8 Best Sex Positions for Pregnancy

“Is it safe?” is probably the first thing that springs to mind when you think about pregnancy sex. However, you may wonder how to make everything work after resolving that.

Even while pregnancy causes significant physical changes, if you’re in the mood for sex, it doesn’t have to be sacrificed. Finding postures that relieve pressure on your back and abdomen while maintaining your comfort is crucial.

Expectant mothers may experience a slightly different sex than they did before becoming pregnant. As your baby bump expands, certain positions might not feel comfortable or satisfying for you and your partner.

Try these pregnancy sex positions, talk to your partner, and pay attention to your body as you figure out what works best for you. Try each position one at a time until you find one that works, if you’re anxious about trying them all.

Read More: The Impact of Emotional Connection on Sexual Satisfaction: 5 Transformative Ways 

Tips for Enhancing Intimacy During Pregnancy

Build emotional and physical connections that form intimacy during pregnancy.

• Spending quality time together, sharing similar thoughts, feelings, and expressing emotions, and nurturing and supporting one another can help build an emotional and physical connection. It deepens the bond, creating a more meaningful and intimate experience.
• In preserving intimacy, utilize non-sexual body contact such as cuddling, massage, and gentle touch.
• Pregnancy also induces desires for variation in libido due to hormonal fluctuations, which affect sexual desire. You must put up with each other and discuss them freely.
• There will be some diminished desire and some heightened arousal. Maintaining intimacy becomes easier when you acknowledge changes and adapt accordingly. Consent and mutual comfort are the key.
• Each individual should feel empowered to make decisions independently. Ensure any physical intimacy is consensual and enjoyable, and always check in with each other.

“During pregnancy, sex may feel different,” explains Jennifer Wu, M.D., a New York City OB/GYN, a member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board, who opens a new window. The pressure of the uterus frequently causes the vagina and vulva to swell. Don’t worry; these are only short-term adjustments that will return to normal once the baby is delivered. 

Benefits of Sex During Pregnancy

You could be worried about how your partner or body will change while excitedly anticipating a new family member. You should avoid many things during pregnancy, but having intercourse is typically not one of them. Contrary to popular belief, having sex while pregnant can be extremely healthy for you and your partner. 

Orgasms are Intensified: Pregnant women often report experiencing more intense orgasms, which lower stress levels and increase sexual satisfaction. During the second trimester, hormonal changes and increased blood flow can significantly enhance libido. Following an orgasm, chemicals are released in the brain that can boost immunity and reduce pain. 

Enhances Pelvic Floor Strength: You will have an easier time giving birth and recovering after giving birth if your pelvic floor is strong. You may increase sexual enjoyment, decrease incontinence, and ease your baby out with the help of strong pelvic muscles. 

Think of it as Exercise: Maintaining an active lifestyle with suggested activities is one of the most crucial things to do throughout pregnancy. One form of exercise that reduces your calorie intake by 50 to 150 calories is having sex. 

Enhanced Self-Confidence: Hormonal fluctuations and physical changes can cause you to feel differently about your body. During pregnancy, many women usually start to feel unattractive. Having regular sex with your partner can help you feel more confident and like yourself again. 

Boosts the immune System: Pregnancy-related sex is beneficial since it stimulates the mother’s immune system, which helps her fend off infections and guard against the flu and seasonal colds.

According to Toronto-based sexologist Jess O’Reilly, PhD, who also hosts the Sex with Dr. Jess podcast, “Having sex during pregnancy can be an extraordinary experience.”

“Pregnancy-related hormonal changes can increase libido, and while orgasm may be a little harder to achieve in the first trimester, many women report having more intense climaxes in the second.”

Read More: 10 Tips for Maintaining Sexual Health and Wellness 

8 Sex Positions for Pregnancy

1. Spooning

Let your spouse enter you from behind while you are lying by your side. Let your partner cuddle up next to your back and enter you from behind. According to Kat Van Kirk, PhD, a registered marriage and sex therapist, “In third trimester, the spooning position is the most comfortable position.”

“It is also comfortable, and no one has to exert themselves too much, and deep penetration is very difficult to achieve, which will be quite beneficial for your cervix if it is susceptible,” Kirk said. Spooning relieves pressure from your abdomen (and bladder), and it also frees up your hands to stroke your clitoris, which provides additional stimulation. 

