Often married couples expecting a child wonder: until what time can you have sex during pregnancy, and is it safe for the baby? The answer depends on how pregnancy progresses for each individual woman, are there any pathological abnormalities or the threat of premature birth?
During orgasm, the uterus becomes toned, which for a pregnant woman can result in a miscarriage in the first trimester or early contractions in the last month of gestation. For this reason, obstetricians and gynecologists often prohibit sex. However, in some cases, most often a few days before the end of the term, on the contrary, husband therapy is recommended so that labor begins on time and there are no difficulties with opening the uterus.
Does sexual activity really provoke the onset of contractions as quickly as possible?
Yes, yes and yes again! Sexual activity is a permitted “accelerator” of childbirth! 3 reasons for home stimulation:
- Firstly, the most common mechanical stimulation of the cervix by the male genital organ occurs, but this is not the main thing.
- Secondly, a man’s seminal fluid contains special hormones - prostaglandins , which have the ability to soften the cervix. It is these hormones that we, obstetricians-gynecologists, use to prepare the cervix for childbirth.
The process and stages of cervical dilatation before childbirth
- the introduction of special drugs into the cervical canal, which allows you to achieve the desired result in just a few hours;
- insertion of kelp sticks into the cervical canal. Absorbing moisture, seaweed sticks begin to swell, opening the neck mechanically in 4-5 hours. But, in addition, the rods contain endogenous prostaglandins, which stimulate the ripening of the cervix in a biochemical way;
- amniotomy is also a stimulation method and involves puncturing the amniotic sac. After this procedure, the anterior waters are released, and the baby's descending head begins to put additional pressure on the cervix, forcing it to stretch.
Interesting: The child has a red bump on his head
Is it possible for everyone to be sexually active on the eve of childbirth?
Yes, if there is no danger of harm to health. strict contraindications for “husband therapy” :
- placenta previa.
When the placenta closes the exit from the uterus, sexual intercourse can provoke placental abruption and bleeding.
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- if there are doubts about the integrity of the amniotic sac.
If you experience discharge that looks like water (a clear, colorless liquid), you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
What's happening
The fetus has well-developed subcutaneous fatty tissue, the skin is not red and wrinkled, but pink and velvety. At 38 weeks of pregnancy, vellus hairs (lanugo) still remain in some places on the baby’s body. The cartilages of the auricles became hard and elastic, the nails became dense and long; The nipple circles are already noticeable on the baby’s chest, and the soles of the feet are striated by 2/3. The bones of the skull have become stronger, but mobility between them remains: this will make it easier for the baby’s head to pass through the birth canal.
By the 38th week of pregnancy, the development of the external genitalia was completed: in boys, the testicles descended into the scrotum, and in girls, the genital slit closed and the labia minora were covered by the labia majora. The improvement of the lungs has ended: the alveoli have formed, and surfactant has formed on almost each of them. After birth, the baby's lungs will expand and begin to function.
At 38 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta begins to age. The previous plethora is lost, and the vessels gradually become empty. Cysts and calcifications form in the tissues of the placenta, and its thickness decreases. Due to the limited supply of oxygen and nutrients, fetal growth slows down. Weight gain will slow down, and the beneficial substances that the child receives from the mother’s blood will mainly go towards his life support. The amount of amniotic fluid is steadily decreasing, but its volume is enough to protect the baby until birth.
Fetal movements at 37 - 38 weeks of pregnancy are reduced to slow turning and pushing, but, despite the slowness of her child, the mother should feel at least 10 movements every day. If there is an insufficient number of movements or their absence for a long time, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Why do many women experience increased sexual desire on the eve of childbirth?
For many women, sexual desire increases at 37 weeks and beyond. The point is edema, the tendency to which increases towards the end of pregnancy.
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Swelling appears not only on the legs and face, but also in the genital area, where, as you know, erogenous zones are located! These areas are further stimulated by swollen tissue.
How to carry out the “procedure” correctly
If a woman has no contraindications and the pregnancy is going well, then sex life will only benefit both her and the baby. You can resort to this type of activity every day and even several times a day, it’s all a matter of desire. The main thing is to stick to safe positions during sex and not put pressure on your stomach. So how to properly conduct husband therapy before childbirth?
It is best to have sex lying on your side; this position minimizes the likelihood of pressure on your stomach. For convenience, you can throw your upper leg over your partner. Also, during pregnancy, you can resort to lovemaking while lying on your back, but your legs should be on your husband’s shoulders. If this is not entirely comfortable, then simply let your sexual partner lean on his outstretched arms, without lying on you.
As an option, it is allowed to use a sitting position: on top of the partner, with the butt or facing him, while the husband can also sit or lie down.
When doing husband therapy, the main thing is to focus on your feelings. If a woman experiences discomfort or pain during sex, she needs to tell her husband about it and try other positions. The main thing to remember is no pressure on the stomach!
Can a child hear and see how mom and dad indulge in lovemaking?
