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Safe Intercourse Positions While Pregnant

On Apr 9, 2008 in Pregnancy

This article is continuation from Intercourse during Pregnancy article. Please read it before you continue to this article.

As you journey through the months of pregnancy, your body goes through many changes — both physical and hormonal. When this happens, you face some new obstacles in your sex life. A big question that is often asked is: “What are some good sex positions during pregnancy?” The answer to this question depends on a couple of factors, including:

The trimester you are in
Whether you are having a high-risk pregnancy.

Remember, there are many ways that you can still enjoy sex with your constantly changing body shape!

When thinking about sex positions during pregnancy, keep the following suggestions in mind:

It is best to try positions that do not put your partner’s weight on your abdomen. This can help you avoid unnecessary discomfort. Your baby is protected inside of you — the uterus is quite a safe place for your baby — so you do not need to worry that sex will hurt your baby (always clear it with your healthcare provider first, though).
You do not want your partner to thrust or penetrate too deeply. This can irritate the cervix. You and your partner can work together to find some comfortable positions that are satisfying and work for both of you.

The best way to find the most comfortable positions for sex during pregnancy is to explore and experiment; but here are a few positions to get you started:

Side-Lying: Front to Back
For the side-lying front to back sex position, have your partner lay behind you (like the spoons position) and enter you from behind. It may be helpful for you to support your upper leg with a pillow.

Side-Lying: Front to Front
The side-lying front to front position won’t work as well later in pregnancy, as your belly grows, but try it early on. The advantages to side-lying front to front include being able to see your partner and not having pressure on your belly. Again, it may help to support your upper leg with a pillow.

Partner on Top
As you progress through pregnancy, having your partner on top of you can become uncomfortable. So a little modification to this sex position during pregnancy is to have your partner on top, with his weight supported by his arms. This way, he is not pushing on your belly, yet you are still able to enjoy this position. Do not stay on your back for very long periods of time while pregnant, though, as the extra weight of your baby can put added pressure on your abdomen and eventually your aorta, making you pass out.

Back Entry
For this sex position, you are on your hands and knees with your partner behind you. This position will work very well, especially as your move later in your pregnancy and your belly gets bigger. There is no extra weight on your belly, and your partner will have room to maneuver. This position can allow deeper penetration, so remind your partner not to thrust too deep.

Partner’s Lap
This sex position is pretty self-explanatory — sit in your partner’s lap. For a little variety, have your partner sit on a chair, and sit facing him.

Woman on Top
One of the advantages of the on-top position during pregnancy is that you can support the weight on your knees, either facing towards or away from your partner, while he is lying down. This position avoids unnecessary weight on your belly; it also allows room for your growing belly.

Final Thoughts on Sex Positions During Pregnancy

Sex during pregnancy is just another part of your changing life. It can be a fun, bonding experience for both you and your partner. Always be open in communication, and let your partner know if something is uncomfortable. Also, if you get to a point where the actual act of intercourse is not comfortable anymore, there are other ways to be sensual together, such as oral sex or massage.

Tips for Better Sex During Pregnancy

Think round, think big. Consider what you’re getting and not what you’re losing. Your new roundness provides more surface area for your lover to see and touch. Any time you feel yourself falling back into your old mindset, call a friend who’s been there and ask her to talk you out of it. Stand in front of a mirror and embrace the new version of yourself. Take pride in your “new” body – give it the respect it deserves.
Give yourself a sexy look. Just because your body is getting bigger doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look your best. Treat yourself to a new hairstyle, change your make-up, and buy a new nightgown revealing what’s appealing. This is likely to spark your mate and push your sexual image up a notch.
Act sexier than you feel. Social scientists have shown that acting can affect feeling. Smiling, for example, causes your brain to release the same chemicals it would if you were actually happy – thereby making you happier. If you act unsexy, you may cause your partner to feel unsexy, making him retreat. If you act sexy, you may soon surprise yourself with feeling sexy!
You are attractive to your mate. If you convince yourself that your blossoming belly is no longer attractive to your husband, you are setting yourself up for a sexual slow down. Besides, this probably isn’t true. It’s the different shape that attracts males. And certainly during pregnancy you will look and act differently than at any other time in your relationship. Research doesn’t support your assumption that you are not attractive to your mate; most men find their wives’ newly rounded bodies appealing. Your mate is likely to love the fleshy feel and curvy look of your pregnant body. Add to these features the possibility that once you are past the yucky early months of pregnancy you are initiating lovemaking and your mate is likely to feel excited about your sexuality while pregnant.
Have a sex talk. Tell your mate about the way pregnancy is affecting your sexuality; and ask your mate to tell you how he feels about your new look. Each partner should explain his or her feelings. Be sure that he does not interpret your disinterest in sex as disinterest in him, for example, or you don’t assume his confusion over how to touch you now means he’s not interested. By the same token, avoid projecting your sexual uneasiness onto your mate. He will probably find you more attractive than ever.
Share your body. Be sure to include your husband in the pregnancy by being proud of – rather than hiding – your body’s milestones: your darkened nipples, the first tummy bulge. Focus on what is new and exciting that you will both enjoy only during pregnancy. For example, your new breasts will be “all his” for the rest of the pregnancy – what a turn on, without resorting to silicone! Lie nude together watching and feeling the baby move. Your mate will enjoy side views that he has never before seen. One fun project can be taking “as you grow” photos, month-by-month photos showing, from all angles, your changing pregnant image. Your mate will enjoy his “pin-up wall.”
Have a fling. Have periodic weekend “dates” before baby arrives; after he or she comes you will have less energy for each other. The best time for ambitious sexual retreats is during the middle months of pregnancy, but make an effort to spend romantic time enjoying each other throughout the pregnancy.
Avoid the “sex as a service” feeling. While for most couples a certain amount of “obligatory” sex is usual during pregnancy, don’t let your mate feel you are always “servicing” him (or her!), even though sometimes you are.