There’s a wide range of individual experience when it comes to sexual desire during pregnancy. Some women have a heightened libido throughout pregnancy while others are less interested in sex. Many women find that their sexual appetite fluctuates, perhaps depending on how they’re otherwise feeling physically and emotionally. You may feel too tired, moody, or nauseated to make love, especially in the first trimester. It’s not unusual to feel overwhelmed by the physical and emotional changes you’re going through. But take heart; you may find that your libido returns in the second trimester after morning sickness and fatigue have eased up.
It’s also not uncommon, however, for desire to wane again in the third trimester, particularly in the last month or two. At this point, you may be too big, achy, or exhausted to make love comfortably. You may feel self-conscious about how your body has changed or preoccupied with the approach of labour and birth. Let your partner know how you feel and reassure him that you still love him. It’s crucial to keep the lines of communication open and to support each other in order to go through these changes together.
As often happens with even the most intense pregnancy symptoms, you’re not alone. A lot of women find that their sex drive during pregnancy is so high, they’re hungry all the time (even when their partners are more than satiated). And with all those pregnancy hormones flowing, it’s understandable. During pregnancy, your breasts are getting bigger and more sensitive and what translates to pain in some women may actually feel pleasurable in some. Your vulva is becoming engorged from extra blood flow and even more sensitive, which could lead to more enjoyable pregnancy sex. With all that increased sensitivity, your sex drive during pregnancy could be fired up most of the time, even without any prompting from a second party, researchers have been able to link lack of sex during pregnancy to one of the cases of puerperal psychosis also known as postpartum psychosis.
Postpartum Psychosis
Postpartum psychosis, sometimes called puerperal psychosis, is a sudden onset of psychosis following childbirth. As with other forms of psychoses, postpartum psychosis is characterized by a break with reality. It can cause delusions, hallucinations and highly abnormal behavior. It is a very serious condition; psychiatric illness has been reported to be the second most common indirect cause of maternal deaths. Unfortunately, many cases of postpartum psychosis are only diagnosed after the disorder has caused a tragedy.
Symptoms of postpartum psychosis
Symptoms of postpartum psychosis can include:
- Becoming delusional or having unusual beliefs
- Hallucinating
- Becoming incredibly irritated, even over small matters
- Hyperactivity
- Insomnia or a reduced need to sleep
- Becoming paranoid or suspicious
- Swift changes of mood
- Trouble in communicating.
Causes of postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is regarded by many experts as an episode of a bipolar or depressive disorder. There is evidence that medical conditions incurred as the result of birth such as infection, a drug interaction or blood loss may cause postpartum psychosis. Certainly, the abrupt decline in estrogen and progesterone levels immediately after giving birth can have a powerful effect on emotional stability. In addition, there is the possibility that relationship discord or conflicted feelings about becoming a mother can increase the chances that postpartum psychosis will develop. Women who, previous to their pregnancy and delivery, were diagnosed with depression or a psychotic disorder, are at particular risk.
Who is at risk of developing postpartum psychosis?
- Women with a history of serious mental disorder, particularly depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
- Those with either a history of postpartum psychosis or having a mother diagnosed with the disorder.
- Women who are having their first child, complications of the pregnancy such as premature birth, or caesarian section.
- During the past month, have you often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless?
- Women who have no sexual desire and little interest or pleasure in doing things.
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