Most women can safely have sex while pregnant, according to the Mayo Clinic and KidsHealth. Keep in mind that with all the changes in your body and life, your sex life might change while you’re expecting. Staying in open communication with your partner and checking with your doctor to make sure you aren’t having a high-risk pregnancy are keys to having safe sex during this time in your life.
Considerations
Women at special risk for pregnancy-related complications or premature labor should try to avoid sex while expecting, notes the Mayo Clinic and KidsHealth. Also, even if you aren’t experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, you might not want to have sex due to the changes in your body size, incidence of symptoms like backaches or preoccupation with the excitement of having a new son or daughter on the way into the world. Hormonal changes can also decrease or increase your sex drive throughout your pregnancy; each woman and each pregnancy is entirely different, so it’s hard to tell if you will want a lot of sexual activity or very little while you’re expecting.
Warnings
Do not let your partner blow air into your vagina during oral sex, notes KidsHealth. In rare cases, this can cause a potentially fatal embolism, according to the Mayo Clinic. Also, you should know your partner’s sexual history including whether he might have any sexually transmitted diseases. If you’ve had miscarriages in the past, unexplained vaginal bleeding during pregnancy or are expecting twins or other multiples, you really should not have intercourse until after delivery. The Mayo Clinic recommends that all women abstain from anal sex during pregnancy.
Misconceptions
Some people mistakenly believe that the penis can come into contact with the growing fetus during sex, according to the Mayo Clinic and KidsHealth. In reality, the penis does not come anywhere near the baby due to the protective amniotic sac surrounding the baby.
Time Frame
All women should really avoid intercourse if possible during the final weeks of pregnancy, notes KidsHealth. The chemicals in semen in some cases can cause premature labor, even in women with low-risk pregnancies. But check with your doctor about when and if she thinks you should start abstaining from intercourse.
When To Call The Doctor
If you experience severe pain, bleeding or discharge after sex, call your doctor right away, notes KidsHealth. If contractions start happening after intercourse and don’t go away, you also need to consult with a qualified medical professional.
Alternative Activities
Sometimes you might not feel like having intercourse during pregnancy, according to KidsHealth. Talk to your partner about alternative activities, ranging from kissing and cuddling to oral sex and outercourse.
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