It is not good to rush sex after childbirth

Some married women in the Tema Metropolis have disclosed to The Specta­tor that getting their spouses to abstain from sex for a while after they have had a baby was a major challenge to their marriages.

“Some of the men are not patient at all. They cannot discipline themselves even for two weeks and it puts our health at risk” a woman who spoke on condition of ano­nymity said.

In an interview on Wednes­day, she said her first two deliveries were safe vaginal delivery and so she could get back to have sex after three weeks though the Obste­trician Gynaecologist had recommended six weeks.

She said however, her last delivery was a difficult one and so it came with some tears which meant she need­ed more time to heal but her husband did not understand.

“I had to involve my gynaecologist and Pastor before he became consider­ate and I was so disappointed because I was in pain and I felt I should be understood because marriage is about sacrifice, “ she lamented.

Another lady who also spoke on condition of ano­nymity said all three deliv­eries were through caesar­ean section and so she was advised by her specialist to wait for at least six weeks before sex but her husband said he could not wait for that long after their first baby.

“He threatened to get it elsewhere and I told him I couldn’t sacrifice my health for his pleasure and so he could go ahead. However, as to whether he did or not, I cannot tell but at the sub­sequent ante-natal clinics I made sure we went togeth­er so and it saved me from unnecessary pressure from him,” she said.

Another lady who gave her name as Valerie Anu Solomon, a Fashion Designer encouraged women to attend Pregnancy Schools with their spouses because such topics were discussed there.

“My husband was very understanding and waited for six weeks and even wanted me to take more weeks off for me to heal complete­ly but I assured him I was fine and ready. I am happy I married a selfless man. He waited patiently for my body to return to its non pregnant state,” she said.

Meanwhile, a Specialist Obstetrician Gynaecologist, Dr. Dixie Constantini in an interview advised women to give their bodies time to recover postpartum if they could because according to her, it was the least they could do for themselves.

She said that medically they recommended at least six weeks of abstinence after vaginal birth or caesarean section.

She explained that how­ever, a doctor could ask a woman to wait a bit longer if she was post caesarean depending on how the proce­dure went.

She said even after the six weeks period, women need to see their Obstetrician Gynaecologist for a check-up to make sure all is well.

Dr. Constantini said “in about six weeks, the va­gina returns to almost its pre-pregnant state Blood supply to the vagina, its walls and cells return to how they were originally by six weeks. Swellings found on the walls of the vagina are usually gone as well by six weeks”.

She said it was not a good idea to rush into sex because in the recommended six weeks, the womb which weighed about 1kg while a woman was pregnant would have reduced in size and will weigh about 50-100 grammes

She also advised that ovu­lation was very unpredict­able during this period and could occur as early as six weeks after birth in women who do not practise exclu­sive breastfeeding or not breastfeeding.

“If you are not ready for another baby discuss con­traceptive options with your doctor the Specialist advised.

 From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema