Question:
I’ve just delivered my first child a few weeks ago. I was told by my friends and colleagues that I can resume sexual activity after 40 days (or after the blood has dried up). However, my elderly relatives advised me that 60-100 days would be the best as the body needs plenty of time to heal. My husband and I were pretty active sexually before this and I don’t think we want to wait that long. How long exactly should the period of abstinence last?

Confined, Petaling Jaya
Answer:
So far not many women complain of the prolonged period of abstinence after childbirth, the so called ‘pantang’ period (also known as the puerperal period) except the husband who might have to gear up after the long absence of good sex.6 weeks are more than enough and that’s exactly what most Obstetricians would recommend and that too the women need to go for a postnatal check up before the green light is given. For most women who breastfed the lochia (the discharge from the uterus of blood, mucus and tissue during the puerperal period) dry up within 3 weeks and for those women who cannot breastfeed for some reasons or other the lochia will dry in 5-6 weeks. The post partum check up is still important before the woman can resume sex.