It Turns Out, Oral Sex Can Happen Soon After Delivery

You've probably heard that certain penetrative sex acts are off limits while you're healing from delivery, and that's true. What's not true, however, is that sex is completely off limits. This may be the time to get creative and start thinking about oral options. If you are considering cunnilingus, you may wonder "how soon can I receive oral sex after giving birth?" Well, it's sooner than you think.

"After a vaginal or C-section delivery your doctor will tell you pelvic rest for six weeks which means nothing inside the vagina including tampons, douching, bathes and sex," Dr. Sherry A. Ross, women's health expert and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period tells Romper. "The reason being is there is an increased risk of infection after having a baby." This means that even a tongue inside the vagina is a no-no for the first six weeks or so.

But take note — a tongue doesn't necessarily need to be inside of your vagina in order to deliver bodily pleasure. Your partner can perform oral sex outside of your vagina near and around your clitoris. According to the Baby Center, oral sex and other forms of "outercourse" like masturbation, are safe a few days after delivery. There's always a small risk of infection, but as long as you stay away from the vagina and perineum you should be good to go. Ross echoes those sentiments and says:

"Since oral sex involves the outside of the vagina there is less of a concern of causing an infection. Salvia and fingers still carry unwanted bacteria in and around the vagina so be careful and have fun."

The other factor surrounding oral sex soon after delivering a baby is your emotional state. You really want to make sure that you're mentally ready to try anything sexual postpartum, before doing it. Taking part in anything sexual before you're physically healed obviously carries serious risks and obvious consequences (like re-tearing or longer healing time). Although the risks of having sex of any kind before you're emotionally ready are less obvious, they're still very real, and very traumatic. You can become angry with your partner, resentful, and disconnected, as explained in a San Francisco Gate article. Giving into sex when you don't really want to can have a long lasting impact on you and your relationship. If you're questioning your readiness for sex it's best to be honest with yourself and your partner about your feelings.

There's no shame in wanting to explore oral sex directly after delivery. If you're physically and mentally ready, go for it. As with all sex postpartum, it's advised that you go slow and keep communication lines open between you and your partner.