It’s ok to have sex during pregnancy

First-time dad, Rupin, was in a dilemma as he wasn’t sure whether or not he could have sex with his wife while she was pregnant. As he was too shy to ask the doctor, he decided to ask his friend, Suresh, only to find that Suresh was equally clueless. In fact, Suresh didn’t even know when to resume having sex after the baby is born.
Many young couples face this dilemma, as due to social conditioning, they are too embarrassed to ask questions about sex. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, to have sex during pregnancy is safe provided there are no contraindications.
Sexual intercourse (during pregnancy) should be avoided only if:
The woman has previously delivered premature babies.
She has a dilated or effaced cervix.
She has had abortions/miscarriages previously.
She experiences vaginal bleeding or spotting.
She is carrying twins/triplets, etc.
She has placenta previa.
She secretes amniotic fluid.
If the woman does not have any of the above complications, it is perfectly safe to have sex till two weeks before the expected date of delivery. If the delivery is normal, a couple can resume sex about three weeks after the baby is born. However, it is always a good idea to check with the doctor.
Pregnancy should not be a deterrent for sex. On the contrary, the feelings of intimacy that sexual intercourse provides are perhaps even more important during pregnancy.

The writer is a sexologist. You can mail him at dr.narayana@deccanmail.com [1]