Is sex during pregnancy safe?
Feeling frisky are ya? Well, go for it little mamma because sex is fine if you're having a normal pregnancy. Normal meaning you're considered low-risk for complications such as miscarriage or pre-term labor.
It won't hurt the baby (it's pretty padded in there) and an orgasm won't trigger labour.
That said, just because you can, doesn't mean you'll want to. Not everyone feels like Heidi Klum when they're pregnant so if you're looking for an out, here are the legitimate reasons doctors advise against intercourse during pregnancy:
- history of miscarriage
- history of pre-term labor
- ruptured membranes (your water has broken)
- unexplained vaginal bleeding or abnormal discharge
- leakage of amniotic fluid
- dilated cervix
- placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta is situated down so low that it covers the cervix
- incompetent cervix, a condition in which the cervix is weakened and dilates prematurely although, I think they could have come up with a nicer name for it
- multiple fetuses (Maybe don't lie about this one if you're trying to get out of sex. I'm guessing you'll get called on it at some point.)
- premature labor in this pregnancy (even if it has stopped)
- an outbreak of genital herpes.
So what if you're good to go but your partner is a little less interested these days? Well, if it makes you feel any better, you aren't alone. Tons of fellas are worried they are going to knock something loose, hurt the baby or hurt you so they steer clear. Plus, you are the mother of his child now, not the dirty girl that does that thing he likes with your pinky finger, so it may be a bit of an adjustment for him to get in the swing of it. Cut him a little slack, serve up more blow jobs then blind side them with sex when he's past the point of caring what condition you're in and all 'sacred mother' crap just flies out the window.
As for you Dads, I recognize that this is a really tricky time. This rockin' hot woman is morphing into the beautiful mother of you child and sometimes it's difficult to get in the mood. A baby is involved now. A baby! How can you do dirty things to your baby's mother?
I'll tell you how. You damn well think of something and man the hell up because this is your moment, buddy. This is when the woman you love wants to feel sexy, and beautiful, and wanted, so you make that shit happen. You tell her she looks incredible and that you want her just as much as you always have. Don't tell her that you want her no matter what she looks like – "Luke, it's a trap!" – because that will be deciphered as her looking not good.
There. You won't find that kind of advice on the other pregnancy sites, will ya?
Have fun!
search: sex and pregnancy, sex dangerous during pregancy
14 Comments
Reader Comments (14)
The great thing about sex during pregnancy is...you don't have to worry about whether you will get pregnant! Before anybody is tempted to say..."DUH!"...stop and think about how nice that is. You can relax and not think about what you are using to prevent pregnancy, and in the early stages, if you are not barfing your guts out, it is actually pretty great sex. And it's kind of nice to know later on that somebody loves you enough to have sex even when you look like that!
I think that pregnancy sex is the best me and my wife have ever had. I love her body in all stages and honestly I think most men feel the same way. There are few thing more beautiful then a pregnant woman.
Our sex was not very good during pregnancy - my hubby was prudish and I was uncomfortable... :-) We could not abstain until the 6 week check up though and were ready to go at it like wild animals before my babies were 2 weeks old. That's the nice thing about having kids young - the body heals quickly.
I think it's ridiculous to shy away from sex while pregnant if everything in one's pregnancy is healthy. Sex is AMAZING so far through my 2nd trimester. I'm more sensitive both physically and emotionally making it more meaningful and down right ENJOYABLE. The big belly just makes you get creative ; )
Pregnant sex is fun. it may be a little less frequent the more pregnant you get but at 36 weeks, I still think its great! I'm a quality over quantity sorta gal, so if I've only got the energy once a week - cause at this point, putting on socks is a challenge - it is still worth it.
OK. when i first got pregnant sex was the LAST thing on my mind. I totally freaked out because well I'm PREGNANT and have no idea how the heck i am going to raise him( due feb 9th!!!)... But Everytime my guy asked me to i made an excuse (i.e. too tired, don't feel good) But after i hit 36 weeks....now 37w-5d.... i just couldn't stop thinking about it and i talked to a doctor and he said it was just fine. It feels wonderful to think that he loves me enough to want to see me naked with a belly sticking out!
We didn't have sex in the first trimester because I'm prone to UTIs and that crazy-ass fish smell that a penis causes in my lady parts. I was told to stay away from the antibiotics that treat both until the 2d trimester. In the 2d trimester (where I'm at today), I had some unexplained bleeding which has led to a ban on pelvic activity for at least another 8 weeks. I'd like to post a yay or nay on pregnancy sex but my guess is that I'll never have the chance to experience it. My husband is totally fine with this - he's more concerned about me than his libido - but I would like to know if all the hype is true. It's kind of a bummer but what are you going to do.
I wanted to respond to the Gal with UTI's as I myself have a long history of them. First of all, a trusted urologist, and not just an OBGYN doctor, should be overseeing your pregnancy. I'll walk you through the parameters that my Urologist and I have set for my care. I'm 29 weeks pregnant, have had no UTIs and happily have sex regularly.
I use an antibacterial soap to wash before and after sex, I drink a tall glass of water after sex, I always empty my bladder before and after sex, I drink 10 8oz glasses of water a day, take 2 CranActin supplements a day (and always an extra one after sex), I take 1,000mg of Vit C a day, I change my underwear twice a day, obviously wipe front to back, take a probiotic twice a day (Iflora is the best) and drink pure cranberry juice diluted with water when I think that I may be getting sick.
My doctor and I have also discussed that my husband needs to have washed himself with antibacterial soap before sex and that there should be no rough sex or strong amounts of friction (lubricant can be very helpful) in order to avoid inflammation. Lastly, I have my husband taking probiotics too. The cleaner and healthier his system is; the less bacteria he will introduce to my system. High levels of yeast in the body have a strong correlation with resulting in chronic UTIs. The 'fishy' smell you're detecting is typical of yeast and not 'normal'. Probiotics for both you & your partner would work wonders and this smell should go away. Of course, high amounts of refined sugar also cause high levels of yeast, so watch your sugar intake.
Hope this helps!
One argument against that you didn't mention: Many STIs do cross the placenta, so if you get one while pregnant it can hurt the fetus. That probably isn't a concern if you are in a monogamous relationship, but if not, use a condom!
I want to have sex with my husband all the time!! Unfortunately, I am strictly forbidden to partake. Not even allowed to have an orgasm. I have placenta accreta & placenta previa. I will be lucky to carry my little girl to 34 wks due to that and I have high BP! Did I mention I am 41 with a younger husband. I know the sacrifice is so worth it but I miss that intimacy with my husband. At least I am able to take care of him-just knowing he would gladly do the same will have to be enough for now. Thanks for listening! I absolutely love this site!
All the comments have sort of depressed me because since getting pregnant, I have had an extremely low libido. Nothing turns me on and it has nothing to do with being tired or sick - just dont want it. Only problem is i want to want it! I've just gotten married so its pretty disturbing - what if I stay like this even after the pregnancy?
In response to 41yrs/2ndPG - I can totally relate. I'm a newlywed and haven't had a libido for the life of me and I'm in the first trimester. I watched a romantic movie the other night and began to cry when the couple (who had just fallen in love) began to kiss. I want to feel like that again. My husband is eager and I don't know what to do. Any and all comments would be appreciated.
Whoops! I meant to reply to 'JB.' - Sorry.
Just be careful having sex during in pregnancy stages. Consult your doctor / OB-GYNE about it.