Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Pregnancy Trimester

Question:
My wife is pregnant about 6 weeks. We’ve heard that having sex during 1st trimester is dangerous for fetus. Can anybody clear this point?

Answer:
Gosh, where did you hear that sex is dangerous at any time during pregnancy? The times a pregnant woman should not have sex are: 1) bleeding present 2) high risk pregnancy and the OB has said not to have sex 3) after her water has broken These are the only times I know of. If your wife is doing fine, has no bleeding, hasn't been told she's at high risk and hasn't been told not to have sex, then go ahead! At about week 16 or a little thereafter, it may be uncomfortable for her to be on her back (let alone with your weight) because along about that time, the weight of the fetus alone on her vein (or artery?) can cause problems in her leg. However, that's the *second* semester and is only that one position. Plenty of people have sex throughout the entire pregnancy and some even have sex trying to induce labor at the end! (I've heard that if labor comes on, it's just a coincidence.) BTW, keep in mind that the cervix in pregnancy is highly vascular and your wife may bleed slightly after having sex. From all I've heard bleeding *then* is not unusual and is not cause for alarm or from abstaining from sex. Of course, this doesn't say anything about how much your wife might *want* to have sex! Some women feel so awful, they can't dream of having sex. Other women, especially during the second trimester, have increased libidos! I don't think it's a coincidence. As far as I know there is something in the semen that can help to start labor. ( There most be someone on this news group that knows). I certainly could be wrong. Also having an orgasm can help to start labor. I can't imagine that I dreamt hearing this, someone help me out here!!! When the woman orgasms, she has an increase in the hormone oxytocin, which it the hormone that causes contractions. Oxytocin is the natural from which Pitocin was developed. That's how having sex can start labor. Nipple stimulation also creates oxytocin, which is one reason why it is SO important to nurse your baby as soon after delivery as possible---to help your uterus clamp down and lessen bleeding and prevent hemmorhage. Semen does in fact contain protaglandin, which does work to soften/ripen the cervix. This is why some doctors recommend abstaining from sex in a pregnancy that is threatening miscarriage. For normal, healthy pregnant women, sex is not a problem. This is not medical advice, just information gleaned and shared. For a normal pregnancy, there's no problem with sex at any time - it won't cause miscarriage, bleeding or early labour. Have a chat to your doc if there's any concern that your pregnancy may not be normal, though most will have advised you appropriately before you thought about it!