
Remember that scene in Knocked Up when Seth Rogan’s character freaks out about hitting the fetus with his penis? Yeah, it’s kind of impossible to forget…
Rest assured, research shows pregnancy sex is totally safe. In fact, unless your doctor advises you otherwise, feel free to try out as many different pregnancy sex positions as you want over the next nine months, says Tami Rowan, MD, an OB-GYN specializing in sexual health at the University of California San Francisco. (For instance, if you’re at risk for an early delivery, your doctor may recommend abstaining from sex entirely during the third trimester until around week 36, she says.)
What’s better: The sex can feel amazing—like, even more amazing than before you got preggers. That’s because, during gestation, your body’s levels of estrogen and progesterone rise. Those hormones increase blood flow down there, which, in turn, ups vaginal lubrication and breast sensitivity, says OB-GYN Kecia Gaither, MD, maternal fetal medicine specialist at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
And while all positions are fair game, you’ve probably heard that it’s unsafe to lay on your back after week 20. That’s partially true—this can compress the vena cava, a major blood vessel that can impact circulation throughout your body, as well as to your baby. However, before it gets to that point, it’ll feel uncomfortable. “There’s this stereotype that you have to have sex from the side or behind, but you can have missionary sex if it doesn’t last too long,” says Rowan. “After five to 10 minutes, you may start to feel weird, and you can just shift to your side at that point.”
Another thing to keep in mind: The cells on your cervix are more sensitive during this time, too, so they’re more likely to bleed. You may notice some spotting after sex—don’t freak. Instead, if you spot for any reason, call your doctor (even if you think it’s sex-related), advises Rowan. And, if sex doesn’t feel great now, that’s nbd. Opt for outercourse, oral sex, digital penetration, and anal sex—all safe for pregnant women, she says.
Whatever you choose, do you (literally). “I think it’s so important to have sex during pregnancy because it maintains intimacy in a relationship,” says Rowan. “There’s no reason to be scared of it.” Plus, after you have the baby, you’ll be abstaining from intercourse for about six weeks, so gurl, get yours now. If you’re looking for some expert-approved sex position ideas that feel good and accommodate a growing belly, here are some of the best sex positions during pregnancy to try: