Sex and Pregnancy – Do They Mix?

Many things have changed since our parents and grandparents had children. A woman’s life is different in many ways and pregnancy is different too. Today’s mothers participate in Prego fitness and work until a few weeks before the baby is born. However, couples still have the same concerns about having sex during pregnancy that their parents and grandparents had in the past. Study author Nathan Fox, M.D. says that “[e]ach pregnancy is different, as is each pregnant woman. Unless there’s a reason not to, pregnant women should be encouraged to remain active during pregnancy.”

A woman’s body goes through many changes during pregnancy and she might find these changes to be embarrassing, especially when it comes to having sex. These changes are expected, healthy, and natural. Woman should constantly remind themselves that these changes are expected to happen and men should reassure their wives how beautiful it is that she is carrying their baby. It is important to remember that there is nothing wrong with staying sexually active. That is how you got pregnant in the first place.

Your sex life will continue but, like the rest of your life, it will change. For woman, sex will change drastically for obvious reasons, which are discussed in detail below, but many couples do not realize that it changes for men as well. Men also experience a change in their chemicals and natural instincts that is surprising that develops during the pregnancy. Some studies have found that first-time dads-to-be experienced a significant decrease in the male hormone testosterone and cortisol, while experiencing higher levels of estrogen, which influences maternal behavior. The decline in a male’s sex drive can often conflict with the ups and downs of his pregnant wife’s libido and cause sexual conflicts between the soon to be parents.

While a man’s libido declines over time, a woman’s libido is similar to a wild roller coaster. Their mood and how they are feeling often dictate their sexual desires. Below is a time line that should assist you in understanding a woman’s sex drive throughout her pregnancy. To keep it basic, unless she is bleeding you are fine. If she bleeds you should stop and see a doctor for precautionary reasons.

The First Trimester:
Month 1: She is tender, lethargic, nausea, and vomiting. Her condition does not make sex very appealing.

Month 2: How long has it been? All of sudden her breast have grown, which peaks his interests, and he feels deprived.

Month 3: Start your engines!!!! Morning sickness gives way to being horny, which can lead to some pretty athletic sex.

The Second Trimester:
Month 4: Her libido is out of control and starts having sex dreams.

Month 5: Her That large peak in hormones completely reverses as she is more susceptible to mood swings and a variety of minor mistakes, such as forgetting chores, will put him in the doghouse.

Month 6: With the baby becoming more developed, the presence of a third party makes sex awkward. However, the cervix is sealed to protect the baby from infection and the uterine walls and the amniotic fluids shield the baby from the most powerful thrusts.

The Last Trimester:
It’s been assumed that moms-to-be take it easier in the last three months. But “A survey of 425 women found that 60 percent reported strenuous physical activity, including exercise, during the third trimester, and 62 percent reported having sex. In the two weeks before delivery, 49 percent said they’d exercised and 40 percent said they’d had sex. Even in the 48 hours before giving birth, most spent at least five hours on their feet per day; one third said they’d worked out and 17 percent had sex.” Doctors say there’s no obligation to slow down if you feel good.

Month 7: She becomes extremely sensitive where it counts with sexual sensitivity and can have great orgasms. Her blood flow starts to really flow where it counts and she can experience long-lasting climaxes that leave her with long-lasting aftershocks.

Month 8: Her physical appearance starts to prevent you from most positions. You should explore new positions for fun.

Month 9: You are almost there. Stimulating her can bring on contractions, but she is likely to be selfish so do not expect the favor to be returned.

Postpartum:
Woman start to reconnect sexually at different paces, so both parties need to be patient. Men are also affected by what they observed in the delivery room so it is important for the couple to be patient with each other if your time frame to resume sexual activity is different.

Below are a few common questions many women have about sex and pregnancy:

• Can I still receive oral sex?
  Yes. However, you should be cautious about blowing into you partner’s vagina and Herpes. “But since when does a partner have to blow air into the vagina during oral sex?” says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., author of A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Health (Yale University Press, 2004) and a professor at Yale University School of Medicine. Herpes is a more serious concern for pregnant couples. “If your partner has an oral sore, it can transmit herpes to the vaginal area, and pregnant women with no previous exposure to herpes are more susceptible to new infections,” says Caitlin Fiss, M.D., an attending OB-GYN at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York.
• Will the baby feel us having sex? And are any intercourse positions dangerous to the baby?
  “Your baby is not neurologically capable of figuring out that you’re having sex and is well-cushioned by the amniotic fluid,” Minkin says. He might feel a gentle bouncing but is in no danger. “If you feel well enough to have sex and are having a normal pregnancy, enjoy!” Minkin adds. “The missionary position might restrict blood flow to the vena cava and placenta, but as long as you’re not having sex lying on your back for more than 20 to 30 minutes, it’s fine,” Fiss says. “Make sure to stop if you feel short of breath or lightheaded.”
• Will my orgasm induce preterm labor?
  Minkin states that “[w]e don’t know what exactly causes labor, but in a normal pregnancy, having an orgasm is not dangerous and will not induce preterm labor,” unless you are at risk for preterm labor, are carrying twins or had a previous preterm birth. Then your doctor will probably tell you to not have sex. The only time that the myth that sex is only true when a woman is past due. Minkin states that “[w]e know that prostaglandin in semen might help induce labor.”
• Now that I am pregnant I find it hard to achieve orgasm–am I normal?
  “All women react differently, but there are many more hormones in the body during pregnancy, which should actually make it easier for them to have orgasms,” Fiss says. “Also, your vagina is engorged with blood and is more sensitive, so that can help you climax.” It is important to note that the woman’s anxiety could prevent them from having an orgasm.
• Can we use sex toys?
  “Yes, but stick with ones that provide external stimulation only,” Fiss says. “A pregnant woman is more prone to infection and her cervix is more friable [bleeds more easily], so don’t insert any foreign object into the vagina.”