It’s no secret that sex can lead to pregnancy, but what’s less well-known is that it can also help induce labor. If you’re trying to start labor, think about how you want to do it: do you want your partner to help with the stimulation? Or do you want to do it alone? Read this article to learn more about how sex helps induce labor.
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Does sex help induce labor?
Yes, it does.
Sex can help induce labor, but it’s not the most reliable way to bring on contractions. It’s often worth a try, though if you’re at home and don’t want to head to the hospital yet.
If you’re in the latter stages of your pregnancy and hoping to get things moving, sex may be just what you need. But before you get down to business and start having sex for the sake of getting this baby out, there are some things you should know about how sex helps induce labor.
How does sex help induce labor
When you’re pregnant, you’re probably not thinking about sex. But it turns out that having sex can help induce labor. Here’s how it works.
Image source: iStock
The hormones released during orgasm can cause your cervix to soften and thin out. It makes it easier for your baby to pass through the birth canal, which is why doctors recommend sex as a way to induce labor.
You may have heard of the “sex cure” before, but there are some things to consider before trying this method:
If you’re not dilated yet (less than 1cm), having sex may not help because there isn’t room for your baby to move down in your pelvis. If this is the case, don’t try this method alone—you should go for medical care instead.
However, if you are at least, 1cm dilated, having sex may help trigger labor naturally! Some women reported contractions within 24 hours of intercourse, while others say it took longer. It all depends on how quickly your body responds!
Can sex open the cervix during pregnancy
Sex can open the cervix during pregnancy.
When a woman is pregnant, her cervix changes in many ways. One of these changes is that it becomes lower in the vaginal canal, which allows it to open more easily. This is part of the process that allows for labor to begin.
Because of this change, sex can help open the cervix and make it easier for labor to begin. If you want your labor to start sooner, having sex may be helpful. However, it’s important to note that there are no studies on how often sex should be had during pregnancy for this effect to occur.
What sex positions can help induce labor
Several sex positions can induce labor. These positions are designed to mimic the position of a woman in labor. It encourages the baby to be born.
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Squatting position
It is a great position for inducing labor as it helps the cervix to open up, which helps with the birth of your baby. To do this, you need to stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and squat down as if you were going to sit on a chair that wasn’t there.
You should avoid leaning forward too much instead. Keep your back straight and lean back slightly when you feel pain in your lower back. This position can take more than one hour before you start feeling contractions, so don’t give up!
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Spooning
Spooning is another great way of getting things moving along nicely! It’s a comfortable position for both partners and easy on your back muscles if you have been experiencing back pain during pregnancy (which most women do).
The pressure from his body against yours whilst spooning will help relax those muscles and ease any discomfort that comes with them being so tight all day, every day for months!
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Missionary position
This is another great position for inducing labor as it allows gravity to work its magic on your body, which helps your baby come down into position for birth. To do this, lie on your back with your knees bent and let gravity pull them downwards towards your feet until they are flat on the bed or floor (you may need some pillows under your hips).
Once they’re flat, prop yourself onto pillows to elevate you slightly higher than your bump, and the baby’s head is lower than its bottom. You may want to invest in a special pillow wedge if this position doesn’t feel comfortable for you.
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Side-by-side position
The side-by-side position is a variation of the missionary position. You lie on your side with your partner lying next to you, facing in the same direction. He should be supporting himself on his elbow, with one hand supporting her head and the other at her waist or hip. She can put her arms around his shoulders or rest them on her knees.
This position helps your baby descend into the birth canal by putting pressure on your cervix, which stimulates contractions and helps expel any mucus plug that might be blocking your cervix from fully dilating.
Image source: iStock
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Doggy-style position
The doggy-style position can help induce labor in overdue women. The goal is to put pressure on the cervix and encourage it to open. To achieve this, the woman should lie on her stomach with her knees bent and feet flat on the bed. Her partner should then enter her from behind in the doggy-style position.
The doggy-style position is also a great choice for those having trouble reaching orgasm during sex due to an enlarged uterus or other issues.
How often do you need to have sex to induce labor?
Many believe having sex will induce labor and help the baby come out. But how often do you need to have sex to induce labor?
To answer these questions, we first need to understand what causes contractions in the first place. Contractions are caused by the hormone oxytocin, which is released during orgasm. When orgasm occurs, the uterus contracts and pushes against the cervix, which dilates it and helps with the birth process.
So, if having sex increases oxytocin levels and can cause contractions, then having more orgasms will increase those oxytocin levels and cause more contractions. So theoretically, having more sex can help make labor happen sooner! But how much sex is enough sex? How often do you need to have sex for it to work?
Well, there’s no real way of knowing for sure. Everyone’s body is different, and every pregnancy is different. Some women may find that their bodies respond well to frequent intercourse. While for others, they don’t experience any changes at all despite having lots of sex during their last trimester of pregnancy.
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Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore
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