Sex During Third Trimester – Positions and Safety Tips

Sex during the third trimester is generally safe for most people with an uncomplicated pregnancy, but comfort and positioning become more important as your belly grows. Finding a sex position during third trimester that feels comfortable and avoids pressure on your abdomen can help you maintain intimacy while keeping discomfort to a minimum.

That said, every pregnancy is different, and your doctor’s advice should take priority. In this article, we’ll cover comfortable positions to consider, important safety tips, situations where sex may need to be avoided, and signs that mean you should contact your doctor.

Is It Safe to Have Sex in Third Trimester?

Can you have sex in the third trimester? Yes, sex during pregnancy in the third trimester is perfectly safe if you have a healthy pregnancy throughout (1). By using the recommended positions, sex can continue right until the last month of the pregnancy. It is suggested that you avoid anal sex during pregnancy, as haemorrhoids can cause rectal bleeding and make sex uncomfortable and painful.

How Your Sex Life Changes in the Last Trimester?

In the last trimester, your belly grows large, and as a result, you might not find sex exciting (2). Other factors that can dampen the excitement in the previous trimester are swollen feet, back pain, exhaustion, leaky breasts, varicose veins, swollen vagina, and pelvic pressure.

But if you wish to continue making love, you can experiment with different positions. For instance, you can ask your partner to penetrate you from behind with both of you in the spoon position. As this requires minimal movement on your part, it is safer. Find out the positions you’re comfortable with before taking the plunge.

Benefits of Having Sex During the Third Trimester

Many couples wonder about the safety and comfort of engaging in 3rd-trimester sex. Having sex during pregnancy third trimester has a lot of benefits, such as:

• Improved bonding between partners and intimacy is kept alive.
• Semen contains a particular hormone called prostaglandin, which softens the cervix during sex and causes contractions (3).
• Women release a happy hormone called oxytocin during sex, which helps in arousing contractions.
• Orgasms strengthen the pelvis and prepare the body for pregnancy.

As long as your water doesn’t break, it is beneficial as well as safe to have sex in the last trimester.

When Should You Avoid Sex During the Third Trimester?

Consult your doctor before you indulge in sex during pregnancy. Be aware of the status of your pregnancy and ask the doctor whether you should stay away from sex. If you suffer from the following conditions, the doctor may advise refraining from sex in the third trimester.

• If you suffer from placenta praevia, the placenta is in the anterior spot of the baby’s head, and sex may cause bleeding in the placenta and, in turn, may harm the baby (4).
• If your water breaks prematurely, then the mucus plug that protects your cervix will also get dislodged, exposing both you and your baby to a lot of infections. To avoid any sexually transmitted diseases, you may have to do away with sex during the final stages of pregnancy.
• If you’ve undergone premature labour in the past, your doctor will counsel you to refrain from lovemaking during the last trimester (5). This is because the hormones released during sex may put you in danger of premature labour.
• Also, if you are expecting twins or multiples, you will be advised against sex in the last trimester (6). Twins usually arrive early, and sex may cause the twins to be delivered prematurely.

Can Sex During These Months Harm You and Your Baby?

3rd trimester sex does not harm the foetus (7). Your baby is securely placed in the amniotic sac that puts it out of harm’s way. The mucus plug around the cervix protects your baby from infections. So you don’t have to worry about her safety.

However, women feel uncomfortable having sex during the third trimester for various reasons (8). One of the reasons is that the baby’s head may drop down during the last trimester and cause a certain amount of discomfort and pressure during intercourse.

Also, the hormones secreted by both partners during sex can cause the muscles to contract to induce labour. Hence, a woman with a history of premature delivery will be advised against sex during the last trimester.

Orgasms during the last three months may cause Braxton Hicks contractions. During these contractions, your womb and the baby bump become hard. This lasts for some time but does not threaten your health.

Sex Positions During Third Trimester

Exploring comfortable and safe third-trimester sex positions can enhance intimacy for expecting couples. Here are a few of the best sex position for pregnant woman in 3rd trimester that you may want to try for safe and comfortable intercourse (9).