2. Side-by-Side

When you are both facing each other, your partner can enter you from the side by crossing their leg over yours. Your legs are straight or bent at the knee. As Rachel Needle, PsyD, sex therapist, executive director, and founder of Whole Health Psychological Center in West

Palm Beach, Florida, explains, this position “allows for variation in speed and depth.“

“It’s also great because it doesn’t require a lot of energy.” The second advantage is that you and your partner can make eye contact and can also stare into each other’s eyes when you’re sitting side by side, which is one of those pregnancy sex positions that are more intimate, says O’Reilly.

3. Woman on Top

Instruct your spouse to lie down and straddle you from above on the floor. In this posture, you can manage the tempo of the exercise and relieve pressure from your stomach, allowing you to feel more in control. Alternatively, you can move around a little to determine the most comfortable angles.

Placing both hands on the top of the headboard at the same time will not only assist you in maintaining your balance, but it can also save you energy and provide you with other angles. 

Read More: Exploring the Benefits of Regular Sexual Activity on Physical and Mental Health 

4. Reverse Cowgirl

Reverse cowgirl is very similar to the classic position, but instead your partner facing in the opposite direction. You will sit on your partner and face their legs rather than them. This role offers all the benefits of being a cowgirl, but the feelings are different. It allows you to maintain control, relieves pressure from the abdomen and pelvis, and facilitates relaxation and momentary enjoyment.

Movement, depth, and rhythm are all under your control. To determine what feels best, try tilting your pelvis forward and backward or using different motions. Put your hands behind you and transfer some of your weight to your partner for additional support. 

5. Oral Sex while Seated

The receiving partner is allowed to find the position that feels most comfortable during oral sex. The goal of this seated position is to concentrate on enjoyment. It will enable you to unwind, connect with your body, and spend quality time with your significant other without additional stress. You can replicate this position anywhere you feel comfortable, like sitting on the edge of a couch or chair.

Janet Brito, a PhD, registered clinical psychologist, and AASECT-certified sex therapist in Honolulu explains, “You can relax comfortably around while your partner provides you oral sex stimulation by sitting up in bed and putting pillows all around you for your support.” 

6. Doggy Style

In the doggie position, you kneel on all fours as your lover enters from behind. Their free hands can stimulate your clitoris and other pleasant parts of your body.

Many people choose the dog style, regardless of whether they are pregnant. The shallower penetration in rear-entry positions may feel more pleasant on your cervix and relieve pressure from your tummy. This position typically works well until the end of the second trimester, but the extra weight may make being on all fours less comfortable as pregnancy goes on. 

Read More: 10 Common Signs of Sex Addiction- Causes, Effects and Treatment 

7. Edge of the Bed

Lie on your back near the edge of the bed with your feet resting flat on the floor. Afterward, have your spouse stand or bend over you while you enter, supporting your torso on your elbows.

You can adjust your hips to what seems comfortable for you in this pregnancy sex position, and the bed’s support of your weight can be very useful. Additionally, it enables face-to-face interaction, which may feel more personal. 

8. Rear-Entry Standing

In a standing rear-entry, your partner will enter you from behind while holding your waist, while you stand with your hands against a solid wall. This position permits deeper penetration while releasing pressure from your abdomen.

Maintain a grounded position with your knees bent slightly. Stay on level, firm terrain to maintain your balance and avoid falls. Your spouse can grip your thighs, hips, or waist to help you feel stable.

Read More: 12 Side Effects Of Not Having Sex For A Long Time – Still Thinking Of Celibacy? 

Conclusion

Staying intimate during pregnancy isn’t just possible—it plays an essential role in maintaining emotional support and closeness between partners. Communication, consent, and comfort become increasingly significant as your body shifts in response to your comfort and preference levels.

To have a pleasant and fulfilling experience for the two of you, listen to your body at all times and express yourself openly to your partner. Keep in mind that intimacy isn’t always about sex and is more about love, closeness, and bonding.

Practice closeness, not perfection, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new modes of expression or love roles more in accord with your nature as your needs change. Being close through contact, cuddling, or simply hanging out together keeps your relationship intact in the long term.

According to Dallas-based ob-gyn and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG, communication is essential. As your pregnancy goes on, she advises having a candid and open conversation about what works and what doesn’t for you in terms of pregnancy sex positions. She emphasizes the importance of voicing any discomfort or unease you may feel.