Sex in pregnancy - can anyone answer this?

[SausageSmuggler]

Why do midwives etc say its perfectly safe to have sex during pregnancy but then list it as a good way to get labour started? It's always felt like slightly conflicting advice to me.

Apparently it's a myth that sex can help labour along but I guess it's fun trying!

Well it never worked for me.... I think most of these 'myths' only 'work' if you are about to go into labour anyway.

Because labour will only happen when your body is ready for it to happen.

So it is perfectly safe in early and mi-late pg cos your body isn't receptive to either the prostaglandins in semen or the the oxytocin release on orgasm.

When your body is ready then sex can start labour - but TBH I would describe it more as making labour a little earlier rather than starting it per se.

Thank you :)
I wasn't worried I just always wondered. I remember in the last few weeks in my first pregnancy if we had sex i'd spend the night having contractions but labour never actually kicked off. I was induced in the end.

Its because orgasm can make your uterus contract :)

I love your name in relation to the question OP

I'm 33 weeks pregnant (34 on Sunday) and we're still having sex, albeit not as often. Positions can be tricky and I'm finding it 'uncomfortable' down below now so we're 'tailing off'.

I was a bit unsure early on (seem reasons as you) and also worried as I have a low lying placenta (will be checked out 3 week today), but so far so good.

what HauntedLittleLunatic said.

Although I believe the semen is actually meant to work much better if ingested orally> no this wasn't from dh.

Hehe only just clocked that ManCrushed

It doesnt work anyway we had loads of sex throughout my last pregnancy and I was still a week late. This time I am pregnant again but I doubt it works although ifs fun and passes the time!

Nah i'm too knackered this time haha!