Sex After Birth Research

Earlier this month I wrote about a woman, Jodi Cleghorn, who provided cross-nursing support to a friend and her newborn in the early weeks of motherhood in order to help her friend ease into breastfeeding fully supported and as stress free as possible. I mentioned that Cleghorn was one of the co-authors of the online book Reclaiming Sex After Birth.

Reclaiming Sex After Birth is a fabulous resource for anyone with questions of concerns about this very personal facet of women's lifecycle. According to the RSAB website:

"When Annie was researching her original article for Down to Birth – she was appalled to discover how the subject was either glossed over or completely omitted from all the popular and best selling parenting and relationship books, even Dr Ruth’s “Guide to Sex”. The additional research Jodi and Annie did in writing Reclaiming Sex After Birth showed them that there is little readily available to couples to educate and prepare themselves for intimacy and sexual togetherness once they are parents.

In creating “Reclaiming Sex After ChildBirth” Jodi and Annie did not seek to set up rights or wrongs, nor define what is normal or abnormal - they acknowledge that every couple’s experience is unique and it is how each couple feel about their experiences that is important. Jodi and Annie hope that all women and men who read their book, will understand that where they are currently on their journey, wherever that may be, they are not alone. And that they need not remain stuck there.

It is Annie and Jodi's desire to provide information to allow couples to reconnect and rediscover the pleasure and closeness of their relationship.

The women who share their stories and wisdom here are experts, in the truest sense of the word – wise through experience. It has been our intention to create a resource which is easily and readily accessible, that gathers in one place a collection of personal experiences and insightful information as a beginning point to reclaim sex after birth."

You can find out more about the book by clicking here.

Jodie and Annie continue to research in the hope of gaining a greater understanding of this diverse subject and using their findings to better educate the public about the wide range of what is normal for sexual relationships after birth.

You can aid their research by completing an anomyous survey about your own experiences with sex after birth. There are only 10 questions to answer some of which include:

• When did you and your partner have sex for the first time after your last birth?
• What guide did you use as to when you were ready to re-engage in sexual activity again?
• Many women return to their primary care provider around the six week mark for a final check up. At this appointment did your care provider discuss with you or provide information and support for returning to an active sex life?

To complete the survey click here
It takes very little time to complete.