Table of contents:
- Why is there an assumption that sex can trigger labor contractions?
- Tips for safe sex at the end of pregnancy
If your pregnancy is past due date, or if your pregnancy is past 42 weeks, or your baby's safety is at high risk, your doctor may decide to induce labor contractions by induction. Labor induction is of course risky, so it is understandable that many pregnant women may choose an alternative method of initiating labor. One strategy that is believed to trigger contractions is the same way you start your pregnancy: making love.
Why is there an assumption that sex can trigger labor contractions?
There are a number of plausible reasons behind reasoning sex as a method of triggering contractions when your baby is due. First, semen is a natural source of prostaglandins, chemicals that relax the tissues and help the cervix mature to prepare the baby's birth path. Second, sex with or without orgasm is reported to increase uterine activity. Sex can also trigger the release of oxytocin, a natural hormone in the mother's body that helps start contractions.
On the other hand, scientific evidence to support sex as a method of inducing labor is far from sufficient. In fact, once your pregnancy reaches your 40s weeks, you will be very likely to go into labor spontaneously any time, with or without sex. So it's easy to mistake sex for the culprit, when in fact it may not be your orgasm that triggers the contractions. Experts suspect that labor induction is related to hormones produced by mothers and babies. That is why, trying to induce contractions on your own is not a reliable method.
Sex as a method of inducing contractions is also a difficult thing to measure, because sexual activity and experience are not easily defined uniformly. Breast stimulation, for example, is thought to stimulate uterine contractions, but not all sexual activity involves foreplay this. And, the role of prostaglandins from semen will also depend on the use of condoms, the volume of ejaculate, and the concentration of prostaglandins in the semen.
So, this is why sex for labor induction is more likely a theory (if not a myth), than a medical fact. "There is no non-medical proven way to induce labor naturally," said Elizabeth Stein, CNM, a midwife from New York, quoted from WebMD. The only safe and reliable method of inducing labor contractions is with drugs given in the hospital. "But, there would be no harm in trying sex to induce labor!" said Stein.
Tips for safe sex at the end of pregnancy
It's okay to have sex with a partner near the end of pregnancy — as long as your waters haven't broken, and when your doctor or midwife has given you the green light. Once your waters have broken, vaginal penetration can increase your risk of infection. Sex is also safer if you don't have a low placenta (placenta previa) or have never had vaginal bleeding.
In the later stages of pregnancy, sex is easier said than done. You can try spooning , lying on your side with your partner entering from behind. Or, you can lie on your back on the edge of the bed, with your feet touching the floor and knees bent. Your partner can then kneel or stand in front of you for penetration.
It's important for men to ejaculate inside the vagina if you really want to trigger contractions, although there's no guarantee this will work. If you're not passionate about sex (and that's okay), you can ask your partner to do it foreplay by stimulating the nipple.
If your pregnancy hasn't reached its full age (under 39-40 weeks), sex generally won't lead to preterm labor. However, if you have been diagnosed with a high risk of preterm labor, you should talk to your doctor about the safety of having sex; he or she may recommend preventive measures or limit sex to some extent.
