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| Pregnancy Health
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Sex During Pregnancy
There is no reason you can't enjoy sex during pregnancy
By Wendy Golledge, Elin Tough, Lisa Ward and Saninder Virdee
The only times you might be warned to avoid sex are if you have threatened premature labour, have previously had a miscarriage, have a low-lying placenta or if you’re carrying twins.
The great news is you may well begin to feel more up for sex than usual. Extra blood circulates around your body, which swells your vagina, labia and clitoris, making you more easily aroused. With the added bonus of bigger breasts and more sensitive nipples, it’s no surprise you’re feeling hot!
Enjoy whatever sexual activity you can, but don’t put yourself under pressure. And if you’re worried about what you look like, don’t be - most men find their wives extremely attractive when they’re pregnant. |
You may have a bump so big that touching your toes is tricky and getting off the sofa virtually impossible. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy great sex right up until you give birth.
Before we go any further, let’s get one thing straight: For the majority of women, it’s perfectly safe to have sex throughout your pregnancy, so you can stop worrying about harming your unborn baby. For many mums-to-be, though, sex is the last thing on your mind - morning sickness, tiredness and a bulging bump, coupled with anxiety about hurting your unborn baby, isn’t a great recipe for feeling sexy. But whether you’re feeling fat or raunchy, your reaction to sex is completely normal.
SAFE AND SOUND
Do you worry about what happens to your growing baby while you’re having fun between the sheets? Don’t. As long as your pregnancy isn’t considered high-risk, your baby is perfectly safe. She’s well-protected inside a sac of amniotic fluid within your uterus, which is sealed off by a thick mucus plug in your cervix, a safe distance from your vagina. If she’s almost due and her head is engaged, though, you may find it more comfortable to avoid deep penetration.
The only times you might be warned to avoid sex are if you have threatened premature labour, have previously had a miscarriage, have a low-lying placenta or if you’re carrying twins. And talk to your gynae if you bleed during or after sex, or if you feel pain. Oral sex is safe too, but your husband should avoid blowing into your vagina as the air could enter your bloodstream and might cause an infection, which could be dangerous for your baby.
Not Tonight, Dear
The extra blood pumping round your nether regions is all very well, but what if a cup of peppermint tea and a biscuit are more appealing than a tumble between the sheets? Believe us, you’re not the only one who feels like this.
“My husband and I had a good sex life. But once I was six weeks pregnant, I developed morning sickness and couldn’t even open the fridge without throwing up,” says Julie Wee, 29, mum to Hazel, 1. “After the sickness subsided, I got sciatica, so we barely had sex till after Hazel was born. But we’ve made up for it since!”
There’s nothing that says you and your man can’t have fun, though, even if you don’t want full sex. “What’s more important is that you continue to be affectionate towards each other,” says Mother & Baby relationship expert Gladeana McMahon. “Enjoy whatever sexual activity you can, but don’t put yourself under pressure. And if you’re worried about what you look like, don’t be - most men find their wives extremely attractive when they’re pregnant.”
If you don’t fancy sex, try simply stroking, cuddling, massage, mutual stimulation or oral sex. You never know, a sensual massage from your other half and one thing could lead to another. And remember: You won’t be pregnant forever, so remind your hubby that full service can resume after the birth! |
RESUME THE POSITION
As your bump grows, you may find some positions uncomfortable. If you’re still keen on rumpy-pumpy with a bump, try “spoons” (lying on your sides with him scooped in behind you), doggy style, or him sitting on a chair with you on his lap.
“Towards the end of my pregnancy, I was pretty huge, so we found it easier to lie sideways in the spoons position,” says Vicky Ho, 28, mum to Elizabeth, 2 months. “If something we tried was uncomfortable, we’d just try a different way - once I’d managed to heave myself into a new position, that is! It certainly helped us to keep a sense of humour.”
The great news is you may well begin to feel more up for sex than usual. Extra blood circulates around your body, which swells your vagina, labia and clitoris, making you more easily aroused. With the added bonus of bigger breasts and more sensitive nipples, it’s no surprise you’re feeling hot! And as your body is producing as much oestrogen (your sex hormone) in one day of pregnancy as it normally does in three years, it’s not uncomon to have saucy dreams, either.
Alice Tam, 34, mum to Olivia, 6 months, says, “I felt so much more attractive when I was pregnant, and my larger breasts were a bonus. I was always initiating sex and I never do normally. My hubby couldn’t believe his luck!”
BIG AND BEAUTIFUL
It’s also quite likely that your orgasms will be even better than before, mainly because of all those new super-sensitive parts of your body. Your baby could benefit, too - your uterus will contract during and after an orgasm and she will enjoy the rocking sensation caused by the contractions, as well as get a boost from the feel-good hormones your body produces.
Even towards the end of your pregnancy, although sex may be tricky (and probably quite comical!), it’s certainly not impossible. Use pillows to support your bump and avoid any antics that put weight on your abdomen or are deeply penetrative.
If you go past your due date, although an early night with your man may be the last thing on your mind, it could help to trigger labour. The prostaglandin contained in semen can cause your uterus to contract, which has been known to get things started. But remember never to make love if your waters have broken, though, as there is then a risk of infection to your baby.
If you have any comments or practical suggestions, write to us at editor@family.sg
- Mother & Baby
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