Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?
It’s perfectly safe to have sex when you’re pregnant until when your waters break, unless your doctor or midwife has told you not to. It is even well encouraged as it is healthy for your sense of wellbeing and after your baby has arrived.
Having sex won’t hurt your baby. Your baby is also well protected in the womb in the amniotic sac so having sex cannot go beyond the vagina and disturb your baby.
However, you may find that sex feels a bit different when you’re pregnant because of pregnancy hormones. You may find that nausea, morning sickness or just fatigue just simply puts you off!
Also having an orgasm if you have no complications in your pregnancy is very safe and will not cause a miscarriage or premature labour. But, if you have an orgasm in third trimester, it may trigger some mild contractions called Braxton Hicks which would not hurt your baby. If you do see that the contractions keep going on with some discomfort, contact your doctor immediately.
What will happen to my sex drive?
Your sex drive will most likely change when you are pregnant. Some women lose their sexual urge while some want it more. However, the usual process with most women is that most women find that their sexual urge goes down in the first trimester most likely because of the morning sickness and fatigue, goes up again in the second trimester and then down again in the last trimester.
Just remember that everyone is different, as is every pregnancy. It is totally normal to lose your sexual urge while pregnant.
This could be because of hormonal changes, mood swings and maybe you don’t feel desirable enough. Try not to get too concerned about it. The most important thing is to focus on your health and wellbeing, follow your doctor’s advice and do what’s best for your individual situation.
How will my partner feel about sex during my pregnancy?
Just like you, your partner’s sexual desire may fluctuate during your pregnancy. It could just mean that he is worried that sex may hurt the baby, or he is feeling anxious about becoming a new dad.
This may not cause any problems if you are both feeling the same way. But it may cause some strain on both of you if one of you wants to have sex and the other doesn’t. So it is important to try talk with your partner about his fears and encourage him to learn about it.
What are the best sex positions to try in pregnancy?
Sex isn’t always easy during pregnancy and you may need to explore with different positions to find which one will work for both of you.
Sex with your partner on top can become uncomfortable quite early in pregnancy, because your breasts might be tender.
It may be better to lie on your sides,or with your partner behind (spooning).
When should I avoid sex in pregnancy?
You will probably be advised to avoid sex if
- Your have a history of bleeding in your pregnancy
- you have a history of cervical weakness – might trigger premature labour
- Your waters have broken – can cause infection
- your partner has a sexually transmitted infection.
If any of these apply to you, the safest thing to do is to avoid any kind of sex
Can having sex start labour?
To be honest, there has been no scientific research to back it up that sex can trigger labour. However there are some mums that swear by it that it does trigger labour. It is thought that sex can bring on labour because:
- Semen contains a hormone-like substance called prostaglandins, which may help soften and relax the cervix.
- Sex can trigger the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps your contractions.
- An orgasm may help stimulate your contractions
So as long as your pregnancy is not high-risk and have not been advised not to avoid sex by your doctor, there is no harm trying to have sex when you are due to bring on labour.
Both you and your partner can have satisfying sex when you are pregnant. the most important thing is to support each other and communicate.
