Positions for Pregnant Sex

How to choose the best position for great sex during pregnancy.

Medically reviewed by

Updated on December 10, 2019

Count the sex positions you can use in pregnancy as just one of the many things that change during the nine months you're expecting a baby. What may have been comfortable before you got pregnant may no longer be. And as your belly grows, some sex positions that worked early in pregnancy may actually now be physically impossible (or close to it).

Some common issues that moms-to-be say affect sex in pregnancy include:

An inability to lie on their back
No desire for the partner to be on top
Orgasm issues
The partner penetrates too deeply

Many of these challenges can be addressed by choosing the right position for sex while pregnant. If you're nervous about trying all new positions, focus on trying one at a time until you find one that works. Here are several positions to start with as you explore sex during pregnancy.

Missionary

Early in pregnancy, most couples find little variation in sex positions is needed. The missionary position, where one partner is on top, is safe in pregnancy. However, as the pregnancy progresses, if you are not able to lay on your back or withstand pressure on top of your abdomen, the position may no longer be comfortable.

Some women find using pillows to support the back is helpful in this position. Your partner can help by extending their arms to hold more of their own weight further away from your body.

Many couples love the missionary position because of the face-to-face interaction it allows. As your belly grows and the position becomes more challenging, you can maintain this aspect of the position by rolling onto your side, similar to a spooning position.

In the late stages of pregnancy, the size of your belly may prevent the missionary position from being tolerable, even with support from pillows.

A benefit of using missionary late in pregnancy is that it makes it more difficult to achieve deep penetration. This may be helpful if you are feeling sore or are worried about "bumping" the baby.

Pregnant Partner on Top

Many couples prefer this position during the third trimester. As your belly gets bigger, you may find being on top preferable, as this arrangement allows you to control the depth and speed of penetration. The position also allows for manual clitoral stimulation to help you reach orgasm.

Rear Entry

Rear-entry positions (also called "doggie style") can be used in any trimester, but are particularly good for the end of pregnancy when your belly is large enough to get in the way in forward-facing positions. In a rear-entry position, you can be on your hands and knees or kneeling, or you and your partner can lay side by side (spooning). You can also use rear-entry positions while standing.

Penetration is more shallow in rear-entry positions, which may be more comfortable for you. If your partner feels nervous about intercourse as your pregnancy is progressing, positions such as rear entry can ease their fears.

If you find it difficult to reach orgasm in this position, try adding manual clitoral stimulation.

Standing

You can think about having sex standing up as an adjustment to any position you use. Standing sex while pregnant, especially when using rear entry, takes the pressure off of your back and avoids your belly. You can use this position at any point during your pregnancy as long as it is comfortable.

You can also perform standing sex while leaning. Try using a wall, bed, table, or whatever happens to be nearby to brace yourself. Many women like standing sex positions during pregnancy because they allow for shallow penetration and tend to slow sex down.

Seated

You can also try using a chair during sex while you are pregnant to help you get more comfortable. Have your partner sit down on a sturdy, armless chair (you can also use a table or other sturdy surface to rest on). From there, you can straddle them and, depending on the height of the chair, place your feet on the ground.

This pregnant sex position is great for controlling speed and depth of penetration, and it can be used during any trimester of pregnancy.