At 35 weeks pregnant, you can still have sex if your practitioner gives you the green light. Most sexual positions are safe, and you can experiment with what feels best as the pregnancy progresses.
But you and your partner will need to take some precautions and be smart about anal and vaginal sex.
Discomfort
At 35 weeks pregnant, your uterus has expanded significantly, and this can lead to pain during sex, as well as back pain and pressure on the pelvic area. In some cases, you may also experience dry vaginal lubrication or swelling. It’s important to communicate with your partner about these changes and try carefully experimenting with new positions to see what works for both of you. If you’re experiencing discomfort to the point where you feel like avoiding sex, talk with your healthcare team about this as soon as possible. This could be a sign of an underlying medical condition or even preterm labor, and abstinence will be recommended for your health.
You’ll also likely experience some uncomfortable side effects from sexual activity during late pregnancy, such as leaking milky fluid from your breasts (a condition known as amniotic membrane leakage), pain in the vulva or vagina, and a yeast infection, which is more common for pregnant women because of hormonal changes. Round ligament pain (a pair of cord-like structures that help support your uterus in the front of your pelvis) is another common pregnancy discomfort, and can be worsened by sexual activity.
Orgasms
As pregnant women, we often worry about how sex and orgasms will affect the baby. But the good news is that for most women, sex is perfectly safe and does not increase the risk of miscarriage or preterm labour. In fact, it can even be beneficial to the baby as it helps to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Orgasms can also be a great mood booster, releasing feel-good hormones including oxytocin, which can help to reduce pain and anxiety during labour and delivery. They can also boost libido and are a fun way to spend time with your partner!
The most important thing to remember is to listen to your body and use plenty of lubrication. Avoid any positions that put pressure on your abdomen and experiment with sex positions that can be more comfortable, such as side-lying or rear entry. Some couples may find that sex at 35 weeks pregnant becomes uncomfortable and it is fine to stop when you are feeling pain or discomfort.
If you are worried about sex at this stage of pregnancy, talk to your practitioner who can offer recommendations or advise you on any concerns. You should only be sexually active if your practitioner says it is safe for you and the baby. In some cases, they may recommend avoiding sex if you have had vaginal bleeding or your waters have broken as this can be an early sign of labour.
Positions
For most women, sex feels pretty good in the first trimester of pregnancy, as long as they’re comfortable. As you reach the second trimester, however, a woman’s growing bump may make certain positions uncomfortable or even painful. Experimenting with different sex positions Opens in new window or using toys like strap-on dildos can help. Just be sure to use condoms during sex to reduce your risk of sexually transmitted infections.
One position that’s often fine during the second and third trimester is a modified missionary. Instead of lying flat on your back, prop yourself up with pillows to create an angle that’s less threatening for the babe. It also gives you room to see, touch, massage, and squeeze your partner as they pleasure you from behind.
You can also try a cowgirl position. In this position, your partner sits on a chair or the edge of a bed and places their hands behind your belly. They then enter you from the back, which can be more comfortable during later trimesters when your bump grows larger and a front entry may be difficult.
Other pregnancy sex positions include side-lying, which keeps the weight off your back and belly and is a great choice for late trimester; spooning, which makes it easy to stimulate your partner’s clitoris and can boost pleasure by giving you more contact; and oral sex. The important thing is that you and your partner enjoy the heightened libido this stage of pregnancy offers and find positions that give you pleasure.
Safety
It’s important to note that while sex is safe for most pregnant women and their babies, there are some precautions you should take. First and foremost, always use protection if you’re sexually active while pregnant (even when it’s monogamous). This protects against STDs, which can cause problems for both mom and baby.
In addition, if you have a low-lying placenta, which happens when the placenta attaches to your uterus lower down and covers part or all of the cervix, it’s a good idea to use protection because it’s possible that an infection could get passed from mom to baby. In that case, you might need extra hospital care or possibly need to deliver early.
You should also talk to your doctor if you experience any signs of preterm labor, like more vaginal discharge, pressure in your pelvic area or more than four contractions per hour. Also, if you have a condition called placenta praevia, which is when the placenta attaches in front of your cervix rather than above it, you may not be able to have unprotected sex at all.
It’s also normal for both partners to feel less interested in sex while pregnant. Again, open communication and finding other ways to be intimate with your partner can help. You can even try different positions for sex, like lying on your back, facing each other or spooning.
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