Sex During Pregnancy: You Can Do It!

When we’re pregnant our hormones can swing between the extremes of sexual desire. Sometimes you’re ready to pounce on your partner at all hours of the day. Other times you’d prefer if they never touched you again thankyouverymuch. Both of these feelings are completely normal, but many women also worry about the safety of sex while pregnant. To calm these worries, here are your need-to-know facts about pregnancy and sex.

Sex is usually safe while pregnant

Good news for most moms-to-be: as long as your pregnancy has no complications you can have as much sex as you’d like. However, you should always discuss this with your doctor because some conditions – like unexplained vaginal bleeding or a history of miscarriage – can increase your risks. Some pregnant women will experience light bleeding after sex due to engorgement of their cervix and vaginal tissues. So don’t be worried if you see a little blood, but if you experience heavy bleeding contact your doctor right away.

You can even have sex in your third trimester

Contrary to popular myths, you can continue to have sex all the way through your last trimester. In a pregnancy with no complications it’s only once your water breaks that you should stop – at that point it could increase the risk of infection.

Sex doesn’t hurt the baby

In fact, your baby is protected by the muscles of your uterus, your cervix, and the amniotic fluid in your uterus, so having sex will not affect the baby. So you can stop worrying about disturbing their comfy existence in your womb!

Orgasms won’t cause labor

Orgasms can cause uterine contractions but they are different from labor contractions. Neither sex nor orgasms are likely to increase risk of premature labor or birth. You may continue to feel contractions or increased fetal activity after your orgasm, but this is completely normal. So enjoy those O’s as often as you like! 

Most positions are perfectly fine

As long as you and your partner are comfortable, most positions will have no negative effects on your pregnancy or baby. Finding a position that works for both of you can take a little time, but it can also be a lot of fun. As you belly grows and missionary becomes impossible try out some more adventurous positions and enjoy getting to know each other again. Just remember that the change in hormones can also affect your vaginal lubrication, and it is completely normal to use a feminine moisturizer for added comfort.

Desire fluctuates

And that’s totally natural – sometimes you want it, sometimes you don’t. The change in hormones can increase sensitivity in your breasts and nipples and cause more blood to flow to your pelvis which make your genitals swell. For some women this throws arousal into over-drive, but for others it can be uncomfortable. Talk to your partner about how you’re feeling and find a balance that keeps you both satisfied.

What about other types of sex?

Sex is not limited to just intercourse and you should feel free to try out different ways of being intimate while pregnant. If you’re not up to a full session you can try oral sex or mutual masturbation. Anal sex, on the other hand, is not recommended as it could allow infection-causing bacteria into the vagina, which is dangerous for both you and the baby.

Yes, you’ll still have sex after baby’s born

Many women also worry about their sex life post-baby, but don’t let that anxiety seep into your sex life during pregnancy. It’s important to remember that your body and your libido will recover from childbirth. Eat healthy, stay fit, and keep up with your Kegels to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Once you’ve fully healed (about 6 weeks after birth), you can even use a smart Kegel exerciser to help train your pelvic floor and see better, faster results. Read our full article about how to have great sex post-pregnancy here.

Being pregnant does not spell the end of your sex life, take your time and define your own comfort levels as your pregnancy progresses. Great sex during pregnancy is absolutely possible, but the first step is letting go of your worries and enjoying each moment of intimacy as much as you can.

Please note that advice offered by Intimina may not be relevant to your individual case. For specific concerns regarding your health, always consult your physician or other licensed medical practitioners.