Contrary to popular belief, there’s often no need for pregnant women to abstain from sex. In fact, maintaining a sex life during pregnancy can be especially pleasurable when done carefully and responsibly.
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Keep reading to learn the basics of how to keep up your intimacy habits with a significant other when you’re carrying a child. Sex during pregnancy is something you may have not even considered yet, but as you’ll soon see, it can be fun under the right circumstances, especially if you have an understanding partner.
Listening To Your Body, And Your Partner, Is Essential
Although some men are extremely aroused by the prospect of having sex with their pregnant partners, sex may be the last thing pregnant women care about, particularly if they’re dealing with side effects like morning sickness.
If your doctor has determined yours is a low-risk pregnancy and you haven’t experienced any complications so far, it’s safe to assume that having sex is indeed safe. However, that doesn’t mean that just because sex is safe, you have to participate in it.
A woman’s sex drive often varies greatly depending on the stage of pregnancy she’s going through. For example, in the first trimester, the desire to have sex may be particularly low due to tiredness and nausea.
During the second trimester, though, it’s more likely those symptoms will have lessened, and women often feel more lubricated during that stage. Once the third trimester begins, the belly is often extremely rounded, and women feel tired again.
Also, when women have orgasms with sex in the third trimester, the orgasms can potentially cause contractions. With all these things in mind, consider that the second trimester may be the most ideal time to try having sex while pregnant.
Even so, it’s always best to follow the advice of your doctor first and then tune in to what your body is telling you. Factors like stress and fatigue can cause women not to want to have sex regardless of whether they are pregnant or not.
When carrying a child, you’ll probably spend a significant amount of time just getting used to the new shape and size of your body, and that’s normal. Your partner may be very eager to try having sex while you’re pregnant, but if you’re not in the mood, don’t feel pressured.
In contrast, some partners are very nervous about having sex with women who are pregnant, because they’re afraid of hurting the baby. Reassure them that the baby is well protected inside you, and as long as you take care to be mindful of discomfort and have been given the go ahead by your doctor, there’s no need to go through nine months without sex.
If your partner still feels uneasy, reach an agreement that you’ll just take things slow and communicate thoroughly throughout the process.
By pacing yourselves and listening to what each other is experiencing as you make love, those actions will help you avoid embarrassment or other uncomfortable situations in the bedroom.
Steer Clear Of Some Sexual Acts
When deciding how to go about doing the deed, always make your comfort a priority. More often than not, women find that as they progress in their pregnancies, it becomes more and more uncomfortable for them to engage in the traditional position of having their partners on top.
Furthermore, during the third trimester, women should avoid lying on their backs because their uteruses may adversely impact blood vessels by having compressive effects.
In addition to leading to pain and pressure in the pelvic area, lying on one’s back during sex while pregnant could also cause supine hypotensive syndrome, a condition that causes raised blood pressure and subsequent dizziness.
In addition, sexual partners should refrain from blowing into a pregnant woman’s vagina while performing oral sex. In some cases, the air could cause the woman to get an air embolus, which could reach the lung and cause death.
Some Sexual Positions May Be More Comfortable Than Others
As described in detail above, it’s important to realize it’s not practical to engage in some sexual positions and acts while pregnant. However, other than that, it’s best to go with whatever’s most comfortable for you in terms of positions. Many women find it’s best for them to be penetrated from the back or during side-to-side intercourse (which is also known as spooning).
When trying to figure out which positions are ideal for you, always be patient with yourself and with your partner. Even if you have been pregnant before, each experience of carrying a child is different, so a fair amount of experimentation may be required before you settle on an enjoyable sexual position. Don’t give up or get too frustrated if the overall process of reaching that point takes longer than you’d like or expect.
Orgasms And The Fear Of Miscarriages
Earlier, it was mentioned that when women have sexual intercourse during their third trimesters, they are particularly likely to experience orgasms that may lead to contractions. All orgasms cause the uterus to contract, but there’s a good chance you’re feeling such contractions more intensely now that you’re pregnant.
However, the good news is that as long as you’ve followed the advice you’ve read here so far and aren’t tempted to engage in sex if you’re having a high-risk pregnancy, you shouldn’t worry too much about the contractions from orgasms being so strong that they cause you to have a miscarriage.
If you have further concerns, be cautious and ask your doctor. It’s especially important to do that if you’ve had complicated pregnancies in the past, even if the one you’re going through currently has so far been trouble free.
Lubrication Products: To Use Or Not To Use?
During stages of pregnancy after the first trimester, many women find they’re naturally well-lubricated, so there’s no need to use supplemental lubrication products even if they had done so regularly before getting pregnant. However, all women are different and you may find you’re more comfortable during pregnancy sex if you’re using more lubrication than what your body makes naturally.
If that’s the case, go with a water-based lubricant. You might find it will have to be reapplied more frequently than other types, but it’s still your best option of what to use if you ne
ed extra moisture down there when you’re pregnant. Worried the lube might reach the baby? Don’t be. Since your cervix is sealed shut, the baby’s protected from any lubrication product you decide to use.
Hopefully this information makes you feel more confident and prepared when it comes to having sex while pregnant. Having sex while pregnant isn’t right for every woman, but if you’re in the mood for getting it on as an expectant mother, the tips above should allow you to do so without becoming so nervous that your sex drive feels depleted before it ever reaches its peak.
