I have been hemming and hawing about writing this post for months. Why? Because we will be talking about S-E-X. It is kind of an embarrassing subject (this from the person who wrote about the most painful poop ever when I was in my first trimester), so I have avoided it for a while. But I think it is a super important, neglected post-pregnancy subject.
The doctor told me to take 6 weeks of pelvic rest. I went to the doctor after 6 weeks, everything checked out, and I was cleared to stop my pelvic rest. He was kind of hilarious about the way that he cleared me. He said, "Everything has healed up okay, so you are cleared for intercourse. However, you can tell your husband whatever you want."
Cool! I had been cleared by the doctor. I was all healed up and ready to go! So I told Keith what the doctor had told me and we decided to give it a go. I was very surprised to be met with some of the worst pain of my life. Sex hurt more than childbirth (I had an epidural for childbirth, and it took really well so I only felt a little bit of pressure near the end of birth; I didn't have an epidural for this, however). It literally felt like my insides were being ripped open, I started crying because it hurt so bad, and we had to stop. In fact, it hurt so bad that we didn't actually really do the deed until 12 weeks after Gwen was born.
I started asking around. I had only had a first degree tear, so the logical part of me figured it wasn't a healing problem. But I was worried that I was horribly and irreversibly marred and that I needed to go to the doctor ASAP. I might as well ask some girl friends before jumping the gun. And you know what I found out? It was amazingly painful for everyone (note: I didn't ask anyone who had a c-section, so I can't speak to that). I was told that I just had to tough it out for a month or so and then things would get back to normal. Why hadn't anyone ever told me?!?!?! Well, that is the reason that I am writing this now because at least this will be out there, and other first time mommies will know what is coming.
But, unfortunately, the problem has been worse for me than for the average mommy. Gwen is almost 10 months old and things still hurt. This is pain that is usually reserved for women with 4th degree tears. But apparently my hormones (from breastfeeding) have caused connective tissue changes in the va-jay-jay region and weak connective tissue can lead to pain. At my annual appointment, I asked the doctor (when Gwen was 6 months old) if there was anything I could do to reduce pain. He said that they can do hormone injections, but that is usually reserved for women who have bleeding and tearing with intercourse. Well, at least I don't have it that bad. He told me that when I wean Gwen things should go back to normal. Thankfully, it doesn't hurt as bad as it did 6 months ago, but it is no walk in the park.
So now I have finally shared this somewhat embarrassing piece of information. I hope that it is helpful to some other mommies out there and that you aren't blind-sided like I was.
The doctor told me to take 6 weeks of pelvic rest. I went to the doctor after 6 weeks, everything checked out, and I was cleared to stop my pelvic rest. He was kind of hilarious about the way that he cleared me. He said, "Everything has healed up okay, so you are cleared for intercourse. However, you can tell your husband whatever you want."
Cool! I had been cleared by the doctor. I was all healed up and ready to go! So I told Keith what the doctor had told me and we decided to give it a go. I was very surprised to be met with some of the worst pain of my life. Sex hurt more than childbirth (I had an epidural for childbirth, and it took really well so I only felt a little bit of pressure near the end of birth; I didn't have an epidural for this, however). It literally felt like my insides were being ripped open, I started crying because it hurt so bad, and we had to stop. In fact, it hurt so bad that we didn't actually really do the deed until 12 weeks after Gwen was born.
I started asking around. I had only had a first degree tear, so the logical part of me figured it wasn't a healing problem. But I was worried that I was horribly and irreversibly marred and that I needed to go to the doctor ASAP. I might as well ask some girl friends before jumping the gun. And you know what I found out? It was amazingly painful for everyone (note: I didn't ask anyone who had a c-section, so I can't speak to that). I was told that I just had to tough it out for a month or so and then things would get back to normal. Why hadn't anyone ever told me?!?!?! Well, that is the reason that I am writing this now because at least this will be out there, and other first time mommies will know what is coming.
But, unfortunately, the problem has been worse for me than for the average mommy. Gwen is almost 10 months old and things still hurt. This is pain that is usually reserved for women with 4th degree tears. But apparently my hormones (from breastfeeding) have caused connective tissue changes in the va-jay-jay region and weak connective tissue can lead to pain. At my annual appointment, I asked the doctor (when Gwen was 6 months old) if there was anything I could do to reduce pain. He said that they can do hormone injections, but that is usually reserved for women who have bleeding and tearing with intercourse. Well, at least I don't have it that bad. He told me that when I wean Gwen things should go back to normal. Thankfully, it doesn't hurt as bad as it did 6 months ago, but it is no walk in the park.
So now I have finally shared this somewhat embarrassing piece of information. I hope that it is helpful to some other mommies out there and that you aren't blind-sided like I was.
No comments:
Post a Comment