The summer is in full swing, with temperatures heating up all across the country. And when you're pregnant, the extra weight and hormones can make you feel hotter. If ice cream and air conditioning aren't giving you enough relief, you may have considered taking a dip in the pool with your partner — clothing optional, of course. But you may be worried that your sexy swim may cause harm to your unborn baby. Leaving you to wonder, can having pregnancy sex in the water affect baby?
Throughout your pregnancy, you've probably wondered whether or not your sex life has any effect your baby while she's in the womb. Can she feel it? Will she get hurt? Will she be traumatized by having a front row seat to her parents' bedroom behavior?
Well, you can breathe easy. As long as there are no complications or risks for premature delivery, there is no reason that you and your partner can't enjoy an active and healthy sex life right up until the magical moment when your water breaks, according to Baby Center. While you're doing the deed, you won't have to worry about your baby feeling anything, as they are protected by the amniotic sac, according to the March of Dimes. That and the mucus plug, which blocks the opening of the cervix, protect baby from any potential infection.
If you've been having sex throughout your pregnancy, you may find it more difficult to get comfortable as your belly grows, leaving you and your partner to exhaust every position in the Kama Sutra to find one that makes things easier. And in the summer months, sex in the water may seem like one of your most viable options.
If you are planning to take your love life into the water, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. For starters, the water is not the cleanest place for lovemaking. According to SELF, pools, hot tubs, and lakes contain lots of bacteria.
In addition, you may have some discomfort while you're doing the deed due to decreased lubrication. Having sex underwater can wash away your body's natural lubrication, SELF added. And as a result, the dryness leaves you more susceptible to irritation and tearing.
So while sex in the water may not be harmful to your baby, it may not be the most comfortable setting. You may want to save sex until you and your partner are back on dry land.
