences.
3. Get creative with foreplay. Foreplay doesn't have to involve intercourse; try different positions or activities such as massage or kissing beforehand. Experiment with different locations such as taking a bath together or setting up a romantic atmosphere in another room. Use toys such as vibrators or lingerie sets to spice things up and create excitement between partners again.
4. Seek professional help. If you've tried everything else and still don't feel connected sexually, seek professional advice from a therapist or counselor who specializes in sex therapy. They will be able to identify underlying issues causing low libido and offer strategies tailored specifically to address them. For example, if stress is preventing arousal due to worry about childcare responsibilities, they could provide tips on how best manage these concerns while engaging in physical intimacy.
5. Focus on yourself first. Take care of your own needs before attempting sexual activity by eating well-balanced meals, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and practicing self-care techniques like meditation or yoga. This will improve mood levels and help boost energy reserves so that you have more enthusiasm when it comes time for lovemaking. Additionally, remember that sexual pleasure isn't just limited to penetration - explore other types of touch through massages and sensual touching.
6. Be mindful of postpartum depression symptoms. Postpartum depression can affect both mothers and fathers alike; symptoms include sadness, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, lack of appetite, and thoughts of suicide. Treatment options may involve medications or psychotherapy but can also involve herbs like St John's Wort which has been shown to reduce PPD symptoms without side effects associated with antidepressants. Discuss any changes in mood or behavior with your doctor immediately.
7. Try new things together as a couple. Bring novelty into the bedroom by trying out different positions or incorporating roleplay into sex play sessions with your partner. Consider attending workshops such as couples therapy where professionals guide discussions around topics related to communication skills or conflict resolution during challenging times like those after childbirth. Also, make sure not to forget about each other outside the bedroom – plan dates nights away from children once they are older enough, go on vacations together periodically (without kids), etc., all these actions increase intimacy within the relationship itself!
8. Remember why you fell in love initially. Revisiting memories of why you originally fell in love can help reignite passion between partners again. Remind yourself how much fun it was being newlyweds before parenthood took over life completely. Focus on the positive aspects rather than stressors like financial difficulties or household responsibilities that have arisen since becoming parents-to-be; instead, focus on what makes this new phase special too! For example, if money is tight, think about how amazing it feels when saving up for something big like taking an exotic vacation later down the road.
9. Seek advice from friends who have gone through similar experiences before you. Ask them questions regarding their strategies for rekindling desire and maintaining romance postpartum—don't be afraid to ask specific questions related directly towards your own situation either!