Sex During Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

When a pregnant woman is dealing with nausea, vomiting and fatigue, morning sickness, and weight gain, it seems that the last thing that she would think about is sex. There are many women who are active when...

they are pregnant. But they think that engaging in a sexual activity might be bad for the baby’s health. Is it really safe to have sex when you are pregnant?

Whether this would bring good news or not, having sex during pregnancy is safe for women who have uncomplicated and low-risk pregnancies.

Normal Pregnancy Allows for Sexual Activity

If you are not sure that you are fit for such an activity, consult a doctor or a midwife. The sexual desires of a woman tend to fluctuate when she is pregnant, but the activity can become awkward and uncomfortable since the body shape of a woman changes considerably.

Always remember that staying intimate doesn’t meant hat you have to engage in sex. Closeness and pleasure can be provided by kissing, touching, cuddling, and manual stimulation. These activities are low risk, and they could not add up to the problems of your pregnancy..

You just have to make sure that your pregnancy is healthy and fit.

Some Risks and Tips

You should also know that a pregnant woman who engages in sex is not a hundred percent safe. There are risks that are associated with the activity, and here are some things to consider:

1) Never engage in practices where your partner blows in the birth canal. It can cause blockage of the blood vessel, which is potentially fatal for the baby and for the mother as well.

2) Never have sex with a partner if you do not know his sexual and health history. This is a risk factor for sexually transmitted diseases and infections, which is very serious on the baby’s part. You are not only putting your life at risk but also the life of the unborn child.

3) Don’t engage in sex if the doctor doesn’t allow you to. This might end up in early labor, potential miscarriage, bleeding, cramping, amniotic fluid leaking from birth canal, cervix problems, and a condition called placenta previa.

4) You might also consider engaging in different sex positions while you are having sex. The traditional man-on-top and spooning position is very uncomfortable for a pregnant woman. It is also important to know that a pregnant woman should not lie flat on her back because the uterus might compress the major blood vessels. This can cause pelvic pressure, intense pain, dizziness, and other uncomfortable and dangerous situations.

Having sex while you are pregnant does not have a direct effect on the baby because it is fully protected by the amniotic sac and the strong muscles of the uterus. Aside from these, there’s a thick mucus plug that seals the cervix and helps guard the baby against infection. It is good to know that the penis does not come into contact with the fetus during sex.
by: James Pendergraft