Having a baby can affect how parents experience intimacy, and usually, it's not in a positive way. For example, women might have a lower desire for intimacy, while men might worry about causing discomfort to their partner.
And the main question: Does having a child always make a couple's sex life worse, and why does this happen?
When a couple goes through pregnancy and childbirth, it can either improve or worsen their sex life. Most people don't seek help for improvements, so we don’t know so much about those cases. People think it should be that way, but it actually isn't.
After having a child, the first change parents experience is in communication. All aspects of their sexual life, like intimacy and trust, depend on this. Studies show that more than 50% of couples face issues after childbirth, but it varies for each couple.
Common complaints include a decrease in sex during pregnancy and after childbirth. This can happen due to a loss of interest between partners. The lack of time and space for intimacy also plays a role. Life revolves around the child, making it challenging to find moments for intimacy.
Partners take on new roles as parents, shifting between being romantic partners and parents. Adapting to these new roles takes time and patience. Some may struggle to integrate the parent role into their previous lifestyle, leading to issues like claims, resentments, and misunderstandings.
Another problem is the difficulty in syncing sexual rhythms. Both partners desire intimacy, but it's hard to predict the right moment. Rejections of one side can be taken personally, leading to a decline in the quality and satisfaction of their sex life.