Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

Whether or not to have sex is a major concern for many couples during pregnancy. Even if they’re in the mood, they are not sure what period of pregnancy is safe for intercourse. They have many fears, including whether intercourse may harm the baby, or if it might cause premature contractions that would end up leading to labour.

Common fears during pregnancy sex

Fortunately, most pregnant women may have sex normally until labour, the exception being they have some rare complications during pregnancy. If you have any such complications, your health practitioner will let you know when to avoid sex.

And, most importantly: your developing baby is sealed in amniotic sac within the uterus, giving you some reassurance and peace of mind. The sac and the uterine muscles protect the baby, preventing it from being bumped internally during intercourse. A mucous plug also guards the cervix, preventing from any infection. You can rest assured that even deep penetration during sex won’t hurt the baby.

Sex may stimulate some uterine contractions, but these are temporary and aren’t very strong, so they won’t initiate premature labour.

It’s important that the couples communicate all their concerns to their physician during their prenatal visits, as this will remove their fears and will help them to relax and enjoy their sex life during pregnancy.

Does sex feel the same during pregnancy?

Simply put: some feelings may vary.

Some women find more pleasure in sex during pregnancy, whereas some really don’t have any desire. Usually during the first trimester, a woman will experience morning sickness and get more exhausted, so her sex drive is typically lower decrease at this stage. By the second trimester,a woman’s body gets used to the changes of pregnancy, and the feelings of tiredness and fatigue are also lessened, so her sexual desire tends to increase during this phase. The feelings for sex again decrease in the third trimester, where the large tummy size and hormonal changes make the expectant mother focus more on her own situation and on the baby to be delivered, rather than on sex. This is generally what happens, but may vary according to individual experiences.

What if I don’t feel like sex?

That’s completely fine. It’s physical intimacy between a couple that means more than the sex itself. Even if you don’t want to have sex, you and your partner can easily figure out other ways to be close and affectionate with each other. You can share your feelings, or hug and kiss each other more often.

It is important that you and your partner keep supporting each other throughout the pregnancy, sharing your feelings as you go through the changes together. Reassure your partner that no matter whether your sex desire is low or high, you still love them.

So, if your doctor says that you are not at high risk of preterm labour or miscarriage, or have no other complications and thus doesn’t ask you to abstain from sex – stop worrying and enjoy your sex life.

Helpful Tip(s)

Try to initiate a sensual night with your partner by giving each other essential oil massages. Rosehip oil is said to be great for stretch marks, so ask your partner to join you in massaging your belly with you to help grow your bond with each other, and your growing belly.