Pregnant? Don't stop loving yourself!

Pregnant? Don't stop loving yourself!

Today I want to write about sex during pregnancy. And I'll be honest, I don't really know how to approach this. Because sex during pregnancy is like... lollipops. For some, they could basically not exist. For others, they are very important, but eaten very carefully and through a paper, they are not as enjoyable. And still others enter the "non-stop lollipop mode" and if it weren't for common sense, they would eat them several times a day.

Pregnancy – the beginning of the end?

Contrary to what some people think, pregnancy does not mean the end. The end of drinking your beloved coffee, the end of doing sports, the end of an active sexual life... As long as the pregnancy is going well, you don't have to deny yourself pleasure. In fact, you shouldn't! After all, the most common argument used to justify all maternal sins is: "HAPPY MOM = HAPPY CHILD".

Can you have sex while pregnant?

Sexual intercourse during pregnancy is a very individual matter. In the case of a healthy person whose pregnancy is proceeding normally, there are no contraindications to having sex – neither intercourse nor orgasm should negatively affect the health of the fetus.

Can orgasm during pregnancy harm the baby?

The contractions of the uterus during orgasm cannot harm the baby and are too weak to induce labor. The developing fetus is protected inside the uterus by the amnion and amniotic fluid, and the strong muscle of the uterus covers the baby. The thick mucus plug covering the cervix also acts as a barrier. Healthy couples can therefore have sex until delivery. However, it is important to remember that sexual drive varies from person to person, and can also change depending on the age of pregnancy and its course. What affects sexual activity, satisfaction, and quality of intercourse are also changes in appearance related to pregnancy.

What determines whether to continue or discontinue sexual intercourse during pregnancy?

• The health condition of the pregnant person (general condition and pregnancy condition!),
• emotional bond between parents,
• sexual needs of future parents,
• sexual intercourse before pregnancy,
• self-esteem and attractiveness,
• partners' fear for the child,
• a feeling of embarrassment related to the proximity of the fetus,
• cultural traditions of society.

The above factors apply to a large extent to each partner. Just as a pregnant person may have reservations about having sex, their partner may have their own reasons for giving up. Therefore, if sex, it should only be with the consent of each partner. Its frequency, although variable depending on the gestational age, must also suit all people. Neither party should guess the partner's expectations. This is a difficult time in the life of every relationship. Talking about your fears and anxieties related to pregnancy and supporting each other during this great expectation has a positive impact on the relationship and sexual needs of future parents.

Read our other article on how to talk about sex with your partner .

Sexual activity in the first trimester of pregnancy

Studies show that in the early stages of pregnancy (first trimester) there is a clear decrease in sexual interest in pregnant women and, as a consequence, a decrease in the frequency of sexual intercourse (an observation confirmed in women who have not given birth; not confirmed in multiparous women).

It's probably because it's hard to find your way in this new reality. Fighting alternately with sleepiness, nausea or vomiting, trying to get used to constantly sore breasts and a slightly lowered mood, it's hard to muster the will to play. It's not so bad if you connect the dots early enough and at least know that it's a pregnancy (but then you may start to worry about maintaining the pregnancy), but if you don't know about the surprise that fate has prepared for you, you may feel even more uncertain about your own health.

Why is it okay to have sex in early pregnancy?

Because you have peace of mind! You are pregnant, so you don't have to try anymore or be afraid of another one, you don't needcontraception (superfetation, or additional fertilization, is an extremely rare phenomenon), and at the same time, the belly doesn't interfere with intercourse. Additionally, in the first weeks of pregnancy, the congestion of erogenous zones increases, so it's simply more enjoyable. Another reason why people are more willing to decide to have intercourse during this period may be the fact that a woman feels and looks even more "appetizing" at the beginning of pregnancy. The complexion and hair improve, the breasts become slightly larger (swollen), the amount of vaginal discharge increases - all this works on partners and has a positive effect on the well-being of women, who feel a unique "glow".

Sexual activity in the second trimester of pregnancy

The second trimester of pregnancy is a time when most people experience a significant increase in the number of sexual contacts. There is a desire, a willingness, fantasies, and even erotic dreams (an observation independent of the number of deliveries)... All this is the result of hormones and physiological changes characteristic of the second trimester (congestion of the genitals and faster and stronger wetting of the vaginal walls). These changes are conducive to achieving sexual satisfaction.

Sexual activity in the third trimester of pregnancy

In the third trimester of pregnancy, however, a decrease in sexual activity and a decreased ability to experience orgasm were observed (observation independent of the number of deliveries). In this period, anxiety about the child and the course of delivery predominates, as well as symptoms characteristic of the third trimester, which do not favor any activity: sacral pain, swelling, heaviness, fatigue, weight gain, mental exhaustion.

