When you’re pregnant, there are many physical and emotional factors that can lessen your enjoyment of lovemaking. Fortunately, there are very few that actually prevent you from having sex, and these are relatively rare.

For many women, the most common reason for taking less pleasure in sex is the feeling that your body is becoming less and less attractive to your partner as your pregnancy goes on. Your abdomen swells as your baby grows, and you may view your disappearing waistline, spreading hips, swelling breasts, and widening thighs and upper arms with alarm. Some women become shy and defensive about their appearance, believing that their femininity is gone, and start to feel embarrassed about being seen naked.

In fact, the opposite is probably true, and most men find their pregnant wives very attractive. Talk to your partner about your fears-he’ll probably be astonished that you feel unsure about your appearance.

LOSS OF LIBIDO

While you may find your sex drive increases during pregnancy, it must be said that some women don’t feel like making love very often during the first trimester. Morning sickness, which can make you feel thoroughly wretched and unattractive in every way, is one reason for this. Tiredness is another enemy of the libido, and because pregnancy can be exhausting, you may sometimes feel you just don’t have enough energy to enjoy sex with your partner. Both morning sickness and tiredness are common problems in the first trimester, but usually lessen, or disappear, in the second.

Once free of the discomforts of morning sickness and exhaustion, most women find that their interest and pleasure in sex increase in the second trimester. Toward the last weeks of pregnancy, though, libido may wane again as tiredness increases. Sadly, many women feel like beached whales at this time and don’t enjoy their rounded beauty. Some may feel shy about stripping bare and making love.

Hormone levels can swing quite violently during pregnancy, and you’ll probably find yourself emotionally volatile, switching from feeling very contented to sadness and tearfulness, and then to great elation. This is perfectly normal, but of course it can be difficult for your partner to understand and can disrupt your sexual relationship.

If you do have problems, try to be open with your partner and be honest about your feelings. If you don’t want to make love because you feel physically ill or excessively tired, tell him the truth, so that he doesn’t feel rejected.

DISCOMFORT

The hormone-controlled changes in your breasts and genitals make them more sensitive and responsive to touch. This increased sensitivity can heighten your sexuality, but can also sometimes cause discomfort. This is especially true of the breasts in early pregnancy, and you may find that they’re very tender for the first couple of months. Explain this to your partner and ask him to avoid touching them during love play.

The engorgement of your genitals may also cause some slight discomfort, particularly later in pregnancy, as they remain swollen and aching after orgasm. This can create a feeling of unrelieved fullness, which may make sex less satisfying. Some women find they can overcome this lack of satisfaction by masturbation, especially if they tend to have better orgasms through masturbation (by themselves or by their partners) than via intercourse.

A common source of discomfort comes when the baby enlarges. Eventually, your abdomen is so swollen that it’s increasingly difficult for you to make love in the missionary position. Instead, try other lovemaking positions.

WHEN TO STOP

Stop having sex if you’re bleeding at any time, and check with your doctor as soon as possible to find out why this might be happening. The bleeding is probably not serious, and may simply be because of changes in the cervix that make it soft and easily damaged by deep penetration, but you’ll need medical advice. If the bleeding is caused by the sensitivity of the cervix, it’s best to avoid deep penetration when you next make love.

It’s not a good idea to have sex if the mucus plug that seals the cervix has become dislodged. And you should also abstain after your water has broken. Both of these are signs that labor is about to begin, although you can have a show seven to 10 days before contractions start. Both usually happen near term, although they can be earlier and could be a sign that you’re going into premature labor.

ANXIETIES

In any relationship, it’s difficult to enjoy relaxed, happy lovemaking if either or both of you are feeling anxious, tense, or nervous. During pregnancy, there are lots of things to feel anxious about, including fears about the safety of having sex, and he difficulty some couples or individuals have in adjusting to the idea of imminent parenthood.

Worries about the safety of sex during pregnancy are usually unfounded. As for anxieties about your relationship, the best thing to do is talk frankly and fully with your partner about how you feel about moving from partnership to parenthood. As long as you keep talking most problems can be solved.

If your sex life is causing you concern, and you and your partner cannot resolve it between you, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice and counseling.
Also Read More Links
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Surely you have in all likelihood heard of the dangers of second hand smoke intake, and maybe you have questioned if it is as hazardous as inhaling smoke from cigars? Being exhibited to old smoke from cigars, it appears, can be just as perilous, if not more so, than average cigarette smoke.

Secondhand smoke released from tobacco products, such as cigars and cigarettes, is considered environmental tobacco smoke. Research indicates that the smoke from cigars and cigarettes releases many of the same types of irritants. Ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and nicotine are just some of the few chemicals that are found in environmental tobacco smoke. Carcinogens such as vinyl chlorine, arsenic, benzene, hydrocarbons, and nitrosammines are also found in the environmental tobacco smoke from cigars and cigarettes. Cigars, because of their size, usually release more environmental tobacco smoke than cigarettes so being around cigar smoke, then, can pose more of a health threat than inhaling secondhand smoke from a lit cigarette.

Even though both cigars and cigarettes release similarly toxic environmental tobacco smoke, there are some key differences between the two which relate to the very different ways that cigars and cigarettes are manufactured. A long process of fermentation and aging takes place in the production of cigars. During the production and fermentation process, large amounts of carcinogens are produced, then once a cigar has been fermented and aged, it is wrapped in a nonporous wrapper that keeps it from burning too quickly. The fermentation process and nonporous wrapper both contribute to the high concentrations of carcinogens in the smoke. Carcinogenic compounds produced during the fermentation process are released when a cigar is lit, which leads to an unclean burn that is high in carcinogens.

Another reason why cigars produce greater amounts of carcinogens is in their girth and length because cigars are simply bigger than cigarettes. Much higher concentrations of toxins and irritants are released because of the greater amount of smoke that is released due to the greater size of the cigar. Since cigars are designed to be smoked alot more slowly than a regular cigarette, cigar smokers should always take their time to enjoy the relaxing experience much more slowly. Longer smoke times obviously result in the creation of alot more smoke. It is advised for all non-smokers to avoid areas where cigars are being smoked so if you smoke cigars, make sure to do so in a well-ventilated area.