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The Sex Positions You Can Safely Enjoy In Your 2nd Trimester, According To Experts
When you're pregnant it's pretty normal for sex to fall to the bottom of your priority list. Yes, orgasms are great, but they can be eclipsed by morning sickness, exhaustion, and a slew of other less-than-fun pregnancy side effects. Thankfully the nausea and fatigue of the first trimester starts to dissipate during the second, so a roll in the hay might just start to sound enticing. What sex positions are safe for the second trimester, though? After all, desire shouldn't overshadow safety. Thankfully, most of them are perfectly safe for you and your partner to enjoy when you're in the second trimester of your pregnancy.
As Fit Pregnancy points out, "As your estrogen and progesterone levels rise, they cause changes in your body that boost libido. Estrogen in particular, which serves such pregnancy-related functions as boosting blood flow to your uterus (and to your entire pelvis), also increases vaginal lubrication and heightens sensitivity in your breasts and nipples." So while it might take time for you to get used to your constantly changing pregnant body, pregnancy can actually make sex in your second trimester a boatload of fun. (Fun fact: some women claim pregnancy sex is the best sex they've ever had, so you got that going for you.)
The only positions you'll want to stay away from while you are pregnant are those where you are flat on your back. According to Oprah.com, when you are pregnant, being flat on your back can compress your vena cava, the largest vein providing blood supply to your baby. The weight of your uterus can cut off this essential blood supply, which is definitely something to avoid. Thankfully, that leaves quite a lot of other positions you can enjoy with your partner.
You can also rest assured that intercourse while you are pregnant won't hurt your baby because, according to Baby Center, there is lots of cushioning between your vagina and uterus, courtesy of your cervix. Parents does remind soon-to-be moms and their partners, however, that intercourse during your first trimester can cause minor bleeding due to bursting capillaries in the walls of the vagina. This is completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about, but if you experience heavy bleeding during and or after intercourse, you'll want to check with your doctor immediately.
Another reassurance to add to the list is that, intercourse during your first trimester will not cause miscarriage, contrary to what prevailing, out-dated old myths would have us believe. Intercourse during pregnancy, so long as it's approved by your doctor, is perfectly safe and won't hurt you or your baby.
So what about those positions? Baby Center says spooning with your partner behind you can be a good option that doesn't put pressure on your vena cava, as can doggy style. You on top of your partner takes all the pressure off the baby as well. Or, if you prefer missionary, scoot yourself to the edge of the bed and let your partner stand on the ground beside the bed. This takes your partner's weight off of your pregnant, growing belly which, will preserve your vena cava and blood supply to the baby.
As long as you've consulted with your OB-GYN, and take certain precautions to make sure your vena cava is protected, the sky is the limit in the sex department. Who says growing a human being inside your body has to be all work and no play, right?