Sex positions suitable for pregnancy

Pregnancy can sometimes produce a great surge in a woman's sexual desire. Unfortunately, it can be uncomfortable to have sex just when she wants it most - her hormones are flowing, she may feel a strong need for love and reassurance, and her partner may be very turned on by the sight of his pregnant partner's swollen breasts and belly.

So what positions are most suitable for sex during this most amazing stage of a couple's sex life? The first thing to note, perhaps, is that sex will not harm the baby. There's actually plenty of information about this on the internet - see for example, Baby Center, which gives a comprehensive list of the conditions in which you might be advised not to have sex while pregnant. Another excellent source of information is the Mayo Clinic.

The main issue, of course, in finding a suitable position for sex during pregnancy is the need for comfort. You may find, especially in the later stages of pregnancy, that lying on your back compresses the veins in your abdomen and makes you feel slightly light-headed or dizzy. If so, this is just a symptom of reduced blood pressure; fortunately, you can easily avoid any sex position where you lie on your back - the man on top position, for example, comes to mind, but this is not likely to be very successful anyway because of your bulging belly, especially for men with a short penis!

Most comfortable sex positions for a pregnant woman - from the woman's point of view

Side by side positions are great because they keep your partner's weight off your abdomen. And if you have him lying behind you, he can only make shallow thrusts - which may be more comfortable as you get nearer full term.

Any position where your vulva is presented without your bulge becoming an obstacle is likely to be successful - the most obvious way of achieving this is to lie on your back with your legs hanging over the side of the bed, or with your feet perched on the edge of the bed, and have your partner stand or kneel in front of you as he enters you. Again, though, this may not suit men with a short penis.

Any variations of the woman on top position is very good during pregnancy. You can control the depth of penetration and your swollen belly is not in the way of his penis as it enters your vulva. And if you or your partner are turned on by the sight of your breasts and belly (by the way, it is OK to be sexually aroused by the sight of your pregnancy!) this is likely to be very exciting.

Another possibility to try is any sitting position. You can try sitting down on him so that his penis enters you while you lower yourself onto his lap as he sits on a chair - but do make sure the chair's strong enough to support the weight!

Last but by no means least, the rear entry sexual position will certainly be an easier one than most to enjoy from a physical point of view, but some women will be too emotionally sensitive during pregnancy to find this an appealing one, especially if they see it as being slightly impersonal and having connotations of animal lustfulness.