Sex During Pregnancy
So your wife is pregnant. After the celebrations and confetti, the big question suddenly dawns on you - does this mean you'll have to abstain from sex for nine months? What about after the baby is born? Before you go into mourning, here are the facts with regard to sex during pregnancy.
Sex is Safe
Sex during pregnancy does not hurt the baby.
The baby is carried high up in the mother's womb and protected inside the amniotic sac. No humanly recorded penis is long enough to reach the foetus.
Sex during pregnancy does not cause miscarriages or early labour either.
When a woman has an orgasm, the uterus contracts and these sensations may be stronger later in the pregnancy. However, these contractions are different from the ones associated with childbirth, and have not been shown to bring on labour or cause miscarriages.
High Risk Pregnancies
We know you're raring to go, but there are a few things we need to point out.
While most women can have sex during pregnancy, a small minority of women need to proceed with caution. High-risk pregnancies include:
- Any unexplained vaginal bleeding
- A history of miscarriages or show signs of threatened miscarriage
- A history of premature labour or show signs of early labour
- Problems with the cervix (neck of the womb) or placenta
- Multiple babies
If in doubt, please seek your doctor's advice.
Factors Other Than Safety
Even if it's safe for you and your wife to have sex, you may find that it doesn't take place. This is perfectly normal for many reasons, like:
- She's feeling nauseous, bloated, exhausted and downright un-sexy
- You don't find a big tummy attractive
- It's awkward and hard to find a comfortable position
Not having sex, or not having it as frequently, is perfectly alright. As long as both of you continue to share a loving relationship, sex doesn't always have to be on the cards. You can physically demonstrate your love for each other by kissing, cuddling or giving each other massages.
Positioning
As the pregnancy progresses, you will need to adapt and discover which position is the most comfortable for both of you. A popular position is "spooning", where you lie side by side, with the woman facing outwards. Another is where she's on all fours, "doggy" style.
Do keep an open mind - you may find that in being adventurous, new pleasures are awakened for the both of you.
Enjoy Each Other
Every woman is different. Some women find that their sexual desire increases when they're pregnant while for others, it may decrease. Sex is an important part of marriage but a loving relationship is even more so.
Having a baby is an exciting adventure, but don't forget that even as you become parents, you are still a spouse to each other. A healthy dose of patience, care and love will go a long way.
