Is intercourse during pregnancy safe?

Expecting mothers often wonder if it is safe to have intercourse during pregnancy and whether it might harm the baby. In this article, I will shed more light on this topic and debunk some of the misconceptions about sex during pregnancy.

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Karine Chahda
Published on:Jan 31st 2023 |Updated on:Feb 10th 2024
العلاقة الحميمية

Intercourse during pregnancy

Some women have low to no libido during pregnancy due to tiredness, some of the annoying pregnancy symptoms, and hormonal changes. These same hormonal changes cause vaginal lubrication and can be the reason some women have a high sex drive during pregnancy.

When is it not safe to have sex during pregnancy?

  • In case of vaginal bleeding.
  • If you have a vaginal infection.
  • In case there is a tear in the amnionic sac.
  • When there is premature cervical dilation.
  • In case you have placenta previa, covering your cervix partially or totally.
  • When the husband has an STD.
  • In case there is an existing history of miscarriages or premature births, it is best to consult with your healthcare provider whether it is an OBGYN or a midwife to check if there is any risk from having intercourse during pregnancy.

Why is it sometimes recommended not to have sex during pregnancy?

  • Some sex positions can be exhausting and might harm the baby.
  • Sperms contain prostaglandins which can thin the cervix, dilate it, and even induce labor.
  • In case you have a high-risk pregnancy.

I would like to highlight the fact that it is normal to feel some lower abdominal contractions after intercourse during pregnancy> they happen because of the sexual activity and due to the oxytocin produced in your body when you have sex. It is also important to have a comfortable position that won’t pressure your growing belly, especially in the last trimester, or that can cause you difficulty in breathing.

Can sex lead to miscarriage?

This is one of the burning questions women have, the truth is unless there isn’t any roughness, intercourse can’t cause miscarriage, especially if there was enough stimulation and the vagina is lubricated enough.

dr karen.webp
Karine ChahdaMidwife Nurse

A new mom and Licenced Midwife, she holds a degree from the Lebanese University. Karine worked in the NICU unit at St. George University Hospital in Beirut. Then, she worked as a Midwife in the same hospital for five years. She joined the maternity ward at Danat Al Emarat Hospital in Abu Dhabi in 2021. Karine has a great passion for her role as a Midwife; she believes it is a blessing from God to witness the miracle of life born from another life. She thinks nothing is more beautiful than witnessing this miracle daily through her work. Karine believes that each of us has a specific role in life. She sees her role not as a job but as a vocation where she can assist others, and she is grateful for this blessing.

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