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- Title
'Feeling Ready': A Feminist Poststructural Analysis of Postpartum Sexual Health.
- Authors
Ollivier, Rachel; Aston, Megan; Price, Sheri; Sheppard-LeMoine, Debbie; Steenbeek, Audrey
- Abstract
There exists a lack of literature surrounding how postpartum individuals define feeling 'ready' to resume sexual activities after childbirth. Many factors may influence feelings of desire or readiness for sexual activities, such as breastfeeding. Therefore, it is important to understand why and how postpartum individuals understand and make meaning of their experiences surrounding postpartum sexual activities, as well as how those experiences are influenced or negotiated through relations of power. This study was guided by feminist poststructuralism and discourse analysis. Eleven participants who were between 1 and 6 months postpartum and living in Nova Scotia, Canada, were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Participants challenged certain discourses surrounding sexual activities postpartum, including the social discourse that positions sexual activities as a requirement within romantic relationships and the discourse that positions health care providers as the authority on postpartum sexual health. 'Feeling ready' centered on four main issues: (1) navigating physical recovery; (2) personal knowing and emotional readiness; (3) the 6-week check; and (4) redefining intimacy. This article describes one branch of the findings within the overall study. Choosing to resume sexual activities postpartum, or feeling ready to do so, is individual, fluid, and complex. This research has important implications for practice and policy, specifically as it pertains to postpartum care.
- Subjects
CHILDBIRTH; INTIMACY (Psychology); RESEARCH methodology; HUMAN sexuality; INTERVIEWING; FEMINIST criticism; PUERPERIUM; RESEARCH funding; BREASTFEEDING; DISCOURSE analysis; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; SEXUAL health; WOMEN'S health
- Publication
Qualitative Health Research, 2024, Vol 34, Issue 3, p252
- ISSN
1049-7323
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/10497323231209842