Between your raging hormones, morning sickness, and your ever-expanding waistline, sex might be the last thing on your mind when you\u2019re pregnant.<\/p>\n
Although vegging out in front of the TV is looking pretty good, having sex can do wonders for your health, your pregnancy and your relationship.<\/p>\n
Here are nine reasons why pregnancy sex is not only healthy, but why it might be even better than before.<\/p>\n
1. An easier labor and recovery<\/b>
\nHaving an orgasm increases the contractions in your pelvic floor, which help to strengthen the muscles you\u2019ll need for labor and after delivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you\u2019ve pushed your baby through those muscles, they\u2019ll have an easier time strengthening up,\u201d said Jeanne Faulkner, a registered nurse in Portland, Oregon and author of \u201cCommon Sense Pregnancy: Navigating a Healthy Pregnancy and Birth for Mother and Baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. Less bathroom breaks<\/b>
\nFeel like you always have to pee? Frequent trips to the bathroom, even leaking when you sneeze or laugh can happen when you\u2019re pregnant. \u00a0Plus, as your baby gets bigger and presses on your bladder, it can be even more uncomfortable. The good news is that the same muscles that you\u2019ll be strengthening for your labor can also help with the flow of urine, said Tammy Nelson, PhD, author of \u201cGetting the Sex You Want.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Complication prevention<\/b>
\nAccording to a Danish study , frequent sex may help prevent pre-eclampsia. \u00a0Researchers believe it\u2019s because of a protein found in sperm that can regulate the body\u2019s immune system. Yet because the cause of preeclampsia is unknown, it\u2019s important to keep your prenatal visits and talk to your doctor about your risk.<\/p>\n
4. Lowered blood pressure<\/b>
\nAlthough your blood pressure may be lower right after having sex, it\u2019s only temporary so the cure isn\u2019t sex all the time, Faulkner said. \u00a0Since high blood pressure can be serious for both you and your baby, it\u2019s important to work with your doctor on ways to prevent or control your blood pressure.<\/p>\n
5. Better orgasms<\/b>
\nSince your body\u2019s nerve endings are more sensitive, your nipples and clitoris are engorged, and there\u2019s more estrogen drawing blood flow to your pelvis, it\u2019s usually easier to achieve orgasm and they\u2019re also longer and stronger, Nelson said. Plus, women who had trouble having an orgasm prior to pregnancy may now find they no longer do.<\/p>\n
6. Improved self-esteem<\/b>
\nWith all the changes that happen during pregnancy, it can feel that your body is no longer your own. Yet having sex can help restore your body confidence and positive feelings about yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a lot of women, it\u2019s a time in life where [sex] is a really important part of who they are, their relationship and how they feel,\u201d Faulkner said.<\/p>\n
7. Stress reduction<\/b>
\nAlthough pregnancy is usually a happy time, it\u2019s normal to worry about things like work, finances and how your life will change after your baby is born. Oxytocin, the love hormone that your body releases when you have an orgasm, can help to negate some of that stress and also help you sleep better.<\/p>\n
8. Improved connections<\/b>
\nHaving frequent sex now will help strengthen the intimate relationship and bond you have with your partner and establish a healthy habit for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to connect with your partner now while you have time because you\u2019re going to need that connection once the baby is born,\u201d Nelson said.<\/p>\n
9. Preparation for labor<\/b>
\nIf you\u2019re full-term or past your due date, having sex won\u2019t put you into labor, but it can help your body prepare because semen contains prostaglandins which can help ripen the cervix, Faulkner said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Source: Fox News<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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