For some women, having sex is low on the list of priorities during the third trimester. The extra weight and overall fatigue make it almost impossible to feel anything close to sexy. For others, however, this stage of pregnancy and all of the hormones that come along with it make them hornier than normal. If you're looking for ways to spice things up in the bedroom before your baby arrives, you may be wondering, can you use sex toys in your third trimester?
If your pregnancy is progressing without complications, it should be safe for you to have sex in the third trimester, according to Baby Center. If, however, you have been diagnosed with placenta previa, are at risk for preterm labor, or have other complications that would make sex dangerous during the final weeks of your pregnancy, it is best to abstain from intercourse.
But that doesn't mean that you have to abstain from pleasure all together. Sex toys can be a fun and safe way to maintain your love life during pregnancy when complications or your growing belly get in the way of your regular lovemaking. And as a bonus, bringing toys into the bedroom can be the source of some out of this world pleasure during this time. According to Parents, pregnancy hormones can cause moms-to-be to experience heightened sensitivity as a result of their engorged vagina.
If you plan to use sex toys at any point during your pregnancy, it's important to make sure you are keeping things clean — literally. Toys without a vibrator can be sterilized in boiling water or cleaned in your dishwasher, as What To Expect advised. If there is a vibrator, you can wash it by hand with antibacterial soap.
You should also be sure that any toys you use in and around your vagina are not used around your anus. This can introduce fecal bacteria into your vagina and leave you at risk for infection, as Parents mentioned.
Even if you are a pro with the dildo, you should go easy during your pregnancy. Your cervix is particularly delicate, and needs to be handled with care during this time. Dildos can harm you if you aren't careful, because they are harder and less flexible than a penis, according to Parents.
And once your water breaks, you should not insert anything into your vagina, since your baby will be susceptible to infection, according to Baby Center. Not that you'll have time, what with the whole giving birth thing.
