Most women hear that once they're six weeks postpartum and have a doctor's approval, it's OK to resume sexual activity. Questions surrounding what is safe in the realm of sexual activity, however, still arise. For example, "Is it safe to do it doggy style 6 weeks after giving birth?" is a question that may come to mind for couples who want to jump in where they left off. The truth is, however, that it's smart for most couples to ease back into sex instead of overdoing it in the beginning.
In an interview with Women's Health, OB-GYN Dr. Alyssa Dweck said, six weeks is the minimum for how long women should wait to heal postpartum. And most will need more time than that. Dweck shared that women's "delicate bits" are raw, exposed, and susceptible to infection, and having sex too early or too roughly will increase chances of pain and infection. Additionally, external play at first is best, and for many, starting off in a gentler position postpartum is ideal. This means doggy style may be a position you want to wait a little longer on trying out in bed.
Although it's not necessarily deemed unsafe for all, it does often mean deeper penetration, less control, and more chance for the penis to slip out mid thrust — all of which can cause pain or complications in areas that are already sore.
One way you can ease into the doggy style position again, or achieve a similar interaction, is to relieve the extra pressure and make sure you're able to maintain more control. A position called doggy pillow is a great way to do this. According to Women's Day, many new moms feel a pinching feeling in their scar tissue during sex after birth, so using a pile of pillows as support under your stomach will help reduce the pressure on the scarred area. Additionally, you will still experience deeper penetration with this position, much like doggy style, which is still an area you may need to watch for and tell your partner to be aware of.
Doggy style or not, sex is a very independently-based area for women postpartum. For most new moms, six weeks still isn't enough time to jump back into bed, but even for those who are ready, it's best to take it slow, utilize foreplay, and avoid the potentially more painful or uncomfortable positions, like doggy style, until you're ready and fully healed.
