Making love

Keep on making love as late into pregnancy as you wish, as long as there are no medical reasons for abstaining. Your baby is safe in your uterus. He’s not harmed by normal sexual activity, and probably enjoys sex as much as you do as your hormones reach him via the placenta.

In the early months, use any lovemaking position you like, but as your abdomen gets bigger, you may find some positions uncomfortable. After about 24 weeks, it’s best to avoid lying on your back for any length of time, so don’t use the missionary position, with your partner on top-there are lots of other exciting options. These may also be the best choices when you first start making love again after the birth.

WOMAN-ON-TOP POSITIONS

You may find these the most comfortable from the second trimester onward. As your abdomen grows, you can lift yourself farther off his stomach by supporting yourself on your bent legs. This also prevents too much pressure on your abdomen and breasts. In these positions, too, it’s easier for you to control the depth of penetration and the speed and rhythm of lovemaking.

These positions allow a great deal of intimacy. You and your partner have your hands free to caress and stroke each other and he can easily reach your breasts with his mouth. Alternatively, you can brush his chest with your breasts to stimulate him further.

KNEELING AND SIDE-BY-SIDE POSITIONS

Many of these involve entering from behind, and are useful in pregnancy, particularly if you don’t feel comfortable on your back, or you don’t want to take too active a part in lovemaking.

Kneeling positions allow your partner freedom of movement and let him vary the amount of penetration. Side-by-side positions are comfortable and permit plenty of kissing and caressing. The “spoons” position, so called because the partners nestle together like a pair of spoons, is also good to try if you feel any soreness or discomfort when you start making love again after you’ve given birth, especially if you’ve had an episiotomy.

SITTING POSITIONS

These are good in the middle and late months. They don’t allow a lot of movement but are comfortable for both partners and ease pressure on the abdomen. Also, the depth of penetration can be controlled. Your partner sits on a sturdy, comfortable chair or the edge of the bed and you sit on his lap, either facing him (if your abdomen is not too big), facing to one side, or facing away.

Your partner can use his hands to caress your body and breasts and to stimulate your clitoris. His range of movement is limited, so you control the sexual tempo.

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