What to Expect During Your First Prenatal Visit
Your first prenatal visit is a crucial milestone, setting the foundation for a healthy pregnancy journey. Knowing what to expect can help you feel confident and prepared as you take this first step.
Sex During Pregnancy: Is It Harmful?
For many women, pregnancy can feel totally unsexy. The swelling and discomfort as your body prepares for birth is not really conducive to romance, nor is the nausea and vomiting of morning sickness. Surprisingly, the hormone shifts that pregnancy cause can actually make some women desire sexual activity more and experience an increase in their libidos. But, the question then becomes if sex during pregnancy is safe.
Many couples actually abstain from sexual contact during pregnancy because they fear they will harm the fetus. Thankfully, this is not the case. Sex during an uncomplicated pregnancy is perfectly safe. However, there are some extreme situations that women must be careful of. In addition, there are some adjustments that may have to be made (http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/sex-during-pregnancy-is-it-safe#1).
There are a few complications that may prevent some women from having sex during pregnancy. One of these is placenta previa. This condition involves the placenta covering the cervix. Because of this, sexual activity is not a good idea because it can lead to hemorrhaging that will endanger both mother and child. Another condition that can cause issues is having what is called an “incompetent” cervix. This is where the cervix begins to dilate because of pressure from the baby. Sexual activity with this condition could lead to a miscarriage, premature birth or other serious problems. The final major complication is a premature rupture of membranes. When this occurs, the amniotic fluid sac can burst or begin to leak, a condition that can be compounded by sexual activity.
In addition to these major complications, women who are sexually active during pregnancy should be cautious of bleeding and vaginal discharges. These may be the sign of a possible miscarriage or even a uterine infection that can possibly compromise the pregnancy.
Finally, we need to also address the issue of comfort during pregnancy. For a pregnant woman to lie flat on her back, the blood vessels leading to the uterus can be compressed. Although this will not cause a great deal of problems, it can cause pain and discomfort. As a fix for this, women should consider being on top during sexual activity so they can enjoy the experience more fully.
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