Sex in Pregnancy

Sex in Pregnancy, If we leave some miracles aside, pregnancy is related to sexuality. It starts together, but from the moment you find out that you are pregnant, what started the pregnancy and got you to this point can start to get confusing. A lot of confusing things like word of mouth, starting to feel like a mother or father spiritually, fear of harming the baby can complicate things even more.

From the moment you found out about pregnancy, whether your frequency of sexual intercourse increased or decreased, whether you enjoyed it more or less knowing that a living thing was growing inside you probably changed things a bit. You may be going through this process with some stress, as you learn what is safe and what is undesirable during sexual intercourse and trying to keep your growing belly balanced and safe. When your nipples that are sensitive due to hormones and your changing hormones are added to this, sexuality during pregnancy can bring various difficulties for both parties. With a little patience and love, you can make this process more enjoyable and avoid turning into a stress ball for nothing.

During pregnancy, sexual desire usually has a wavy chart such as decreasing-increasing-decreasing. During the nine months of pregnancy, most couples notice these fluctuations. In the first trimester of pregnancy, that is, in the first 3 months, a significant decrease in your sexual desire may occur. In fact, this is not so surprising. As pregnancy hormones start to mix with the blood, sexual desire can hit the bottom and this usually becomes evident in the first trimester. There are other reasons that trigger this decrease; such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, breasts starting to hurt. These reasons may not manifest themselves in every woman. Although the general lines of pregnancy are clear, it is a process that every woman goes through with variability. Therefore, although a serious decrease in libido is observed in the first trimester in general, there are also women who experience serious increases on the contrary. If you’re lucky, the changes in your hormones will make you feel good and increase your libido rather than destroy it.

At the end of the month, when you get rid of the first trimester, you can say hello to the second trimester. This is a period that can be considered as the honeymoon of pregnancy in every sense. Your body has started to get used to the pregnancy hormones and your baby, and the negative effects of the first trimester (nausea, vomiting, weakness) have almost completely disappeared. Physically, more blood starts to go to the vagina and clitoris, which means that the woman gets more pleasure from sexual intercourse.

When you leave six months of pregnancy behind and enter the last trimester, that is, when the birth approaches, it seems that sexual desire decreases. This is not so surprising. The growth of the baby, along with the enlargement of the navel and difficulty in movement, and the increase in pain, can turn intercourse into a challenging activity.

One of the issues that couples are very anxious about during pregnancy is the fetus/baby noticing or seeing the union. It should be known that this is not possible. Your baby can only shake slowly at orgasm due to the contractions in the uterus, which is very sweet for him, but he cannot feel and see why this contraction is caused.

One of the things that spouses, especially men, fear the most during sexual intercourse is that the man’s genitals touch the baby and harm the baby. You do not need to be afraid in this regard, because the baby is protected in the womb, in his warm home, against such things that may come from the outside world.

One of the common fears among couples is that cohabitation during pregnancy will cause the woman or baby to become infected. However, there is no such risk as long as the man does not have a sexually transmitted disease and the cervix is ​​not open. If there is a periodical discomfort (fungus, etc.) in the genital area of ​​the woman, this may mean that you should stay away from sexual intercourse for a while. In this case, your doctor will make the most accurate guidance.

Psychological factors

It is undoubtedly one of the sweetest feelings in the world that someone will join your life from the moment pregnancy begins, but it can bring thoughts that will affect your sexual life as well as affect every moment of your life. At the beginning of these, of course, comes materiality, preparation for the baby, the increased financial burden after birth and birth can cause you to be stressed.

From time to time, feelings of jealousy may arise between spouses, especially on the male side. The fact that you are all the attention because you are pregnant can trigger this feeling in your partner. On the contrary, when men stop taking care of the mother and direct all their attention to their unborn babies, this may cause the woman to be jealous of her baby, even with innocent feelings. When all these reasons come together, your stress level increases and sexual reluctance can be seen. You can get through this process more easily by stopping tormenting yourself by experiencing them, taking care of each other, and not bringing the problems that need to be overcome to your bedroom.

It is also very important to adapt to positions where sexual intercourse is appropriate during pregnancy. Positions where the woman will not be under pressure and can move freely are both less stressful and safer.

In some studies, it has been observed that regular sexual intercourse helps to overcome sleep problems experienced during pregnancy. Immediately after orgasm during sexual intercourse, a hormone called prolactin is secreted and this hormone helps the woman fall asleep in a more comfortable and relaxed state.

Oxytocin released during intercourse is a natural pain reliever. Sexual intercourse also has important advantages in reducing the blood pressure that rises during pregnancy. Studies have shown that the combination is effective in keeping blood pressure in balance.

There are some situations where sexual intercourse during pregnancy is risky. Some of those;

Low risk

It is recommended to avoid sexual intercourse, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy. If you are at risk of miscarriage for any reason after your doctor’s examination, your doctor will inform you about how long you should stay away from intercourse.

Bleeding

If bleeding occurs in the expectant mother for any reason, it may be necessary to stay away from sexual intercourse as this may cause the risk of miscarriage.

The baby’s placement in the cervix: In this case, which is called placenta previa in medicine, the baby settles in the cervix and therefore it may be necessary to stay away from sexual intercourse.

Risk of premature birth

In cases where the mother has a risk of premature birth, sexual life may also be interrupted. In some cases, sexual intercourse may not be recommended for the last 3 months in multiple pregnancies and the last 1 month in singleton pregnancies. The doctor following the pregnancy will provide the most accurate information about your frequency of sexual intercourse or how long you should stay away.

If bleeding occurs after sexual intercourse during pregnancy, you should definitely contact your doctor. You should not use chemical-containing lubricant products.

Prevention is very important as a substance in the sperm content can stimulate the cervix and cause uterine contractions. If possible, a colorless / aromaless / odorless product should be preferred for protection with condoms.

5 benefits of pregnancy sex

While it’s easy to find information on why sex during pregnancy is not a bad idea, it’s also possible that this information isn’t well received – where else can you find an article about how to have sex? Worse, Will it actually benefit your life during pregnancy? If you’re willing, there are several ways sex can actually improve your pregnancy experience (not obvious).

Pelvic floor renovation

Sex can help you build your pelvic floor muscles up, which can definitely help you out in labor, but also works against the incontinence many pregnant women struggle with throughout their pregnancies. You can make the most of this by doing kegels during intercourse.

Sensational sensation

The increased bloodflow in the breast and especially the pelvic area during pregnancy can lead to increased sensation, and can increase your sexual appetite.

Sexual healing

The release of the hormone oxytocin during sex can help with the aches and pains that sometimes come with pregnancy, and can help relieve stress and add to your relaxation, which can even help you out when pregnancy insomnia strikes.

Sex without stress

Pregnancy may be one of the only times in your life when you can have sex without either trying to get pregnant, or trying not to. Why not live it up during this time?

Staying in (sensual) shape

Physical fitness is important for helping yourself stay healthy during pregnancy, and sex is a great way to get a little exercise without having to wrestle with the laces of your running shoes!

You don’t need anybody else telling you about the benefits of sex, especially during pregnancy. If it feels good, and you feel comfortable, it’s probably safe and healthy. Pregnancy is a part of life, and so is sex, so it’s only natural that the two go hand-in-hand.