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1. You're worried about the baby
Many women are afraid to have sex when they're pregnant in case they 'harm' the baby. However, if you're having a normal, healthy pregnancy this can't happen. The baby is well protected by the walls of the uterus and is perfectly safe lying in the womb. Even an earth shuddering orgasm won't cause him any distress.

2. You don't feel sexy
If you're exhausted and feeling sick it's hardly surprising you aren't in the mood for sex. Some women simply don't enjoy being pregnant, or have difficult pregnancies which make them worried, stressed and disinterested in sex. Others don't like their pregnancy shape and mistakenly think they look 'fat'. No matter how much your partner tries to persuade you otherwise, if you don't like what you see in the mirror, you will probably feel too self conscious to let go and enjoy yourself.

3. Your partner's acting strange
He may also be worried about harming the baby. Or maybe he just can't help seeing you differently when you're pregnant. After all, his sexy wife is now a mum-to-be. Some men find this difficult to come to terms with and find they go off sex completely. If you think this is happening in your relationship, it's important to be honest and talk about it. If he's reluctant, you may need professional help. Go to
www.relate.org.uk for more information

WARNING: Your GP may tell you NOT to have sex if:

1. You've been bleeding or had miscarriages in the past.
It's probably better to avoid intercourse for the first three months as it could trigger bleeding, although other intimate contact is fine.
2.You have a history of going into early labour as sex in the later stage of pregnancy can trigger labour.
3.You have a low- lying placenta, where you placenta can be so low it covers the cervix. Scans will reveal this and you'll be advised to stop sex completely as intercourse could disturb the placenta.
4. You start to leak amniotic fluid as sex could make this worse.
5. You're having a multiple birth. Your doctor may advice against sex if they are concerned that one of the placentas is lying low in your womb, so could be disturbed by sex.

When It's Not Safe to have sex
There are two types of sexual behavior that aren't safe for any pregnant woman:
• If you're having oral sex, your partner shouldn't blow air into your vagina because it can cause an air embolism (a blockage of a blood vessel by an air bubble), which can be potentially fatal for you and your unborn baby.
• You shouldn't have unprotected sex with a partner if you don't know their sexual history as they may have, or have had a sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes, genital warts, chlamydia, or HIV. If you become infected, the disease may be transmitted to your baby, with potentially dangerous consequences.

By Kate Corr

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