Here are some of the things that constantly raised questions regarding sex during pregnancy. I know, some of us are a bit embarrassed to ask, so worry not, here are some of the answers…
Obviously sex during pregnancy won’t be the same since now that you’re pregnant. You may wonder whether or not you should be doing it at all, or whether it will hurt, or if it will harm your unborn baby…etc.
Let’s start with whether sex is going to harm your baby… The answer is no, assuming you’re going through a normal pregnancy. Your baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid in a membrane (the amniotic sac), inside your uterus or in other word, a womb. This protects your baby and creates a completely safe environment for him.
The cervix, which is the lower part of your uterus, is sealed with a thick mucus plug. If your amniotic fluid is leaking then your baby is no longer protected from external infection and so you should abstain from sex.
Your GP might also advise against sex if you have an incompetent cervix or placenta praevia. An incompetent cervix starts to open before the baby is ready to be born and placenta praevia is where your placenta is low lying – completely or partly covering your cervical opening.
Incompetent cervix is rare and can be treated with internal stitches while placenta praevia often corrects itself before birth.
How about oral sex, you may ask. Is it safe? The answer is yes, and it’s often a great alternative if you’re not up to chandelier-swinging sex. Just be sure to tell him not to blow inside you as this could cause an air embolism, which could be fatal to both you and your baby. Keep in mind that pregnancy hormones can also increase vaginal secretions and your partner might find they also smell and taste stronger than usual.
My sex drive is all over the place, is this normal? The answer is, totally. Your libido is governed by your emotional state and hormones, so it’s natural to feel completely sexy one day and want to avoid it at all costs the next. There are a number of pregnancy niggles which may put you off in the first trimester, such as nausea, tiredness and sore boobs.
Towards the end your size is normally an inhibiting factor, and you maybe preoccupied with the excitement of meeting your new arrival.
What if I bled after having sex. Should I be worried? Slight bleeding after sex is quite common and is usually caused by harmless erosions on the cervix which can be easily treated after the birth if necessary. The blood may be brownish or red and should stop within a few hours, but mention it to your midwife at your next visit, who might tell you to abstain from sex for a while so it has a chance to heal.
Why has my partner gone off sex now I’m pregnant? This one is a bit tricky. Men view pregnant bodies in different ways. Your partner may see your new curves as the ultimate expression of fertility and as a result find you very sexy. Plus he may feel even closer to you now you’re carrying his child and want to express this sexually.
Some men may see their partner’s pregnant body as purely functional
(doing the job of growing a baby) and keep this idea separate in their minds from anything sexual. Talk to each other about how you feel and give lots of reassurance and time to adjust to your new sex life.
My vagina is feeling swollen and sensitive. Is something wrong? Worry not, this is perfectly normal. The swelling and sensitivity is a result of your increased blood flow, which increases by 50 per cent and by the end of your pregnancy, one-fifth of your blood supply is being received by your uterus. Swelling occurs when your growing uterus interferes with the circulation of blood from the legs and pelvic area to the heart.
Is it safe to carry on using sex toys? Perfectly safe, as long as you make sure they are thoroughly cleaned between uses as your immune system is slightly suppressed during pregnancy making you more susceptible to vaginal infections. You may also find that you need to adjust the depth of penetration as your pregnancy progresses, to avoid brushing your cervix.
I seem to be more lubricated during sex, is this normal? Yes, completely. It is also normal to find your vagina dryer than usual too. It’s all a result of increased levels of oestrogen which affects the amount of lubrication produced. To help things along, try a lubricant such as KY Jelly.
Can having an orgasm harm my baby? On the contrary, they are actually good for both you and your baby. Your baby is oblivious to you having sex or an orgasm, though he will experience the rush of happy hormones. He’ll also be soothed by the gentle contractions of your uterus. Some women even experience their first multiple orgasms during pregnant sex as raised hormone levels may make it easier for you to climax.
Why do I get stomach cramps after sex? All women experience uterine contractions when they orgasm, but because your uterus is enlarged when you’re pregnant you’re likely to feel it more. Semen is responsible for making your uterus contract as it contains prostaglandins, which send chemical signals to your uterus.
These contractions won’t cause a pre-term labour (before 37 weeks) if you are having a normal pregnancy and are not too close to your due date. To be on the safe side call your GP or midwife if the cramping lasts longer than half an hour.
However, if you have a history of pre-term labours, or are carrying more than one baby your GP may advise you to avoid sex for some or all of your pregnancy.
Is having sex later on in my pregnancy safe? In theory, if you are having a problem-free pregnancy you can have sex right up until your waters break. After that point your baby is no longer protected from infection. In reality though, penetration can become quite uncomfortable due to your size, as well the fact the cervix softens and the baby’s head engages.
Can sex kick-start an overdue labour? Because of the prostaglandins present in semen, having sex may bring on labour, but this will only happen if your body is ready to give birth. Still, most women find sex uncomfortable in the later stages of pregnancy but, if you can manage it, hey, go for it!