Too bad! After all, sex is even recommended on the due date! No, it won't cause labor to start suddenly, but the oxytocin released during orgasm will certainly make things a little easier.

Sexual positions

Sexual intercourse during pregnancy does not have a harmful effect on the condition of the fetus. Nevertheless, special care should be taken and positions should be chosen appropriately for each trimester of pregnancy. In the first trimester of pregnancy, you can have sex in almost any position, because the belly does not yet hinder sexual contact.

It was found that 41% of couples expecting a child choose a position in which the woman lies on her side with her back to the man, leaning away from him, with her knees bent. 26% of respondents choose the classic position, 23% make love in the cowgirl or reverse cowgirl position (in which the partner lies on his back and the partner sits on him, facing forward or backward). 9% of respondents declared the option "other".

The advantage of the first of the previously mentioned positions (when the woman lies on her side with her back to the man, leaning away from him, with her knees bent) is the ability to regulate the depth of penetration. The greater the leaning of the woman from the man, the deeper the immission. Slow undulations during sex and the lack of pressure on the abdomen have a positive effect on the feeling of pleasure. This position allows for the activity of both partners and is suitable for the entire period of pregnancy, if there are no specific contraindications.

In the cowgirl or reverse cowgirl position, the activity is on the woman's side, she can move her pelvis in all directions. The penis goes deep, so stimulation covers all the walls of the vagina. This positioning of the bodies is one of the most arousing, also because of the visual stimuli.

In the second trimester of pregnancy, the blood supply to the pelvic area increases, which significantly facilitates intercourse and achieving satisfaction. You can then have sex in almost all positions, as long as the belly is not pressed in them.

In the third trimester (i.e. towards the end of pregnancy), the positioning of the bodies of the partners during intercourse should be adjusted to the comfort of the pregnant person and the safety of the unborn child. It is worth returning to the "spooning" position or choosing posterior positions (as long as the partner is not too violent in them) - then the belly is completely safe, and the breasts are not pressed (touching the breasts can cause discomfort).

We encourage you to read the article about diet during pregnancy .

Threats

Urinary tract infections are one of the real threats to the course of pregnancy. Persistent inflammation can lead to rupture of the membranes and intrauterine infection of the fetus, which in turn threatens to disrupt the child's adaptation process to new conditions in the first moments of life. For this reason, it is so important to follow the rules of hygiene during pregnancy, also (or rather especially!) during sexual intercourse.

Intrauterine infections are a common cause of perinatal complications in parturients, fetuses and newborns, responsible for approximately 50% of preterm births.

What can be done to minimize the risk of infection?

What we do after every intercourse (not only during pregnancy) – that is, to follow the rules of hygiene. It is good to pee and wash right after intercourse. Read more about this topic in the article: hygiene after intercourse .

It is recommended to use condoms, especially about 6 weeks before delivery, to avoid reinfection of the genital tract (leading to premature delivery, infectious complications in the puerperium, and as a result of passing through an infected birth canal - infections in newborns). It is also very important to treat all urinary tract infections in pregnant women.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience spotting or bleeding after intercourse, do not ignore it and go to a doctor. Performing tests will help determine the cause of the bleeding, the doctor will inform you about further treatment.

You also need to be alert to any pain in your lower abdomen or irregular uterine contractions. If they don't go away, consult your doctor.

Sex stop?

In most cases, sex can be safely practiced during pregnancy. However, there are situations when it should be limited or even stopped. These include: placental vessels, placenta praevia or low-lying placenta (a "normal" condition until about 20 weeks of pregnancy, after which it is a risk), bleeding from the genital tract of a pregnant woman (pregnancy at risk of miscarriage), shortening of the cervix (risk of premature labor), condition after the amniotic fluid has broken, multiple pregnancy.

Do you know what to expect?

Sex during pregnancy is an individual matter. The key to success is education and understanding between partners. Awareness of the processes that occur in a woman's body and the changes that occur in subsequent months or trimesters allows you to get rid of fears and anxiety and makes intercourse accepted as a natural part of the life of future parents, i.e. two people who love each other.

If not sex during pregnancy, then what?

Hey! After all, good sex (or just sex) is not everything! There are also other ways to nurture the bond between young parents. Even if you have reservations or medical indications for sexual abstinence, you still have other aces up your sleeve: kissing, caressing, masturbation , oral sex... There are so many combinations of intimate closeness! And all of them can be just as satisfying and EFFECTIVE as sexual intercourse.

In conclusion

In the text I have mentioned MANY TIMES that during a healthy pregnancy there are no contraindications to having sex. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SEX DURING PREGNANCY, YOU CAN DO IT. However, it is worth remembering to consult all doubts with the doctor supervising the pregnancy.

The text is not paid for by your partner, it is based on solid sources, and is additionally checked by an expert. So if you feel like having fun, but you weren't sure if it was a good idea, then... go make love!