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Sexual intercourse and pregnancy – answering important questions openly

During pregnancy, there are a lot of different questions coming up for the mother-to-be and her partner. The main aim of this article is to bust all of the myths, explain situations, and give general advice.

Sexual intercourse is nothing to be afraid of during pregnancy

A lot of mothers-to-be are dealing with different concerns regarding sexual intercourse whilst expecting a child. The most common concern would be “What if my partner somehow harms the fetus?”. During pregnancy, there is nothing to worry about regarding the safety of the growing baby when it comes to sexual intercourse. The fetus is protected by abdominal muscles, the uterus, and the placenta. As long as you do not experience any problems with the placenta, everything is fine and good to go. But just to be sure, please consult your physician, gynecologist, or your personal midwife for more information.

One danger that plays a huge role in this would be the transfer of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). When you are not in a monogamous relationship, it is recommended to use protection. Or are going to have intercourse with multiple partners.

Sexual intercourse during pregnancy is healthy

It has been considered to be healthy to participate in sexual intercourse during pregnancy. The key point is the activation of “happiness” hormones, which in turn affects the production of breast milk. A lot of mothers-to-be become more protective of their breasts during pregnancy due to the fact that the sensitivity of the breasts increases. A lot of breastmilk is produced, and the instinct is to protect the “source” of the baby’s food.

Orgasms have a lot of different properties on women, for future mommy’s, it helps to protect the growing baby. Having orgasms helps to alleviate the issue with the blood pressure. Helps to relieve pain and helps with the blood flow in the body. It is also considered to be a really good way to fall asleep faster.

Different poses

During pregnancy, your favorite poses might become a bit more difficult to experience due to difficulties in attaining those poses. Usually, every pose is allowed as long as the woman feels comfortable and putting pressure on the stomach is avoided. Poses, where the woman is lying on her back, can give new stimulations (either good or bad) because the weight of the developing fetus is affecting her inner organs.

The most logical way would be to try different poses where the woman has control. For example, when the woman is on top of the man, she has more control over the speed and the insertion depth according to her comfortability. Another comfortable position is regarding her using the edge of the bed as support.

Oral and anal sex

Oral sex is considered to be “safe” during pregnancy when you are in a monogamous relationship. For those, who choose their sexual partners or those who have multiple partners, there is an increased chance of getting infected with STIs. In all of the cases, one must avoid having air blown into their vagina. That can block the blood supply to the womb.

Anal sex is not considered to be safe during pregnancy because that can cause hemorrhoids, which can rupture and cause bacterial infections. Anal bleeding can cause a lot of complications for a pregnant woman. It can also increase the chances of getting an STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection).

Pregnancy can change your preferences for having intercourse. Because of the increased sensitivity to touch, and hormones going overboard, you will most likely experience different changes in your body. One of the changes you might experience is the increased cravings for sexual intercourse. Since your vagina has a better blood flow, your libido would increase, thus creating the cravings for more intimate moments with your partner, whether it be soft and cuddly, or rough.

There is a certain percentage of pregnant women, who might experience sadness due to the big stomach, especially those who were very slim before getting pregnant. Because of that sadness, the libido of those women might decrease a lot and so sexual intercourse is out of the question for them. Bleeding is a crucial aspect during pregnancy. If a lot of bleeding situations occur during sexual intercourse, it is best advised not to continue having intercourse until you get the green light from a specialist (a personal physician or a gynecologist).

Pregnancy and sex toys

Nothing is for certain restricted during pregnancy, but it is advised to use scent-free lubricants to decrease the chances of getting rashes or allergic reactions. Lubricant is something that has to be used during sexual intercourse (especially during pregnancy) because the vagina can be quite dry during pregnancy.

It is safe to use different sex toys which stimulate the clitoris. For comfort, smaller vibrators or massage vibrators are completely safe to use. Some researchers have suggested that using sex toys during intercourse can create new feelings and bring the couple closer together. The good news is that due to the increased blood flow to the private areas. The sensitivity also increases which is good for those women, who might not be able to achieve orgasms usually. They are more likely to achieve orgasms during pregnancy because of the increased blood flow.

Sex after giving birth

A question that is on a lot of woman’s minds after giving birth: “When will I be able to start having sex again?”. To answer this question, it all depends on who is asking. But the general consensus is to wait about 6 weeks after giving birth to start having intercourse once again. That time is needed for the different wounds to heal. If you have given birth through cesarean section, then you would have to consult with a specialist before having sex again.

One thing that can be a bit shocking after giving birth – the vaginal muscles are stretched out, the sensitivity has decreased and a lot of the time, urinary incontinence may occur. Thanks to Kegel exercises, it is possible to alleviate those issues. Vaginal beads can help in the faster recovery of vaginal muscle elasticity and sensitivity by training the pelvic floor muscles. Stronger pelvic floor muscles help the woman to achieve more intense and stronger orgasms. You don’t have to use those beads separately as you can use them during any time of the day, for example when you are doing different chores around the home and so on.

After giving birth, a lot of women may also experience extreme dryness in the vagina. To counteract that effect, there are different neutral and moisturizing water-based lubricants. Some women may experience lowered libido after giving birth.

Sex with brassieres

As we know, the breasts of a child-expecting woman are more sensitive to touch and with that, some leakage of the breastmilk may occur during the smallest of stimulations. To avoid situations like this, a comfortable brassiere can be worn during sexual intercourse.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is very individual. You cannot make generalizations about pregnancy for the whole gender. Just to be extremely safe, consult with your personal physician or gynecologist. If you feel worried about any topic, then just ask and consult. Usually, sex during pregnancy is safe, but it is better to be safe than sorry!