Why six weeks?

[theresak]

In all seriousness, why do I have to wait six weeks to have sex????? Like the lack of sleep isn't hard enough - I can't stand the wait!! Somebody give me a medical reason for the wait... :mad:

[Blondell]

:shrug: I never waited that long.

[Q45]

i think its so that you can heal....or should i say so that "it" can heal from just having a child pass though....i could be wrong.. :dry:

[colo1278]

from what I have heard, it depends on the woman and the stress of the birth on the body. Some women try at 6 wks and it still hurts, so they wait longer. :eek:

give it a shot if you feel ready.

[drlinda]

How many weeks has it been?

[theresak]

Originally posted by drlinda@Jul 10 2006, 10:11 PM
How many weeks has it been?
Four weeks - I had a c-section. I'm more wondering if there's an infection risk at this point.

[MicheleSC]

Originally posted by theresak@Jul 11 2006, 08:34 AM
Four weeks - I had a c-section. I'm more wondering if there's an infection risk at this point.
This is what I was thinking.... if you aren't totally healed, then there could still be a risk of infection and I guess 6 weeks is the typical time frame.

I did a quick search and this was the first relevant hit I found...but it looks like risk of infection is the concern...

http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nmom...0,,43fz,00.html (http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nmomcare/0,,43fz,00.html)

[colo1278]

http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nmom...fe_9p93,00.html (http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nmomcare/0,,midwife_9p93,00.html)

http://www.babycenter.com/expert/baby/post...msex/11810.html (http://www.babycenter.com/expert/baby/postpartumsex/11810.html)

http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby...esarean-545.htm (http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby/Resuming-sex-after-cesarean-545.htm)

seems like infection and the uterus going back to normalize is the main concern. Good luck!

[theresak]

Well, infection would suck....but it's just so hard to wait that long. I'm only human!! :p

[Brandy]

I've had 2 C-sections and also had sex within *1* week of them. The day I came home from the hospital, to be exact.(twice) :oops: :finger:

Yes, it is for the infection control.
Disclaimer-I would not suggest doing this. But, I had no problems and healed just fine.

I was banned from sex the minute I got pregnant both times. From the doctor. So poor hubby and I went a LONG time w/out it. We couldn't wait 6 weeks.

[mardgra426]

I waited about 8 weeks...and it still hurt like a mother!!! :crying:
My OB ( old skool -- in his late 60's maybe older) said it was because my core was so well developed :clap: due to my physical training ( his words). So I guess next time I will lay off of the yoga, pilates and kegals and workouts in general so I can hurry up and " do it"..maybe not!! :blink:

[theresak]

Originally posted by bfbuff@Jul 12 2006, 12:12 PM
I was banned from sex the minute I got pregnant both times. From the doctor. So poor hubby and I went a LONG time w/out it. We couldn't wait 6 weeks.
Oh, you poor woman. :blink: I know we all make sacrifices for our kids but... Dayum! :(

[theresak]

Originally posted by mardgra426@Jul 12 2006, 01:05 PM
I waited about 8 weeks...and it still hurt like a mother!!! :crying:

Ah, but pain is pleasure, right? Wait, did I type that out loud? :uuhh: :lol:
Sorry to hear that for you!

[magdalynaa]

Theresa is ready to THROW DOWN!!! :lol: :clap: :shh:

[Erin]

I waited 6 weeks with the first two and barely 4 weeks with the third one. I had csxns with all three. My OB said it was b/c of risk of infection and healing b/c I had dilated, etc. Whatever. :rolleyes: I had no problems at the 4 week mark and would have done it sooner actually. ;)

[trigirl]

Originally posted by theresak@Jul 10 2006, 08:47 PM
In all seriousness, why do I have to wait six weeks to have sex????? Like the lack of sleep isn't hard enough - I can't stand the wait!! Somebody give me a medical reason for the wait... :mad:
6 weeks??? After my first, I wanted to wait 6 months!! After pushing a baby out, the thought of sticking anything back in was very scary :)

[mardgra426]

Originally posted by theresak+Jul 12 2006, 11:32 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (theresak @ Jul 12 2006, 11:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-mardgra426@Jul 12 2006, 01:05 PM
I waited about 8 weeks...and it still hurt like a mother&#33;&#33;&#33; :crying:

Ah, but pain is pleasure, right? Wait, did I type that out loud? :uuhh: :lol:
Sorry to hear that for you&#33; [/b][/quote]
Yea-- I wouldn&#39;t say it was pleasure. I nearly jumped off the table with the OB and nearly jumped out of bed with my DH ( TMI ;) ) BUt eveyone has a different experience...........Thank GOD&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; :eek: :D

[amyloo]

I had all 3 of mine vaginally. The first two, I definitely waited 6 weeks, possibly longer, but I think that had more to do with the fact that I didn&#39;t like my husband (ex now) that much&#33; ;) (kidding, kind of)
My 3rd baby, I think we may have made it to 10 days, but probably more like a week.

[magdalynaa]

Does having an episiotomy change the healing time? I&#39;m curious.

[farellas]

Originally posted by trigirl@Jul 13 2006, 08:12 AM
6 weeks??? After my first, I wanted to wait 6 months&#33;&#33; After pushing a baby out, the thought of sticking anything back in was very scary :)
I have to agree with this statement but I did manage to try it at the 8 week mark and it was pretty good :p .

