Sex and sexuality

Midwives' clinical focus on contraception may not be the only way of meeting women's needs after childbirth. When a woman does not return to full sexual function, the explanations available to her tend to emphasise natural/biological, physical and psychological factors. These explanations may fall short of describing the experiences of many women. Midwives need to facilitate opportunities for women to raise issues and concerns significant to them so that women may explore changes in their experience of their own sexuality. To help women to anticipate changes in their lives after childbirth more fully, midwives need to facilitate discussion of sexuality--not just sexual activity--during antenatal preparation and postnatally.