No-Taboo Questions About Sex (And Their Answers)

"Snowy, cold, weather for two", says the well-known phrase, but what happens now that everywhere you become three?

The baby you're expecting has brought ups and downs in your life before it's even born, and one of the first areas to change is your relationship with your partner.

In this particular case, what comes "up and down" is your erotic mood and consequently sexual contacts.

After all, are you allowed to have sex or not?

Which postures are most appropriate?

And, most importantly, what makes you want sex less or more than you used to?

Do the hormones secreted during pregnancy cause a woman's sexual desire to decrease?

No one can predict how changes in hormone levels will affect the way a woman approaches sex.

Proof that there are pregnant women who don't even want to hear about sexual intercourse and others who become more sexually active than they were before.

After all, hormones are not always responsible for the lack of sexual desire, but also the fear a woman may feel, the way her partner treats her, the taboos she may have or whether her gynecologist is "strict" or not.

Of course, we should note that sexual intercourse is often prohibited for medical reasons such as low placental adhesion, insufficiency of the internal cervical os and many other conditions that only the obstetrician of each woman can decide if they are allowed or not.

Is intercourse more painful during pregnancy?

While that doesn't mean it happens to every woman every time, many pregnant women find that sex while pregnant often makes them feel a little uncomfortable.

The reason is that the cervix, the uterus and the chest are more sensitive during this period.

In addition, changes in hormone levels affect the lubrication of the vagina and sometimes more fluid is observed, which, however, is unsightly for some pregnant women.

Are couples who choose to abstain from sex during pregnancy more difficult to restore sexual contact after the birth?

When the distance between a couple lasts for a long time, then it is a fact that it will take effort to restore sexual relations after childbirth.

After all, the new responsibilities that the baby brings with it, combined with the fatigue and insomnia that are prominent in the first period after its birth, often worsen the situation and are reasons for fights.

That is why it is preferable for the couple to maintain their tenderness (even without sex) and their humor, so that they can face together the difficulties of the next phase of their lives.

Is libido usually lower during the first trimester?

Many women find their love interest drops during the first few months of pregnancy.

The reasons are both psychological (fear and worry that something might happen to the baby) and physiological (progesterone surge causing nausea, feeling tired, etc.).

After the end of the first trimester, when the nausea subsides and the woman begins to feel more secure and confident about the smooth progress of her pregnancy, then her libido returns to normal levels.

Should pregnant women limit changing positions during sex?

While this is not to say that now is the best time to put the entire Kama Sutra into practice, there is no reason to reject any posture as long as it does not make you feel uncomfortable or cause you pain or fatigue.

You, together with your partner, will choose exactly which ones they are.

What postures are considered comfortable in pregnancy?

Even if the couple's sex drive remains high, your growing belly is bound to cause some changes in your habits as a couple.

For example, the "missionary" stance will slowly become rather uncomfortable and you will have to explore different horizons in terms of stances.

Some of the most convenient ones for your situation are:

• You above. It is convenient because it can be done without putting pressure on your abdomen.
• Lying facing each other on the side. So you don't feel the weight of the belly but at the same time you feel your uterus being supported as it rests on the bed.
• "Spoons". It is the most common position during the last months of pregnancy because it is very comfortable for the pregnant woman and does not allow deep penetration which is often painful during the last stage of pregnancy.

But remember that the best position is the one that does not cause you dissatisfaction, pain during penetration and of course anxiety during intercourse.

Is massage as a preliminary allowed when the woman is pregnant?

It depends on the type of massage, the points to which it is applied and whether some substances are used that are contraindicated during pregnancy.

In general, avoid massages in the abdomen and chest area, as well as massage oils that contain essential oils (you can use a scented body cream instead).

On the contrary, massaging the legs, arms, shoulders and neck are not only allowed but will also provide the pregnant woman with a feeling of well-being and relaxation.

Can sex be dangerous for the baby?

The most common reason for couples to refrain from sexual intercourse (without a doctor's order!) when the woman becomes pregnant is their concern that this act will cause problems for the baby.

However, all gynecologists agree that as long as the pregnancy progresses smoothly and without problems, there is no such risk.

The fetus is completely protected inside the amniotic sac which dampens any vibration that may occur during sex, while a mucus formation at the opening of the cervix excludes the entry of germs to the uterus.

So if it pleases you and as long as your doctor has no objection, you can enjoy sex throughout the pregnancy.

Towards the end, in fact, it is an excellent way to naturally induce the onset of labor.

If bleeding occurs during intercourse, should sex be avoided until delivery?

It depends on what caused the bleeding.

The presence of a few drops of blood may simply be due to the fact that the cervix bleeds more during pregnancy and the pressure during penetration caused a rupture of a micro-vessel.

However, when in pregnancy there is an appearance of blood for any reason, the only person competent to decide on the seriousness of the situation and give you further advice is your gynecologist.

Can breastfeeding affect a woman's sexual mood?

The answer is both yes and no.

On a research level, there are studies that show that the libido in breastfeeding women increases and others that claim that it decreases.

In fact, it is not exclusively breastfeeding but more generally the conditions that prevail in the life of a new mother immediately after the birth of her baby that also affect the sexual mood - whether she is breastfeeding or not.

Tiredness, stress, lack of sleep can obviously make any man put sex further down the list of priorities.

However, one thing that lactation can be responsible for is insufficient lubrication of the vagina.