I’m sure you’ve heard the saying ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’. Well, if a simple apple can do that for you an orgasm can do that and much more.
Even if you know the benefits of climax you might wonder if having orgasm while pregnant is safe?
What is the reasons an orgasm while pregnant is safe?
#1. Orgasm keeps the pregnancy healthy
Oxytocin is the love hormone. We secrete it when we experience love, happiness and pleasure.
The highest oxytocin rush we’ll ever experience happens in the time immediately after giving birth. This huge oxytocin rush is important to establish a healthy attachment between mother and baby. Baby needs her mother to fall madly in love with her so she’ll do absolutely anything for the baby’s survival.
After giving birth, the next highest oxytocin rush we experience is when we reach orgasm – specifically, during post-orgasm contractions. Experiencing frequent and satisfying orgasms during pregnancy will keep oxytocin levels high, which means pregnant women will experience pleasure and happiness regularly.
The feelings and the hormones cross the placenta and go straight to the baby. There’s no better developmental environment than one literally full of love.
Research shows that oxytocin release during pregnancy is extremely beneficial to the mother and the baby.
It’s time to add frequent orgasms during pregnancy to your to-do list.
#2. Orgasm keeps your uterus healthy
During pregnancy, your uterus fulfils one of its most important roles: to keep your baby safe and developing healthily.
At the same time your uterus is preparing for its stellar moment: to help your baby out of the birth canal. Every time you reach orgasm, you have pleasurable uterine contractions that keep this muscle happy and healthy. While you are pregnant, orgasms will optimize your uterus’ preparations for birth.
#3. Orgasm optimizes baby’s brain development
Love and fear are the two ends of our fulfilment spectrum. Oxytocin and adrenaline are the two hormones responsible for these feelings. However, they are antagonists, which means that when one is present the other one isn’t.
When adrenaline – the stress and fear hormone – is present in our blood flow, our bodies switch to survival mode. A baby will survive even when a pregnancy happens in a hostile environment full of stress hormones. However, when oxytocin is the main hormone circulating through our veins we will not only survive but we will thrive.
As hormones cross the placental barrier, a baby growing in an environment full of love hormones will thrive and her brain development will be optimal. A healthy pregnancy isn’t just a low risk pregnancy or a normal pregnancy; it’s a pregnancy full of oxytocin.
Because oxytocin is secreted in such large amounts during orgasm, a normal and healthy pregnancy increases sexual pleasure. That’s your body trying to make sure pregnancy sex is definitely on the menu!
#4. Orgasm helps with insomnia
Insomnia is one of the most common pregnancy complications. Even women with low risk pregnancies are not exempt from insomnia. Most pregnant women don’t experience insomnia in early pregnancy but, as the pregnancy advances, having difficulty sleeping is a common symptom among pregnant women.
Orgasm releases not only oxytocin but other feel good hormones, such as dopamine. If you experience insomnia, make sure you orgasm during pregnancy as frequently as possible; it will make for a good night’s sleep.
You can read more about insomnia and other common pregnancy symptoms in Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week.
#5. Orgasm increases the bond between partners
Of course, when a couple expects a baby – especially if it’s their first – they experience plenty of changes. Trying to keep up a satisfying sex life will not only be beneficial for the couple and the baby, individually, but will also strengthen the bond between the partners.
Sexual intercourse is one of many ways for a couple to live their sexuality together but we all know that healthy sexual interaction is not just vaginal intercourse or penetrative sex. Mutual masturbation and the use of sex toys are just two of the many resources a couple have to spice up their sexual life.
Read more about masturbation and the introduction of sex toys into your sex life in our articles Masturbating While Pregnant and Sex Toys While Pregnant – 5 Important Tips For Safe Use.
Reaching orgasm while pregnant
You might have realized you feel like having sex much more often during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimester, once the morning sickness and other first-trimester symptoms have subsided.
This feeling of being more easily aroused comes from an increased blood flow to the pelvic region during pregnancy.
Most pregnancies, especially low risk pregnancies, will benefit greatly from simply following natural instincts. The increased blood flow in your sexual organs will not only predispose you to frequent sexual activity but also to experience orgasm more intensely during pregnancy.
Multiple orgasms are much more common during pregnancy, due to this increased blood flow in the pelvic region. Many women experience multiple orgasms or even orgasm for the first time during pregnancy. Reaching orgasm has many positive health benefits in and outside of pregnancy.
Experiencing multiple orgasms or more intense orgasms during pregnancy is completely normal and it’s an amazing way to promote emotional well-being – in you, your partner and your baby.
Orgasm while pregnant and preterm labor
One of the pregnancy complications most women fear most is having a premature birth. Because orgasms stimulate uterine contractions, many women fear orgasmic contractions of the uterine wall could trigger labor.
It’s perfectly safe to have regular sex and orgasms during pregnancy, especially from the second trimester onwards. There are different types of contractions that are not labor contractions, such as post-orgasm conditions and Braxton Hicks contractions.
Preterm labor and preterm birth happen because of a series of conditions. Orgasmic contractions, no matter how frequent they are, will not make you go into spontaneous labor. If there is a reason why you should limit your sexual activity, your doctor would have warned you about it.
When it isn’t safe to orgasm during pregnancy?
Most doctors will agree that sex and orgasm during pregnancy is safe.
In some circumstances, however, it might not be safe during pregnancy. Let’s look at some of the conditions when you should refrain from reaching orgasm or participating in sex during pregnancy.
Infections
Some sexually transmitted infections or bacterial infections could endanger the continuation of a pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. This is the reason why sexually transmitted infections are checked for in the first blood tests taken during pregnancy.
Your healthcare provider will let you know what to do in case you’re suffering from an infection.
Cervical surgery
Some women have had a surgical procedure in their cervix before getting pregnant. If this is your case, you should inform your doctor as soon as you’re aware of your pregnancy.
A cervix that has been artificially modified might not be competent enough to hold the pregnancy until the end of the third trimester. If you’ve had cervical surgery your doctor will advise you about the different medical and surgical options available for your pregnancy to continue safely until birth.
Recurrent miscarriages
If you’ve had repeated miscarriages it is likely that your doctor will suggest pelvic rest – at least during the first trimester of pregnancy. This means very limited sex and, if you do have any sexual activity, make sure it doesn’t involve vaginal penetration.
Placenta previa
In some cases, the placenta is very close to the cervix. This is called a placenta previa. If this applies to you, uterine contractions might cause the placental area to bleed, especially if the placenta covers the cervix.
Read more about placenta previa in Placenta Previa – What You Need To Know And Do.
Your healthcare provider is the best professional to give you advice about sexual activity in high risk pregnancies.
Here are some articles you might find helpful:
Pregnancy Sex Positions – 7 Ideas For Pregnant Couples
Can I Orgasm While Pregnant? Is It Dangerous For My Baby?
