and shift, and for many women, their libidos go into overdrive with some saying their orgasms

are the best they’ve ever had…

But is sex during pregnancy safe for mom and baby?

Hey it’s Natalia Reagan for DNews! We got this great question from ---- on Reddit who

asked “Does having sex while you're pregnant affect a baby's health or personality?”

This is ---- SECOND question, so excellent job on keeping us employed! And everyone else,

please send us your questions! First, there have been no scientific studies on if sex

affects a baby’s personality, maybe just ask your parents. But, we can answer the question

of if it’s safe for mother and child.

First let’s talk about what happens during pregnancy and how the baby is protected from

the world at large, including a prodding penis. A fetus develops in an amniotic sac filled

with fluid inside a woman’s uterus. This resides behind the cervix at the end of the

vaginal canal. About a month into pregnancy a thick, gelatinous mucus plug is formed and

fills the cervical canal and contains anti-bodies to protect the fetus from infection. Thus,

no matter the size of your tallywacker, the fetus is well-protected.

Which is a good thing, because studies show women get extra randy while there’s a bun

in the oven. In a report from “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”, 40% of women interviewed

said their sex drive increased since getting pregnant. Which again, might be a good thing

because not only is it safe, there are actual health benefits to boning down. Doctors have

reported that sex during pregnancy can have a calming effect, help women fall asleep,

AND lower blood pressure. And some women have even confessed that they’ve experienced

more intense orgasms while pregnant. These O-mazing climaxes are thought to be because

the pelvic region is more sensitive and engorged in blood during pregnancy. Additionally, during

orgasms there is an extra release of oxytocin, AKA the love or cuddle hormone. Oxytocin has

been shown to help build trust in relationships so getting busy can also strengthen bonds

between partners during an already stressful time.

And it’s not just the act of sex, it’s also the byproduct that can be helpful. A

study done in Denmark found that a unique protein in semen could actually help reduce

a woman’s risk of developing pre-eclampsia, a potentially fatal illness that affects 3-5%

of pregnant women. The illness develops when the placenta doesn’t get enough blood. The

seminal protein helps to regulate the body’s immune system, thus lowering rates of preeclampsia.

Now, in the past there had been concerns that having sex while pregnant would potentially

induce preterm labor. And while the release of endogenous oxytocin and the pro-taglandins

in semen do aid in the ripening of the cervix, there’s no evidence that sex directly affects

the Bishop score, which is the scale used to determine if the cervix is ready for vaginal

delivery.

Even though sex while pregnant has many benefits, there are instances when abstaining from intercourse

is recommended, particularly when it’s during a high risk pregnancy. Women who have previously

gone into early labor, or if their water has already broken, as well as those who have

a compromised cervix, placenta previa or have a herpes outbreak or feel one coming onare

warned to abstain from sex. Obviously this is different from woman to woman and if you

have any questions about safety, just talk to your doctor.

Despite these potential complications, pregnancy sex is considered safe, fun, and beneficial

for most women- so get to it! Just because you’re housing a nutrient sucking parasite

doesn’t mean you’re shouldn’t be scragging, screwing, bumping uglies, whittling the love

branch, sticking the llama’s head up the lift shaft, jamming the clam, thacking the

ferret, laying pipe, bending her over a barrel and showing her the fifty states, gallivanting

in the Bridget’s bushes, or making love…

What do you think? Have any more questions about sex? Let us know in the comments, on

twitter or Reddit and we’ll try to answer them for you.

Now that we’ve answered this salacious pregnancy question, here’s Trace debunking 5 other

pregnancy myths!