• Spooning: Lie on your side while your partner enters from behind, keeping pressure off your belly.
• You on top: Lets you control the pace, depth, and movement based on your comfort.
• Edge of the bed: Lie near the edge while your partner stands or kneels beside the bed (10).
• Supported standing: Stand while leaning against a sturdy surface for support and comfort.

If you are uncomfortable with penetration, you both can always opt for oral sex or mutual masturbation.

Sex Positions to Avoid

While most sex positions are considered safe during an uncomplicated pregnancy, some may become uncomfortable or carry additional risks in the third trimester. To make things easier and more comfortable, here are a few positions and practices you may want to avoid:

• Missionary position: Avoid lying flat on your back, particularly later in pregnancy, as it may cause discomfort.
• Deep penetration: Communicate with your partner and avoid deep penetration, which can cause discomfort or bleeding.
• Forceful oral sex: During oral sex, your partner should never blow air into the vagina, as this can cause a potentially dangerous air embolism.

Does Sex During the Third Trimester Induce Labour?

Sex at third trimester can initiate labour pain if your cervix and uterus are ready. But if the cervix is not prepared, then sex may not do this. If you don’t experience labour pain even after the 42nd week of your pregnancy, avoid making love.

Does Libido Increase During the Third Trimester?

Yes, libido can increase during the third trimester, although it varies widely from person to person. Hormonal changes, increased blood flow to the pelvic area, and feeling more comfortable with your body and sexuality can sometimes boost sexual desire. For others, a growing belly, fatigue, back pain, or anxiety about labour may reduce interest in sex.

So, there’s no single “normal” level of libido during late pregnancy. Your desire may even fluctuate from day to day, and that’s completely normal.

Precautions for Safe Sex During the Third Trimester

While sex is typically safe during pregnancy, there are some third trimester sex tips to consider.

• Avoid positions that put pressure on your abdomen.
• Communicate openly with your partner about what feels comfortable.
• Stop or change positions if you experience pain or discomfort.

When to Consult a Doctor?

Talk to your doctor or midwife if you experience:

• Vaginal bleeding after sex
• Severe or persistent abdominal pain or cramps
• Fluid leaking from the vagina
• Regular contractions or signs of preterm labour
• Pain during intercourse that does not improve with a change in position

FAQs

1. Can penetrative sex during the third trimester hurt or poke the baby?

No. Penetration doesn’t affect the baby as she is safe and snug in her sac, which prevents everything from passing. The uterus will move around a bit, but that’s normal. Unless you’ve been instructed pelvic rest, sex is okay during these months.

2. Can sex during pregnancy cause a miscarriage?

Absolutely not! Miscarriages are, more often than not, caused by the abnormal development of the foetus rather than making love during pregnancy. It also doesn’t induce early labour in a low-risk pregnancy. So, if you’ve had a healthy pregnancy till now, you can safely go ahead and get cosy under the sheets.

3. Is bleeding after sex during the eighth month of pregnancy normal?

Pregnancy makes a woman’s body and her sexual organs very sensitive. So, you might have spotting after sex and for a few days after (11). This might have happened due to your cervix getting irritated. Going for a check-up is best if the bleeding doesn’t stop.

Sex during pregnancy is not only safe but may also be recommended. Besides its physical benefits, it also strengthens your relationship with your spouse, who may find it hard to adapt to the changes.

Also Read: 

Orgasm in Pregnancy
Sex Drive while Pregnant
Amazing Benefits of Sex during Pregnancy
Things to Do and Avoid in Third Trimester of Pregnancy

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Sources References

1. NCT – Sex in trimester one, two and three of pregnancy

2. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy – The Effects of Pregnancy on Sexual Life

3. Tommy’s – Is it safe to have sex in pregnancy?

4. The Journal of Perinatal Education – Sex and Pregnancy: A Perinatal Educator’s Guide

5. Nemours Children’s Health – Sex During Pregnancy

6. NHS – Sex in pregnancy

7. PubMed Central – Sexuality during pregnancy and after childbirth: a metacontent analysis of 59 studies

8. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology – Fear-based reasons for not engaging in sexual activity during pregnancy: associations with sexual and relationship well-being

9. March of Dimes – Sex during pregnancy

10. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Sex during pregnancy

11. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?