9 Post-Baby Pitfalls and What You Can Do About Them

Connecting with your partner after baby arrives can be a real challenge. Here's how to avoid some of the most common post-baby sex pitfalls

9 Post-Baby Pitfalls and What You Can Do About Them

Problem: You Feel More Like a Slob Than a Sex Kitten


Solution: Clean up your attitude


When your baggy clothes are covered in spit-up and you’re lugging around 20 pounds of baby weight, it may be hard to imagine you’ll ever feel sexy again. Making the time for a little personal hygiene is a good start.


Shower with your partner when the baby is napping, suggests sexologist Trina Read. “It’s a really nice way to connect—you can do the sudsy thing and dry each other off and you won’t feel so crusty and smelly.”


In the bedroom, focus on the experience, rather than your flab.


“An enthusiastic partner will trump any kind of bulge,” says Read. “If you’re doing the cowgirl in bed, jiggling because you’re carrying 20 extra pounds, the guy is not going to notice. Women tend to zone in on their wobbly bits but men see the entire picture.”


Resist the urge to wear a Hazmat suit to hide your new stretch marks and soft tummy. “When you’re busy being self-conscious or turning off all of the lights, you won’t enjoy the sex and you’re ruining the mood for him too.”


If you’re not ready to be totally naked just yet, shop together for some lingerie that makes you feel sexy, like a camisole and short shorts that you can wear during sex. “Maybe you’ll feel more comfortable about taking it off after a while,” says Read.


Photography from iStockphoto.com