How to Have Sex While Pregnant

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A lot of people have concerns about having sex during pregnancy. Fortunately, for most women and their partners, sex can be a lot of fun when you’re pregnant and there are some things you can do to make it easier and more enjoyable for both of you.

The first thing to know is that pregnancy can cause just as many changes to your sexual desire and pleasure as it can to other aspects of your life. Some women find that they become aroused more easily, while others find that their interest in sex wanes. Similarly, some women find that they need to use a lubricant during sex, while others find that it’s not at all necessary (even if they’ve been using lubes for years). Some of these changes can shift again at different stages of pregnancy. With all of these changes, you may not be able to assume that what you usually enjoy is going to work for you during pregnancy. It’s important to be able to talk about all of this with your partner.

Many women report that being on their back, especially late in pregnancy, isn’t very comfortable. But there are a few other positions that work well, whether you like intercourse, oral sex, sexual massage, solo sex, or any other sexual activity.

On Top
Whether you’re having oral sex or intercourse, being on top will give you plenty of control over the depth of any penetration. It also lets you control the movement, so you can change things quickly if you need to, or stay in the same position if anything feels especially good. It also works well for penetration towards the end of pregnancy.

On Your Side
There’s a reason that lots of pregnant women sleep on their sides -- it’s more comfortable. In this position, you can have intercourse with shallow penetration, especially if your partner lies behind you. It can also work well for sexual massage, masturbation and even oral sex if you bend your upper leg and place it on a pillow.

Hands and Knees
The lack of pressure on the abdomen makes this a great position for pregnant women. Plus, it lends itself to almost any kind of sex, so you have lots of options. Later in pregnancy, your belly may rest on the bed, so if that’s not comfortable, rest your hands on a pillow or sex positioning tool like the Liberator Shapes for a little extra lift. These cushions are firm enough to give you support, yet soft enough to be comfortable. Plus, the machine washable covers make cleanup a breeze.

When to Not Have Sex
For most pregnant women, the decision to have sex can be made based on personal desire. But there are some risk factors that may make avoiding sex a better choice.
If your doctor, midwife or other health-care provider considers your pregnancy high-risk, they are probably going to recommend that you not have sex. Some of the more common risk factors include:

• A history of premature birth or labor
• A history or risk of miscarriage
• Placenta previa (where part of the placenta is covering the cervix)
• A history of or risk of pre-term labor (e.g. premature uterine contractions)
• Your water has broken
• You are currently experiencing bleeding
• You are carrying twins, triplets, etc.

Please check with your medical professional to make sure that sex will be safe. Be sure to ask whether you are supposed to be restricted only from vaginal penetration, whether you are not supposed to have an orgasm, or any other specific element of sex that might be a risk to you. Medical providers often use the term “sex” without stating specifically what they mean.

A Note About Sexually Transmitted Infections: If you or your partner may have an STI (sexually transmitted infection), then safer sex is definitely important. That means using condoms for any penetration, gloves on hands and dental dams for oral sex. Please read our articles about safer sex for all the info you need to make it fun and hot!