Is it the time of conceiving since you last thought about sex? Or it is just every time you are thinking about it since getting pregnant but not doing it?
Many pregnant women and their partners suppress their sex drive by presuming if sex during pregnancy causes miscarriages or anything beyond.
So, if ands only if you are avoiding sex for the sake for assuming something bad, it should be cleared that getting involved in sexual activities like kissing, cuddling, mutual masturbation or even penetration won’t lead to any problems in pregnancy.
A penis or penetrative things like finger, tongue or sex toy cannot penetrate beyond your vagina. So, it’s no problem to have sex while pregnant.
However, there are some boundaries in the case of sex and pregnancy you have to respect. Either way things can be troublesome.
But before discovering the issues and their preventions, let’s discuss the benefits of sex.
IS SEX SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?
Sex is safe to have during pregnancy as long as your pregnancy is considered as normal.
Your partner’s penis, sex toys or even fingers cannot move deep into vagina and reach the womb.
So, the baby will be safe and unaware what’s happening exactly even you being sexually active.
Sex and having orgasms won’t increase your risk to go into labor prematurely. Relax.
However, sex drive can be a rollercoaster ride when pregnant due to vast hormonal changes and weird pregnancy symptoms.
You may feel devastating or maybe even sexier for pregnancy outcomes especially enlarged breasts and increased blood flow to your reproductive system.
So, it’s better to talk about your sex drive, desires and how you actually feel towards sex while expecting with your partner.
WHEN SAFE IS NOT SAFE?
Sex may not be safe, if you have certain risk factors. And your doctor has consoled you not to.
For example, having any of the complications during pregnancy increases your risk of having a pregnancy without sex.
- A multiple pregnancy
- Having an incompetent cervix
- You have placenta previa
- Had a miscarriage before or at risk of miscarrying
- You had a premature baby in past or vulnerable to face a premature labor
- Amniotic fluid leakage
- Unexplained vaginal discharge during pregnancy
Having any of these above conditions poses a high risk sex life during pregnancy.
So, you better talk with your doctor concerning if you can have sex or it’s a dry out.
Plus, avoid sex if you’re having severe contractions or your water has broken.
IS SEX DURING PREGNANCY BENEFICIAL?
Only if you are immune to have sex while pregnant, instead of issues, it will pour a number of benefits on your health.
Besides, by knowing these following benefits of sex during pregnancy, you will find no reason for suppressing the desire of sexual intercourse.
1. LOWERS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
You won’t believe, but sex is a brilliant form of exercise as it burns calories.
As sex leads to racing heart and usage of various muscles, it certainly contributes to the lowering your blood pressure to a steady level.
Plus, sex causes the arteries in your body to relax that lowers blood pressure levels.
So, get busy.
2. PROVIDES A ROCKING IMMUNITY
Your immunity can thank you for participating in sex.
Sexual intercourse is one of the factors that increase the release of antibody named IgA.
This antibody can naturally improve your immunity and keeps cold as well as certain infections at bay.
Also read: 14 everyday foods that boost immunity easily
3. BETTER ORGASMS
Having sex increases the blood flow to your genital area.
This means an increased number of more powerful orgasms for gestation.
4. INCREASES BONDING
Both you and your partner’s sex drive can go up and sometimes down even.
Thus, sex can help you strengthen your bonding.
Sex is one of those excellent ways to stay connected in this exciting period.
Plus, many partners even state being involved in sexually active brings them closer both physically and mentally.
5. LOWERS GESTAIONAL DIABETES
Sex being a form of exercises can influence maternal glucose metabolism in pregnant women.
As it’s a healthy habit, having sex can lower gestational diabetes by letting your blood sugar levels drop.
6. BOOSTS HAPPINESS
Sexual activities especially orgasms releases endorphins- hormones that trigger positive and happier feeling in body.
This can assist the mother and her baby to feel happy and relaxed.
7. LETS YOU SLEEP
There are plenty of factors that give rise to sleeplessness during pregnancy. But sex is for sure not one of them.
Instead of making you sleepless, sexual intercourse induces sleep.
8. REDUCES STRESS
Apart from any other, pregnant women are at higher risk of facing stress.
In this period, sex act can help.
It can take your mind off from worries and blues because lovemaking lets your body release endorphins and oxytocin.
These two hormones are the feel good and positive hormones that dramatically minimize stress in pregnancy.
9. SPEEDS UP POSTPARTUM RECOVERY
Pregnancy sex mainly having orgasms requires movement of various muscles and joints in your pelvic floor region.
Plus, by just having orgasms you are performing Kegels- one of the best exercises for pregnant women.
This factor can speed up postpartum recovery and tone your pelvic muscles back to normal.
Also Read: 9 medical reasons fr C-section
10. BOOST MOOD
Increased anxiety and pregnancy blues are something you must expect.
They can turn your mood into something that you’d never want to feel anyway.
And that’s exactly where sex helps.
Having orgasms release oxytocin that boosts your mood and feeling of love and joy.
Apart from these benefits for pregnancy only, sex is seen to provide these following advantages on women.
- Improved cardiovascular health
- A boost in self esteem
- Decreased chance of depression and anxiety
- Higher libido
- Physiological and emotional stress relief
- Immediate and natural pain relief
BEST SEX POSITIONS FOR PREGNANCY
Positions that were outstanding before, will not work during pregnancy.
