The doc said its normal. Does anyone else experience this?

Fallon - posted on 10/22/2009

Yep, with all my kids all along..it will get better!

Marcy - posted on 10/22/2009

Okay this is really personal but I have a 3 year old who still nurses. My husband went in for a vecectomy in July. After the procedure the doctor gave him a bag with a few little cups in it. He told him to go home, wait a week then when we have sex about 10-12 times come back in. The doctor told him he would see him in a few months...my husband started laughing and said 'More like a few years". We joke about our lack of sex life often. I think when you nurse you are just tired...bone tired! Even now its a toss up between sleep and sex. Just don;t be too hard on yourself or too quick to change and stop nursing. Give yourself a break, try lots of foreplay (for me this can be bedroom foreplay or my husband washing the dishes and folding the laundry) and make sure you have some down time. When I put my kiddo to bed at night I try and take a bath and have a glass of wine...it bridges the gap between mommy and wife. Good luck!

Rebecca - posted on 10/22/2009

It is totally normal to have no sex drive at all when breastfeeding. Breastfeeding puts your body in a "menopausal" state. That is why you have hot flashes, sweat while breastfeeding, no sex drive, no natural vag. lubrication ect... It will come back as baby nurses less, usually around the time they start eating solids more and nursing less. I would recomend to breastfeed at least until at a yr of age as your baby still needs the nutrients from breastmilk.

Lyndsay - posted on 10/22/2009

I have no sex drive at all... I had wondered why and didn't even connect breastfeeding to it! Thank you for posting that question, its nice to have a reason and to know that it won't be like this forever. In the mean time, I'm not stopping breastfeeding early, so we'll just have to power through without my drive!

Myria - posted on 10/22/2009

Honey...I still Bf @26 months (bedtime) and I still have no sex drive! Its got to be normal with all the hormones your producing while producing milk. I understand where you are coming from tho...like I said our Bf is just at nighttime and I have NO drive at all. Your not alone.

Ashlee - posted on 10/22/2009

Ok im on #3. all have been BF. around 10 months or so my sex drive shot way up! I couldnt get it enough (hints why my kids are so close in age)! My son is almost 9 months and im Hang in there. You will feel 16 again soon!

Hannah - posted on 10/20/2009

Yes I sympathise completely, I have the exact same thing going on.... I really want to be able to show my partner I still love him and I know without sex men feel rejected... but I just don't want it at the moment! We have tried but it just wasn't worth it as he could tell my heart wasn't in it, and it was uncomfortable and we had to stop. Luckily he is really patient, but I can tell he thinks I am making excuses for pushing him away. Hopefully telling our partners that it's not just us will reassure them a bit. To be honest, I am so knackered most of the time, the only thing I want to do in bed is sleep, nothing else can compete I'm afraid!!!!

Rachel - posted on 10/19/2009

Some people find they can get a boost in their sex drive by upping certain vitamins/minerals that help with energy and keeping the hormone levels balanced. If I remember correctly, zinc is a big one as well as b vitamins. I've got a list of foods around here somewhere that are supposed to help if you can incorporate them into your diet--I remember a few of them because they boost energy levels all around, not just the sex drive :) Strawberries, brown rice, sauerkraut, blueberries, watercress, soybeans, salmon, black beans, bananas, celery. There are more, I just don't remember them at the moment.

I'm not sure I'd label low sex drive as a nursing problem since I've talked to mom's who didn't nurse who feel the same way. It can be stress, diet, exhaustion, the fact that you've gone from couple to parents, lots of things really. Talk to hubby about how you are feeling and work together to find things you can do to keep close--cuddling, kissing, holding hands, date night, massage. You can be intimate without sex :) And who knows? maybe you'll find yourself wanting to go for it!

Crystal - posted on 10/19/2009

Haha..true we do have more time for sex in our lives than for breastfeeding. im not stopping! The saddest part is when you finally have lots of time for sex.. you get menopause!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 10/19/2009

I don't think it is breastfeeding alone. For me, it's more the lack of sleep and stress in general from being a parent. I worry about everything now which makes me tired. All that being said, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I love my daughter and I love breastfeeding. The time that they are this small and breastfeeding will go by fast. Enjoy it now because I'm sure once your baby gets bigger you will miss it. We have the rest of our lives to have sex :)

Crystal - posted on 10/19/2009

My sex drive is so low.. i breastfeed too and my son is 7 months old. Im not sure what exactly is causing it but Im on mirena and one side effect is low sex drive.. so that could be it for me. I love my hubby a lot but i just dont feel like having sex much! My boobs are not sex toys, they are feeding tools now.. lol.. things are so different now but thankfully he understands.