"I hate asking, I hate trying, 'cause I don't want it to be pity sex," Tanner Tolbert admitted of the challenges of physical intimacy in new parenthood

Tanner Tolbert Feels Like He Has 'Begged' Wife Jade for Sex Since Second Baby's Arrival

Tanner and Jade Roper Tolbert‘s sex life hasn’t exactly been the same since becoming parents for the second time.

Get push notifications with news, features and more.

In all seriousness, their relationship has “changed completely” since their now-2-year-old daughter Emerson “Emmy” Avery‘s arrival, said Tanner, 32, revealing in the candid conversation with the former Bachelor that he wants to have sex more now while Jade, 32, “wants it less.”

“It took a dive [when Jade started nursing Emmy] and then pretty much right after the breastfeeding stopped, we got pregnant again with Brooks,” he shared. “And now he’s here and we have two kids. It is tough. I feel like I’ve begged for it. And I don’t want to feel selfish — I hate asking, I hate trying, ’cause I don’t want it to be pity sex.”

Image zoom Jamie McCarthy/Getty

That being said, he respects his wife’s priorities and they have honest conversations about it, recognizing that her focus “should be on the kids, not me.” But regardless, “I do feel on the back burner,” Tanner added.

Want all the latest pregnancy and birth announcements, plus celebrity mom blogs? Click here to get those and more in the PEOPLE Parents newsletter.

According to Mayo Clinic, “the risk of having a complication after delivery is highest during the first two weeks after delivery,” so many healthcare providers recommend waiting at least four weeks after giving birth to engage in sexual intercourse again.

“In addition to postpartum discharge and vaginal tears, you might experience fatigue, vaginal dryness, pain and low sexual desire,” the organization notes. “If you had a vaginal tear that required surgical repair, you might need to wait longer.”

In an interview with Parents.com, gynecologist Rebecca Booth, M.D., explained that breastfeeding “releases oxytocin, a hormone that triggers good feelings toward the baby but also suppresses your libido.”

“Anthropologically speaking, keeping your sex drive low is your body’s way of preventing another pregnancy too soon,” she added. “Patients are always relieved to find out there’s a reason they’re not as into sex.”

Viall, 38, went on to ask Tanner if he watches pornography in the interim, but the former reality star admitted it doesn’t really interest him anymore and he only does if his wife is away.

“I’m not really a big porn guy. Now that I’m married, I don’t want to go that route as much as when I was single,” he said. “If Jade’s out of town, I will.”

While she doesn’t have an issue with masturbation itself, “She doesn’t want to know when I relieve myself,” Tanner revealed. “She’s okay with me doing it, she doesn’t want to know, ‘Hey, I’m going to the room right now, see ya.’ ”

He doesn’t believe watching porn is being unfaithful, either. “If you’re at a period of your life where you can’t fulfill certain needs, I don’t think you can view it as cheating or view it as trust issues,” Tanner said.

Image zoom Tanner and Jade Roper Tolbert Jade Tolbert/Twitter

Tanner also opened up to Viall about his mixed feelings surrounding second-time fatherhood. For one thing, he hasn’t yet felt that same bond with Brooks that he had with Emmy after she was born.

“I feel bad saying that because I’ve got a beautiful newborn son, but maybe it just takes time,” he said. “I will love them equally, for different reasons, but I feel it right now more with Emmy and I don’t know why.”

Of Brooks, “He wants Mom all the time,” said Tanner. “I don’t have milk here to provide.”