An increase in estrogen and progesterone levels can also mean an increase in libido. You can thank estrogen in particular, which increases vaginal lubrication, nipple sensitivity, and uterine blood flow. Our bodies differ from each other, though, so if you’re not feeling frisky, it’s not cause for concern.
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If you have noticed an increase in sexual desire, go for it! Now is a great time to experiment with new positions to accommodate your growing belly. The amniotic sac, amniotic fluid, and your cervix protect baby from the active movements of sex when not using too much force. Potential caveats include a history of pre-term labor or miscarriage, so talk to your care provider about sex if this applies to you.
A few lovemaking positions we suggest to avoid hypertension and to allow the pregnant person to control pressure or penetration:
Bask in the glow of oxytocin (known as the “love hormone”) and intimacy with your partner. Your baby will feel a rush of oxytocin, too. [1] When it’s your birthing time, moments of intimacy (kissing, stroking) with your partner can even help reduce labor pain, so keep up your connection! Learn more about this juicy topic from our dear friend Debra Pascali-Bonaro and her online Pain to Power Childbirth Education course.
Legs Up the Wall is a deeply relaxing pose that’s wonderful for helping with swelling in your ankles and feet. It increases circulation, reduces back pain, and improves insomnia and thyroid function.
What you’ll need: A bolster or a few pillows. Optional: A belt or yoga strap.
4. Place your hands on the floor to one side, helping you roll your back down toward the floor. Extend your legs straight up the wall and scoot your bottom closer to the wall until you’re comfortable.
5. Use a bolster or several pillows to prop up your torso if you’re uncomfortable on your back.*
6. Optional: Fasten a belt or yoga strap snugly around your thighs. This relieves your body of the work of holding up your legs.
7. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and rest for 3-5 minutes.
*Lying flat on the back for long periods of time (like overnight) can compress the inferior vena cava, a large vein that runs blood from your lower body to your heart. You’ll know you’re okay if you’re comfortable on your back and able to breathe fully and deeply. If not, your body will let you know with nausea, dizziness, or tingly legs. With those clues, or if you’re in any kind of pain, prop your heart higher than your hips or sit up.
You’re likely feeling the baby move, or you will very soon. At about 10.5 inches and 12.7 ounces, your baby is also developing his or her reproductive system. Females already have their lifetime supply of eggs! A baby boy’s scrotum will finish developing in a few weeks. Until then, the testes are located in the abdomen.
Try applying raw shea butter or coconut oil to tight, itchy skin as it stretches to accommodate your growing belly. If heartburn and indigestion bother you regularly during the second trimester, try an abdominal release for relief. This release is easy to do. Enjoy it once a week throughout your pregnancy.
Affirmations are short, powerful statements that can affect your conscious thoughts. Close your eyes, breathe deeply and slowly, and repeat the following to yourself each day throughout the next week. Fill yourself with breath and feel the joy:
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