Note: this is the 2nd of 3 blogs, because I have a lot to say, and I am going to keep talking . .

As a pelvic floor physical therapist I see this quite a a bit.  I have already talked about my ladies who have never had children, but now let’s focus on my moms. Let me tell you this can happen with your first delivery, or maybe your first was easy, but your 2nd not so much, and so on . . 

Babies, I love mine, I have two . . . but they are a lot of work!  Also, somehow the prenatal industry has got us focusing on everything but our pelvic floors!  It is getting better but still all the books talk about what baby is doing, but what about you?!

I see a lot of postpartum moms who have pain with intercourse whether they have had vaginal or cesarian deliveries.  

Are you breastfeeding?  Believe it or not, breastfeeding could be contributing to you experiencing pain with sex! WHAAAAAT?!?!?! I KNOW!  That one surprised me too!  While your body is producing breast milk, your estrogen drops, and one of those side effects is sending your vaginal tissue into pseudo-menopause.  Pause, don’t freak out. It IS temporary, while you are producing milk, you may notice some redness/ dryness- some women’s body’s adapt- congrats!  Other’s not so much .  . still there is a solution- your provider can prescribe a topical estrogen, not into hormones there are some lovely non-hormonal topicals . . . we can discuss! 

Vaginal Deliveries-  The industry has done a lot better about discussing perineal massage work before birth to minimize risk of tearing, but we also do perineal work postpartum to make sure the scar is minimal and soft to allow for stretching with penetration. So it is a before and after thing.  Also, for those of my moms who had 3rd or 4th degree tears sitting is going to painful- even if you had a small tear there may still be pain with sitting.  But we do a lot of clenching . . . and we go back to part I with my ladies. ..  . tight muscles! That need to be softened and relaxed!

Cesarian Deliveries-  Karen, stop, I had my abdominals cut open, nothing happened down there . . . oh my c-section mama . . .  you have much to learn.  You are right and also not right.  Even though you did not birth a baby out of your vagina, you still likely carried a baby to full term, which means the stress on the pelvic floor was there for 9ish months, so yes there can be tight muscles that are a culprit!  

Sex with a newborn baby is also different . . . . You are tired, you have one ear out for baby and also trying to get in the mood and maybe thinking of the zillion things you need to do- is it garbage day?  Did I make lunches for school tomorrow? Did I shave my legs?  What day is it?!  It is not that easy and takes a little maneuvering and sometimes a little strategy to give yourself time to check your lists, get in the mood, get aroused, etc . . . . sounds like a lot of work?  It is, but it is also not.

Send me an email, we can find a time to chat and figure out how to treat you as efficiently as possible, you are a mom, you don’t have time for this, but you need this.  Let’s fix this. Stat.  This is not the end of your sex life, nor is it the end of your sexuality . . . you will sleep again . . .  

Stay tuned for my womanly warriors . . . . .