Obviously sex during pregnancy won’t be the same since now that you’re pregnant. You may wonder whether or not you should be doing it at all, or whether it will hurt, or if it will harm your unborn baby…etc.
Let’s start with whether sex is going to harm your baby… The answer is no, assuming you’re going through a normal pregnancy. Your baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid in a membrane (the amniotic sac), inside your uterus or in other word, a womb. This protects your baby and creates a completely safe environment for him.
The cervix, which is the lower part of your uterus, is sealed with a thick mucus plug. If your amniotic fluid is leaking then your baby is no longer protected from external infection and so you should abstain from sex.
Your GP might also advise against sex if you have an incompetent cervix or placenta praevia. An incompetent cervix starts to open before the baby is ready to be born and placenta praevia is where your placenta is low lying – completely or partly covering your cervical opening.
Incompetent cervix is rare and can be treated with internal stitches while placenta praevia often corrects itself before birth.
How about oral sex, you may ask. Is it safe? The answer is yes, and it’s often a great alternative if you’re not up to chandelier-swinging sex. Just be sure to tell him not to blow inside you as this could cause an air embolism, which could be fatal to both you and your baby. Keep in mind that pregnancy hormones can also increase vaginal secretions and your partner might find they also smell and taste stronger than usual.
My sex drive is all over the place, is this normal? The answer is, totally. Your libido is governed by your emotional state and hormones, so it’s natural to feel completely sexy one day and want to avoid it at all costs the next. There are a number of pregnancy niggles which may put you off in the first trimester, such as nausea, tiredness and sore boobs.
Towards the end your size is normally an inhibiting factor, and you maybe preoccupied with the excitement of meeting your new arrival.
What if I bled after having sex. Should I be worried? Slight bleeding after sex is quite common and is usually caused by harmless erosions on the cervix which can be easily treated after the birth if necessary. The blood may be brownish or red and should stop within a few hours, but mention it to your midwife at your next visit, who might tell you to abstain from sex for a while so it has a chance to heal.
Why has my partner gone off sex now I’m pregnant? This one is a bit tricky. Men view pregnant bodies in different ways. Your partner may see your new curves as the ultimate expression of fertility and as a result find you very sexy. Plus he may feel even closer to you now you’re carrying his child and want to express this sexually.
Some men may see their partner’s pregnant body as purely functional
(doing the job of growing a baby) and keep this idea separate in their minds from anything sexual. Talk to each other about how you feel and give lots of reassurance and time to adjust to your new sex life.
My vagina is feeling swollen and sensitive. Is something wrong? Worry not, this is perfectly normal. The swelling and sensitivity is a result of your increased blood flow, which increases by 50 per cent and by the end of your pregnancy, one-fifth of your blood supply is being received by your uterus. Swelling occurs when your growing uterus interferes with the circulation of blood from the legs and pelvic area to the heart.
Is it safe to carry on using sex toys? Perfectly safe, as long as you make sure they are thoroughly cleaned between uses as your immune system is slightly suppressed during pregnancy making you more susceptible to vaginal infections. You may also find that you need to adjust the depth of penetration as your pregnancy progresses, to avoid brushing your cervix.
I seem to be more lubricated during sex, is this normal? Yes, completely. It is also normal to find your vagina dryer than usual too. It’s all a result of increased levels of oestrogen which affects the amount of lubrication produced. To help things along, try a lubricant such as KY Jelly.
Can having an orgasm harm my baby? On the contrary, they are actually good for both you and your baby. Your baby is oblivious to you having sex or an orgasm, though he will experience the rush of happy hormones. He’ll also be soothed by the gentle contractions of your uterus. Some women even experience their first multiple orgasms during pregnant sex as raised hormone levels may make it easier for you to climax.
Why do I get stomach cramps after sex? All women experience uterine contractions when they orgasm, but because your uterus is enlarged when you’re pregnant you’re likely to feel it more. Semen is responsible for making your uterus contract as it contains prostaglandins, which send chemical signals to your uterus.
These contractions won’t cause a pre-term labour (before 37 weeks) if you are having a normal pregnancy and are not too close to your due date. To be on the safe side call your GP or midwife if the cramping lasts longer than half an hour.
However, if you have a history of pre-term labours, or are carrying more than one baby your GP may advise you to avoid sex for some or all of your pregnancy.
Is having sex later on in my pregnancy safe? In theory, if you are having a problem-free pregnancy you can have sex right up until your waters break. After that point your baby is no longer protected from infection. In reality though, penetration can become quite uncomfortable due to your size, as well the fact the cervix softens and the baby’s head engages.
Can sex kick-start an overdue labour? Because of the prostaglandins present in semen, having sex may bring on labour, but this will only happen if your body is ready to give birth. Still, most women find sex uncomfortable in the later stages of pregnancy but, if you can manage it, hey, go for it!
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