Typical male question. Once a patient called me, to whom I recommended “husband therapy” on the eve of childbirth and tearfully asked:
Please tell my husband that the child will not know or see anything!!!
That was the first time I encountered such a fear of future dads. Dear future mothers and fathers, there is no danger for the baby if you follow the rules from point 2. He will not understand anything, will not remember, will not hear and will not remember this in the fifth year of his life!
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I, as a representative of obstetricians and gynecologists, give you the green light to such a pleasant method of accelerating labor. And then, from the arms of your beloved spouse, to our maternity hospital with a good mood and good dilatation of the cervix!
What fears did your husband have about sex life during pregnancy?
Woman's health at 38 weeks of pregnancy
At 38 weeks of pregnancy, there comes a time when childbirth can be expected any day now. Most women give birth at 38-39 weeks.
The expectant mother may well experience something similar to contractions during this period. But such spasms are considered false. It is quite simple to distinguish them from real labor contractions: they are irregular, the interval between them does not decrease, and the most important difference will be seen by the doctor during examination - the cervix does not change.
The most common feeling during this period may be a feeling of acute tingling current that permeates the body from the stomach to the legs. It is caused by the descent of the fetus, which, moving deeper and deeper, touches the nerve trunks.
Otherwise, the sensations can be quite different. You can feel great and want to move, or, conversely, feel tired and some discomfort. The health of a woman at 38 weeks of pregnancy is especially important, because significant changes occur in the body. The pelvic bones move apart and the child begins to descend. This may be accompanied by the release of the mucus plug, which is a small white or pinkish clot, which is often a harbinger of the onset of labor. But this is optional. For many, the plug may not come off at all, may go away with the onset of regular contractions, or labor may occur a few days after this.
At this time, you no longer have to be afraid of premature labor and you can even engage in activities such as “husband therapy,” despite the fact that this may seem impossible and wrong. According to doctors, this type of therapy is very useful both for stimulating normal labor and as a procedure that softens the cervix. When using such a “treatment,” the couple needs to be careful. There are cases where excessive activity led to premature placental abruption. Therefore, if after intimate intercourse a woman experiences abdominal pain and/or bleeding from the genital tract, she should immediately seek medical help.
Safe positions for sex in the third trimester
At 38–39 weeks of pregnancy, a woman’s belly becomes very impressive in size, which means that not all sex positions will be suitable. Doctors recommend sticking to only a few positions that reduce the risk to mother and fetus.
- The side-lying position, during which the woman turns her back to the man, is the safest and eliminates pressure on the stomach.
- The “cowgirl” position is suitable only for trained women who can perform the movements themselves and can easily withstand physical activity. A big plus is the fact that the girl will be able to control sexual intercourse herself.
- The knee-elbow position is suitable for late-term pregnant women, but the man must be as careful as possible to avoid penetration too deep. However, some women may experience discomfort in the lumbar region due to increased stress on this area.
The safest position for pregnant women is lying on your side.
The most dangerous position in the third trimester is lying on your back. This is due to the fact that the woman already has a very large and heavy abdomen, which will contribute to the compression of the vena cava. This can lead to very serious complications, such as hypoxia in a child.
How to speed up cervical dilatation before childbirth
The active phase begins with 4 cm of cervical dilation and continues up to 8 cm. At the same time, contractions become more frequent and their number reaches 3 - 5 in 10 minutes, periods of contraction and relaxation of the uterus are equalized and amount to 60 - 90 seconds. The active phase lasts for primiparous and multiparous women for 3–4 hours. It is during the active phase that labor becomes intense, and the cervix dilates quickly. The fetal head moves along the birth canal, the cervix has completely moved into the lower uterine segment (merged with it), and by the end of the active phase the opening of the uterine pharynx is complete or almost complete (within 8 - 10 cm).
Stimulation
There are many methods of inducing labor, methods are constantly updated, and new drugs appear. Induction of labor should only be carried out in a hospital setting. The method is selected depending on the current obstetric situation.
If a woman's birth canal is ready (the cervix is less than 2 cm long and 2 cm open), labor stimulation is more natural. Typically, in such situations, an amniotomy is performed - opening the membranes, after which amniotic fluid begins to leak. After four to six hours, contractions begin. If they are not there, an oxytocin solution is injected intravenously to induce them.
If a woman’s birth canal is not ready, hormonal medications are prescribed first. A special catheter may be inserted to widen the cervical canal.
Induced labor is more painful for a woman than natural uterine contractions. Therefore, painkillers and epidural anesthesia are more often used.
Additional measures
“Home” stimulation options are also possible:
- use of a mild laxative;
- moderate sex with ejaculation in the vagina;
- nipple massage;
- moderate physical activity.
Before giving birth, you should spend more time in the fresh air, surround yourself with pleasant people and events, positive emotions, and move. Reviews from women claim that this helps to relax and tune in.
What to do at 40 weeks of pregnancy, if there is no labor, can only be determined by a specialist. Under no circumstances should you take medications on your own - this may be unsafe for the baby. Only physiological “home” methods are acceptable.
