sex is a natural normal part of pregnancy -- if you're having a normal pregnancy. the movement and penetration of intercourse in itself won't harm the baby. your baby is protected by your abdomen and the muscular walls of the uterus. your baby is also cushioned by the fluid in the amniotic sac. as a general safety precaution some doctors advise avoiding sex in the last few weeks of pregnancy believing that hormones in semen called prostaglandins can stimulate contractions. one exception? women who are overdue and want to induce labor. some doctors believe that prostaglandins in semen actually induce labor in a full-term or past-due pregnancy since the gel used to "ripen" the cervix and induce labor also contains prostaglandins. if you have a high-risk pregnancy -- for instance with a complication such as preterm labor or risk of miscarriage -- your doctor may advise you to avoid sex during pregnancy.
is sex during pregnancy safe?