I grew up in a country with very strong religious beliefs about women’s sexuality; masturbation was never considered part of women’s health. When I was growing up, it wasn’t even considered something that even happened or existed. Women’s sexuality, in many places, has been considered secondary or not important.
Masturbation during pregnancy? Let me tell you, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. We need to start normalizing women’s sexual health as active and as important as men’s.
Many women become much more sexual during pregnancy and they experience a boost in their sex drive during pregnancy.
Let’s look at why this happens and why so many women find masturbating during pregnancy to be a joyous, rewarding and healthy practice.
#1. Masturbating while pregnant releases oxytocin
Oxytocin is the hormone we release in high quantities when we have sex, when we fall in love, when we reach orgasm and when we give birth. We even release a good amount of oxytocin when we laugh, share a meal or have a good time with friends. Oxytocin is commonly called the ‘love hormone’ and is one of many important pregnancy hormones.
A healthy pregnancy is a pregnancy where there’s lots of oxytocin in your blood flow.
Second only to giving birth, having an orgasm is the time in a woman’s life when the most oxytocin is released. When you experience intense orgasms, the love hormone release is very high.
#2. Masturbation during pregnancy: happy mother, happy baby
Many women feel that their sex drive increases during pregnancy, their sexual activity becomes more frequent and they enjoy sex much more than when they aren’t pregnant.
The reason most pregnant women feel this way is because a blood flow full of oxytocin running through the pregnant body has many health benefits, not only for the pregnant woman but for the baby, too.
#3. Masturbating while pregnant keeps your uterus exercised
Orgasm provokes uterine contractions. Uterine contractions during pregnancy, like Braxton Hicks, help the uterus exercise, keep active and train for the end of the third trimester, when contractions will intensify, the uterine receptors will open up and the contractions will trigger labor.
Orgasm contractions are very different from labor contractions, so masturbation during pregnancy will not trigger preterm labor. You can enjoy masturbating during pregnancy as much as you like.
#4. Masturbating while pregnant helps with the baby’s brain development
Masturbation during pregnancy will help keep the love hormone levels up. If you think of a pregnant body as the soil for a seed to grow in, then an oxytocin-increased blood flow is like the most nutritious soil for the baby to develop and grow.
A baby that develops while surrounded by love in the uterus will have the best brain food there is available. Neurons and brain connections will develop optimally in a love-rich environment.
Don’t force yourself to do something you don’t want to do but if strong sexual activity is what your body is asking for, then by all means enjoy sex (penetrative sex, sex toys, solo or mutual masturbation) as much as you please. Your baby will benefit from your sexual activity, too.
#5. Masturbating while pregnant keeps stress levels down
If oxytocin were a superhero, the villain would be the hormone adrenaline. These two hormones are antagonistic, which means the presence of one stops the appearance of the other.
High oxytocin levels mean low adrenaline and vice versa. Stress equals fear. Stress should only be experienced during emergency situations and our normal, most common status should be one led by oxytocin: the status of love.
When we live under stress, the oxytocin release is very scarce and our bodies get used to living with stress hormones running through our veins. Something that should happen only during ‘fight or flight’ situations starts to happen regularly. This permanent imbalance – this lack of love – can trigger illnesses and poor health.
Research shows that stress during pregnancy will hinder the baby’s development.
Pregnant women should, above all else, try to keep their stress levels as low as possible. Are you wondering what might be a good stress reliever for a pregnant woman?
Read the headline again. What we are saying here is perfectly safe and strictly informational and, as a woman’s healthcare provider, I believe it is good advice. Anything that helps you achieve an orgasm is fine – whether it is masturbation, intercourse, anal or vaginal penetration or using a sex toy.
Masturbation during pregnancy 101
Masturbation when you’re pregnant isn’t really different from when you’re not.
Masturbating during pregnancy is totally normal. In low risk pregnancies, the sky is the limit when it comes to sexual pleasure.
Masturbation can also be totally safe in many high risk pregnancies. Your healthcare provider will be able to advise you about sexual activity during pregnancy, depending on the reasons your pregnancy is considered high risk.
If for any reason you need to refrain from sexual activity and need pelvic rest, the ob gyn who looks after you and your pregnancy will make sure you know why you should refrain from any sexual activity.
One of the main physical changes that occur during pregnancy is the increased blood flow in the pelvic region. This will most likely make you prone to wanting more sex.
You might not feel very sexual during the first trimester of pregnancy but, as the pregnancy advances into the second and third trimesters and the early pregnancy symptoms subside, you might feel more inclined to increase your sexual activity.
Indulge yourself with self pleasure any time you need to. Don’t worry; you cannot harm your baby, even if this is your first pregnancy and you are more wary about what you can and cannot do. If your partner is up to it and can keep up with your sexual needs, sex with him is always a good alternative to solo sex.
If you have never tried it before, it might be a good opportunity to get yourself a vibrator or other sex toys. I’m a healthcare provider, so it can essentially be considered medical advice.
Sex will not make you go into premature labor. For preterm labor to happen, some receptors need to be activated in your uterus and these aren’t active until the end of the third trimester.
I’ll say more: if you have a low risk pregnancy regular oxytocin release would help you keep your pregnancy low risk.
When to avoid masturbation during pregnancy
There are some cases where orgasm and sexual activity could endanger the pregnancy or trigger labor. Here are some of the most common cases where medical experts’ advice is to refrain from any sexual activity.
Placenta previa
If you have a low lying placenta or placenta previa, there is a risk of the placenta becoming detached from the uterine wall. This is because the placenta shouldn’t embed itself so low. Pelvic rest is usually advised, from the second trimester onwards.
You can read more in the article Placenta Previa
Preterm premature rupture of membranes
When your waters break before you reach 37 weeks gestation, there is a high risk of going into premature labor. If this happens, call your healthcare provider straight away.
You can read more in the article Premature Rupture Of Membranes – When Your Water Breaks Prematurely.
Vaginal bleeding
If you experience any vaginal bleeding while masturbating or having sex, stop what you’re doing and contact your healthcare provider, who will advise you on what to do.
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