Spicy food. Walking laps. Making a little lovin’. As you near your due date (or watch it pass by), it’s natural to wonder if there’s anything you can do to get your new baby here already. You may want to know some sex positions for inducing labor, since getting frisky sounds like an easy (and maybe more enjoyable than eating a jar of jalapeños) way to kickstart your baby’s birth. But does it even work?
Before delving into how intercourse may induce labor, experts want women to know that is has not been medically proven that sex or certain positions actually work to make your baby come out. “It’s not necessarily true that it will induce labor, however, human sperm contains a high amount of prostaglandins, which is a substance that helps to ripen the cervix and helps labor to start,” says Jessica Shepherd M.D., OB-GYN and partner with Happy V, in an interview with Romper.
Leah Millheiser, M.D., director of the Female Sexual Medicine Program at Stanford Health Care, agrees, and tells Romper that this old wives’ tale may hold some truth, but there’s not much data to prove it. “It’s not something proven or guaranteed, but there are some people who swear by it,” she says. “When you orgasm, you release oxytocin, which is the same thing as pitocin. Sex doesn’t put you into labor, but if you are about to go into or are in early labor, could it give it a little kickstart? Maybe. We also don’t know how often in those early stages of labor you’d need to orgasm.”
Millheiser adds that there are no specific positions that are more effective at getting your labor started than others, so if you’re feeling like a romp in the bedroom, just stick to what feels comfortable. “Unless there’s some complication that precludes you from having intercourse, just focus on positions where you’re comfortable and not flat on your back,” she recommends.
Here are six sex positions that tend to work well for expectant parents.
Cowgirl
Being on top gives you complete control over pacing and depth of penetration. Women's Health recommended cowgirl position for the second trimester and beyond, mostly because of comfort. Your belly won't be squished, and the site noted that it gives your partner access to your breasts. Your boobs will most likely be extremely sensitive, thanks to a surge in estrogen according to What To Expect, which could result in an increased level of pleasure and higher chance of orgasm.
Reverse Cowgirl
This has pretty much the same benefits of control and comfort as regular cowgirl, but with an added bonus. Women's Health explained that this position stimulates your clitoris more. If you're a person that orgasms easier or better with clitoral stimulation, then this might be the position that gets those uterine contractions going.
Spooning
This one is done where both partners are laying down, and the woman is penetrated from the side. Women's Health noted that it's good for the woman to be lying on her side, so as to take the pressure off of her back and uterus. It also doesn't allow for super deep penetration, which can get uncomfortable for some women as their pregnancy progresses.
Doggy Style
You can do this on all fours, leaning on a chair or couch, or sitting on your partner's lap facing away. Parents recommended any position that allows for a pregnant woman to be penetrated from the rear is a good idea because of her ballooning belly.
“There are many sex positions to consider in pregnancy and should be focused around what feels comfortable due to a growing belly and changes in hormones,” Shepherd notes.
Hovering Butterfly
If you have a bit of balance and can lean on a wall or headboard for support, this position is good for pregnant women overall. It's also a way of receiving oral sex without being on your back. Parents reminded women that they should avoid being flat on their backs after the second trimester because of concerns about it causing elevated blood pressure.
Side-By-Side Masturbation
If your doctor says it's OK to have orgasms, side-by-side masturbation is a good way to pleasure yourself and your partner without getting too physical. You could even do it alone if you wanted to orgasm and see if it leads to labor induction. Healthline recommended masturbation for pregnant women who are having a hard time finding partnered positions that are comfortable.
The most important thing to remember is that sex at any stage of pregnancy should be comfortable and enjoyable. “Having sexual intercourse is safe in pregnancy,” says Shepherd. “Be cautious that any bleeding during sex is a sign you should stop. If the bleeding occurred during penetrative sex, wait for it to stop before having sex again, and if it doesn't stop or is heavy for multiple days, see a doctor right away.”
“Sexual activity is important to continue during pregnancy as a way to release tension and for intimacy for the couple, and that’s what the focus should be,” says Millheiser.
Sources:
Leah Millheiser, M.D., FACOG, director of the Female Sexual Medicine Program at Stanford Health Care
Jessica Shepherd M.D., OBGYN and partner with Happy V
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