Expert: Dorothy H, LCCE - 7/29/2010

Question
It's been almost two weeks since I gave birth to my first son TJ. The doctor set the usual 6 week postpartum appointment and said nothing in the vagina till then. I had a C-section because my labor wasn't progressing and the pitocin started making my son's heart rate drop during contractions. So the most I dilated was about 4 cm. My lochia bleeding is starting to slow down and I really want to resume having sex with my husband. (The bleeding only occurs during or after breast-feeding) Do you think my cervix would be closed by now? My cervix is really high so a self examination is nearly impossible (even some doctors had trouble reaching it during my pregnancy). Or if it is still a little dilated, can I use a condom?

Answer
Most doctors will give the standard advice of wait 6 weeks.  

This is a little out of my area of expertise; however a nurse-midwife wrote a very good article that addresses this issue:

http://www.ivillage.com/making-love-after-birth-do-you-really-have-wait/6-n-1378...

Her advice is essentially that the 6 weeks is not based on medical reasons.

You didn't have any vaginal tears or episiotomy - if you did, you probably would want to wait the 6 weeks.   If your bleeding has stopped, if sex is not painful, and you want to have sex before your 6 week appointment, you won't be damaging anything by having sex with a condom.

Listen to your body and take it slow - if it's painful, stop and give it more time before resuming sexual relations.  

Also, as an FYI, orgasm causes the uterus to contract, which can cause your body to react the way it does during breastfeeding - both with bleeding and with your milk releasing.

I hope that helps!

Dorothy H, LCCE