[farellas]

Originally posted by trigirl@Jul 13 2006, 08:12 AM
6 weeks??? After my first, I wanted to wait 6 months&#33;&#33; After pushing a baby out, the thought of sticking anything back in was very scary :)
I have to agree with this statement but I did manage to try it at the 8 week mark and it was pretty good :p .

[mardgra426]

Originally posted by magdalynaa@Jul 13 2006, 11:11 AM
Does having an episiotomy change the healing time? I&#39;m curious.
HELLS YEAH&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; :blink:

:eek: = my face the first time after.

[Pinky]

I don&#39;t think we waited the full 6 weeks, but I also don&#39;t think it did much for either of us. It hurt me, and poor Dh barely felt anything... :oops: He was so worried it would never go back to normal&#33;

[theresak]

Originally posted by magdalynaa@Jul 13 2006, 07:40 AM
Theresa is ready to THROW DOWN&#33;&#33;&#33; :lol: :clap: :shh:
Oh, hells yeah&#33;&#33; :dance: :banana:

[theresak]

Originally posted by mardgra426@Jul 13 2006, 12:08 PM
HELLS YEAH&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; :blink:

:eek: = my face the first time after.
Hahaha&#33; I didn&#39;t see this before I posted - swear&#33; :lol: :lol:

[Patricia]

Originally posted by theresak@Jul 10 2006, 08:47 PM
In all seriousness, why do I have to wait six weeks to have sex????? Like the lack of sleep isn&#39;t hard enough - I can&#39;t stand the wait&#33;&#33; Somebody give me a medical reason for the wait... :mad:
Not that I shouldn&#39;t have, but I sure didn&#39;t wait that long.
I think I waited two weeks--not becuase I felt I needed the rest, but because I just didn&#39;t want to take any chances.
I worked out my whole pregnancy-I&#39;m sure that helped....along with the fact I was only 18 :oops: ....So I guess I recovered very quickly.

[fitnesschick]

no one should be getting episiotomies :mad:
anyway ... as long as you feel ready and aren&#39;t healing from stitches or something i don&#39;t think it&#39;s a big concern.

[H&G'sMom]

Originally posted by fitnesschick@Jul 15 2006, 01:48 PM
no one should be getting episiotomies :mad:
anyway ... as long as you feel ready and aren&#39;t healing from stitches or something i don&#39;t think it&#39;s a big concern.
Tell that to the the forceps&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; :(
I agree that most women should not be getting on epis..

I would think that if you feel ready, try it and see. With that said, 6 weeks wasn&#39;t nearly enough either time for me..... :oops:

[trigirl]

Originally posted by fitnesschick@Jul 15 2006, 01:48 PM
no one should be getting episiotomies :mad:
anyway ... as long as you feel ready and aren&#39;t healing from stitches or something i don&#39;t think it&#39;s a big concern.
I think it should be a personal decision.....and sometimes it&#39;s just easier on mom and baby to cut than to tear from one end to the other. I opted out, and had mucho stitches, but can see why a woman would want to cut the area instead.

I think the healing process (episiotomy vs ripping) depends on how much cutting or tearing there is.

[mardgra426]

Originally posted by fitnesschick@Jul 15 2006, 01:48 PM
no one should be getting episiotomies :mad:
anyway ... as long as you feel ready and aren&#39;t healing from stitches or something i don&#39;t think it&#39;s a big concern.
Everyone is different. you hear different stories ( some good some bad) about episiotomies. I had one, it was not that bad. My friend did not have one and ripped-- I am glad I had one afer hearing her story. But who knows...I might&#39;ve had a totally different experience. So it&#39;s not fair/right to say NOBODY should get one.

[fitnesschick]

Originally posted by mardgra426+Jul 20 2006, 06:20 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mardgra426 &#064; Jul 20 2006, 06:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-fitnesschick@Jul 15 2006, 01:48 PM
no one should be getting episiotomies :mad:
anyway ... as long as you feel ready and aren&#39;t healing from stitches or something i don&#39;t think it&#39;s a big concern.
Everyone is different. you hear different stories ( some good some bad) about episiotomies. I had one, it was not that bad. My friend did not have one and ripped-- I am glad I had one afer hearing her story. But who knows...I might&#39;ve had a totally different experience. So it&#39;s not fair/right to say NOBODY should get one. [/b][/quote]
sorry i didn&#39;t mean to come off sound rude or harsh. episiotomies are NOT an evidence based practice, there is a complete lack of evidence to support it and more than enough evidence to refute it&#39;s practice.

too complex of an issue to go into it here but an issue i feel strongly about as a future midwife. if you&#39;re interested in reading more about it take a look at henci goer&#39;s obstetric myths versus research realities as a starting point. simkin and kitzinger have an entire book on episiotomy which is also interesting reading and murray enkin in a guide to effective care in pregnancy and childbirth also has a review of the research literature regarding episiotomies.

this link seems not bad but i didn&#39;t have time to look through it closely
http://www.changesurfer.com/Hlth/episiotomy.html
another great link
http://www.collegeofmidwives.org/safety_is...01/episioto.htm (http://www.collegeofmidwives.org/safety_issues01/episioto.htm)
that being said i am very open to seeing research that is also supportive of routine episiotomies.
:)