Can We Go Ahead

“I have fallen in love with the lush figure of my wife during pregnancy, and I would love to make love with her often, but I’m worried if I could hurt the baby,” writes a reader.

“Since I’m pregnant, my sexual desire has increased. Am I normal?” asks another reader.

So many queries come from readers on the subject of sex during pregnancy that at My Health Guardian, we decided to put together a story to end all the myths on the subject.

Pregnancy is a beautiful journey of nine months and if the couple is going the family way for the first time, this is possibly the last opportunity for the couple to have sex when they are in mood for it. Life takes a somersault once the baby arrives; then onwards goes a lot of planning to steal few moments of intimacy. Well, sex during pregnancy has its rewards—

• No worries about contraceptive
• Increased vaginal lubrication
• Engorgement of the genital area can heighten sexual pleasure
• And if you have been timing your calendar as per her fertility, you get back to sex for the purpose of pleasure rather than procreation.

Will I hurt the baby?

The most common concern couples have while sharing intimate moments is if the act will hurt the baby. This is not possible. Your baby is very well protected by the muscular walls of the uterus, by the bag of waters, which has a cushioning effect, and by the mucous plug which seals off the neck of the uterus. No injury will occur during gentle, loving sex.
Women often experience mild contractions during arousal and orgasm, but these contractions are not powerful enough to start a labour unless it is imminent.

Still, sex during pregnancy is a delicate subject and you need to talk to your gynaecologist.

When sex should be avoided

• You’re having any problems with your pregnancy, such as placenta praevia or bleeding or if you have a history of miscarriages.
• If you have undergone fertility treatment or you are above 35 years of age.
• If you have spotting or bleeding in your early pregnancy.
• If you or your husband has a sexually transmitted disease, such as genital herpes.

However, men need to remember that during pregnancy their wives are undergoing a lot of hormonal turmoil. Breasts swell and become sensitive during pregnancy. As bump blossoms you might need to change the positions too.

Positions suited for the act

 Woman on top is suited because it allows woman to control the degree of penetration and keeps weight off her bump.

 Spoons—Lying sideways as it keeps the penetration shallow.

Can orgasm hurt my baby?

Orgasms can benefit your unborn baby’s health. When a woman has an orgasm muscle contractions are triggered in various parts of her body, including her uterus. These are short lived, usually not lasting beyond 5 to 10 minutes, and don’t trigger premature labor in a healthy pregnancy. But if you continue to feel regular contractions for longer than 20 minutes after orgasm, inform your doctor. During orgasm, the release of oxytocin, a hormone that causes uterine contractions, may induce labor when a woman is close to her delivery date.

If your doc has advised against penetrative sex do not go for oral sex either, because contractions are more forceful during the oral sex. Many couples find that pregnancy is a time to experiment and develop new ways of making love. Learning how to please each other without penetration can actually improve a couple’s sex life. You could try relaxing together and gently massaging each other instead.

Caution

 Do not blow in the vagina since it may cause blockage of a blood vessel which could be potentially dangerous.

 Oral sex should also be avoided if either of the partner has a sexually transmitted disease.

 Avoid deep thrusts.

Reviewed by Dr Kaushiki Dwivedee, consultant gynaecology at Max Hospitals, Gurgaon

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