Bad sex positions, likewise, lying flat on your back after fourth month can suppress the major blood vessels that carry blood to your baby.
So, pregnancy might be the perfect time to explore and enjoy different positions for lovemaking.
Concerning to that, check out these below sex position ideas for sex during pregnancy.
1. SPOONING POSITION
In this position, both of you and your partner have to lay sideways with your partner behind you.
This position doesn’t put your stomach in any stressful conditions and releases pressure.
This sex position can be appropriate for every trimester of pregnancy.
2. WOMAN ON TOP
This position requires your partner lying on his back while you are on the top in order to feel top of the world.
This is one of the sex positions that ensure you in control of how fast or slow and comfortable you are on bed.
3. WOMAN ON HANDS AND KNEES
Women on hands and knees which is also referred to as doggy style can be the best positions for pregnancy but only for first and second trimester.
As you gradually enter into the third trimester you are likely to find it quite uncomfortable to carry with you.
However, what works for others may not work for you.
So, it’s best to keep exploring and get deeper into your sex life.
OTHER WAYS TO FEEL LOVED
The urge to have sexual intercourse varies from women to women.
Pregnancy hormones can make sex more intense or wreck havoc on your mood of lovemaking.
Through the pregnancy, numerous changes will continue to happen in your pelvic region especially in the vagina.
So, instead of getting into mood, you can simply feel not to. And having penetrative sex possibly is the last thing in your mind.
All these things can mess up or complicate the relationship in between you and your partner.
For this reason, other ways of love making except penetrative sex can help.
For example, you can enjoy sex life during pregnancy by
- Cuddling
- Massage
- Oral sex
- Mutual masturbation
- Intense Kissing
Besides, be open to your partner in the case of love making while expecting because it’s a whole new experience for both of you.
Talk to your healthcare provider if pregnancy is affecting your sex life of both of yours or either of you.
SIGNS OF PROBLEM DURING OR AFTER SEX
Call your doctor right away if you encounter any of these symptoms during or after having sex while pregnant.
- Heavy bleeding like in periods
- Painful cramps for extended period
- Leaking amniotic fluid
However, light spotting and mild cramps are normal to have after penetrative sex when expecting.
WHAT NOT TO DO WHILE SEX DURING PREGNANCY
Pregnancy sex and normal sex hold massive differences.
The things that are off limits for sex in pregnancy include
1. UNPROTECTED SEX
Pregnancy doesn’t provide any kind of protection against STIs or STDs.
So, you have to prevent them on your own.
In case you have a new partner, don’t get involved in sexual activity without condoms.
2. MULTIPLE SEX PARTNERS
Multiple sex partners increase the risk of various infections and health hazards.
For example, having sex with multiple persons can complicate simple infections including urinary tract infection, bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection.
3. ORAL SEX
Oral sex is perfectly safe during pregnancy as long as your partners don’t blow air into your vagina.
Blowing air into vagina can cause air embolism in which an air bubble blocks a blood vessel.
This factor, in rare cases, leads to serious problems while expecting.
4. ANAL SEX
Anal sex can be one of the off limit factors for pregnancy due to the troubles including constipation and hemorrhoid.
Besides, anus is full of not so healthy bacteria.
So, performing vaginal sex after anal sex can expose you developing virginal infections along the way.
5. USAGE OF CHEMICAL LUBRICANTS FOR SEX
Vaginal dryness is basic issue that pregnant women often encounter that makes sex vary unsatisfying and a lot painful.
But using chemical and scented products for lubrication can be problematic too as they encourage infections by affecting the natural pH of vagina.
However, for sex, it’s best to use water based lubricants or anything natural like coconut oil for lubrication.
These are the off limits that you should consider avoiding while having sex during pregnancy.
WHY SEX FEELS DIFFERENT DURING PREGNANCY?
Sex in no question feels different during pregnancy.
All those raising hormones and rapidly changing body shape can either make you feel uncomfortable or breathtaking and everything in between during sex.
Many women find sex more pleasurable than usual due to increased blood flow to genital area.
While as others feel too self conscious to their bodies because of engorged genitals that latter cause unsatisfied sex.
So, anything can happen unless you try it.
SEX DURING PREGNANCY: FAQS
Is bleeding after sex normal during pregnancy?
The more sensate cervix and the engorged mouth of the uterus can lightly bleed after penetration which isn’t a thing to alarm. But it’s better to console your doctor for your own clarification.
When to stop sex during pregnancy?
Sex is safe during pregnancy unless your doctor advices to not to. A penetrative penis, finger, sex toy or even tongue can penetrate beyond your vagina. There will be no harms will be caused by sex to the baby.
LAST WORDS FROM PREGARLYBODY
Sex probably is the simplest, more basic and by far the fastest way to enhance your mood as well as your overall health. And it’s entertaining like no other.
You can use these above mentioned sexual positions for better and more intense sex while pregnant.
However, no women are the same and nor their pregnancies.
What drives others may not work for you. So, it’s important to explore it on your own.
Apart from that, it’s also important to remember that your partner is pregnant (mentally).
So, it’s always good to have a conversation and clarify whether your partner wants exactly what you are looking for.
Moreover, I genuinely hope that you came to know a thing or two about sex during pregnancy.
All at the end, pregarlybody wishes you a healthy pregnancy ahead.
