You’re pregnant. You’re horny. Your partner is nervous to have sex with you. Is it safe to have sex and masturbate when you’re pregnant?

Absolutely (unless you’re being monitored for risk of early delivery)! So please, crack on. When the baby arrives you probably won’t have the time or inclination for sex as a new parent, and your sex drive might plummet.

What sex toys can you use to get yourself off?

Keep it (literally) clean

It’s absolutely fine to use sex toys when you’re pregnant, just make sure they’re clean. Use sex toy cleaner or warm water and gentle soap – or put non-vibrating, silicone toys in the top rack of the dishwasher.

You could sterilise your non-vibrating sex toys in boiling water for five minutes – consider it good practice for sterilising hundreds of bottles – but staring at a pan of simmering water tends to dull, not ignite, the loins.

Can I use dildos or a vibrator when I’m pregnant?

Yep. You won’t pierce the placenta or harm the baby. The mucus plug (sexy) seals the uterus and the baby safely inside.

Don’t shove the dildo too far inside you though, but only because this can be uncomfortable rather than hurting your little one.

Experiment with new positions and techniques

That large tummy might get in the way of your normal masturbation position, so enjoy trying different techniques. Sleeping on your back is not advisable after 28 weeks, but lying on your back while rubbing one out shouldn’t cause any problems.

Use a pillow

Try humping a pillow, or mounting it, with a sex toy between the pillow and you. Providing cushion for your belly and elevation for your vulva, using a pillow can make masturbation more comfortable.

Placing a cushion under your chest can also alleviate the discomfort of your ginormous boobs.

Masturbate in the bath

Water buoyancy is your friend, particularly in your third trimester. Put those waterproof sex toys to good use by dimming the lights, lighting a few candles, sloshing in the fragrant bubble bath and locking the door.

Embrace new sensations

Never been into nipple stimulation but your sensitive boobs are craving touch? Try applying tingly lube or explore nipple toys like suckers or clamps. During my pregnancy, I was drawn to pregnancy porn so I gave it a go…

Hands-free pleasure

You’re knackered during pregnancy. Keep the effort to a minimum and enjoy hands-free stimulation with a clit toy. Revel in flicking the… remote control as you lay back with your partner or during solo play.

A magic wand

Supposedly, the magic wand was discovered when some sexy minx used her back massager on her clit instead. Flex those multi-use skills and invest in a “back massager”. Soothe unwanted pregnancy symptoms and treat yourself to some me-time?! It’s a win-win

Plug it in, lube it up and see how stress-relieving the wand can be.

Clit-suction toys

Sometimes shaped like a child’s toy (penguin, flower, unicorn), these powerful toys provide targeted pleasure wherever they’re positioned. Try them on your nipples if they’re not too sensitive in the latter stages of pregnancy.

Butt plugs or anal beads

If you like the idea of bum play, try anal beads or butt plugs. You might want to avoid this if you’re suffering from pregnancy-induced haemorrhoids or constipation though…!

A note of caution

Vaginal cramping, pain or bleeding shouldn’t be ignored during masturbation or sex – and the same goes for when you’re pregnant. If you’re at all worried about anything before or after having a wank (though perhaps not during, unless “doctors and nurses” is your thing), then speak with your midwife.

Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay