Positions Step-by-step guide · 6 steps

Sex positions during pregnancy

Spooning, her on top, on all fours

Your bump is growing and missionary is no longer advised? Spooning, her on top and all fours with support take over. Here's how to settle into each one as the months go by, with nothing weighing on your belly, and letting tiredness set the pace.

Duration20 min

DifficultyEasy

IntensityGentle

Props cushions, water-based lube

Start

A couple spooning in a cosy bedroom, the man's hand resting on his pregnant partner's round belly — Step 1Slip into spooning

See in Photo Comic art

Slip into spooning

Lie on your side, whichever side is more comfortable, with your head on a pillow. He lies down behind you, on the same side, and nestles in against your back.
Lying half on your side is one of the simplest and least tiring ways to make love. And nothing weighs on your belly.
Don't start with penetration. He caresses your whole body first and only then moves between your legs.
If needed, have a water-based lube to hand (saliva will do at a pinch). Avoid petroleum jelly and baby oil: they upset the vaginal flora and aren't compatible with condoms.

Move together, gently

When you're ready, push your bottom back towards him to invite him in. He slides into you from behind.
Then it's up to the two of you to decide who moves and how: him alone, both of you or just you, fast or slower. Either of you can set the pace, and you can switch along the way.
No need for big movements: in this position, the slightest motion is delicious. Nor does it call for as firm an erection as the more acrobatic positions.
His hands are free. He can stroke your breasts and your clitoris while he's inside you, kissing your neck. Gently on the breasts at first, asking you what you like.

No need for big movements: in this position, the slightest motion is delicious.
Step 2 · Move together, gently

As your belly grows, draw your thighs up

Still on your side, rest one thigh on top of the other, then draw them both up towards your belly, without letting them touch it.
He settles behind you, on the same side, and nestles in against you. With your thighs drawn up, your vulva is right in line with his penis, and your belly stays free.
To get even closer, he slides his upper leg up over your thigh.
This position was designed especially for pregnant women, to make love comfortably when the belly is big. It works outside pregnancy too.

On all fours, with support

Kneel on the bed, leaning forward, resting on your hands. He kneels behind you. Your belly stays free, with nothing squeezing it: it's a position pregnant women can particularly enjoy.
Your upper body sets the depth: the further forward you lean, the deeper the penetration. With your chest a little more upright, it stays gentler.
When your arms tire, sink onto a pile of cushions slipped under your chest, keeping your belly free. Lower down like this, he goes deeper: tell him if he needs to slow down.
In this position, the clitoris only gets indirect stimulation. His hand or yours can take over.

The final monthsHer on top

He lies on his back. You sit astride him, facing him. Even when it's big, your belly isn't squashed: that's why this position is particularly recommended in the final months.
You're in charge: the pace, the depth, the angle. Move your pelvis up and down, or roll your hips, drawing circles with the small of your back. He gets to rest.
Nothing says you have to take him deep. You can keep him at the entrance, in the first three centimetres of the vagina (the most sensitive), and angle him towards the spots that feel best.
For balance, rest your hands on his chest or his thighs. His stay free to caress your breasts, or your clitoris with his fingertips.
After a while, the position gets tiring. As soon as you feel it, move on to the next step.

Let tiredness set the pace

Your body gives the signal. As soon as a position tires you, you can leave it, switch to another or stop altogether, no explanations needed.
The fallback position is spooning: the gentlest movement is enough to wake the senses, and barely any more effort brings pleasure.
If you've had your fill, you stop there: a big cuddle, and off to sleep. Nothing stops you picking up again later, in the night or during the day, if the desire comes back.
Making love isn't only about penetration. On evenings with no energy left, a tender touch, caresses or a massage count just as much.

Who it's for, and when

These positions are for pregnant women and their partners who want to go on enjoying each other, without forcing anything. They're simple and don't take much out of you.

As for timing, follow your belly rather than the calendar. Spooning is very handy throughout pregnancy, drawn-up thighs take over as the belly rounds out, and her on top particularly suits the final months. A nap, a moment of rest: the lying-down positions lend themselves nicely to both.

What to avoid as your belly takes up more room: missionary. He lies on top of you, and many women feel squashed and struggle to breathe. For the same reason, set aside positions where you lie on your front.

In the second half of pregnancy, also avoid lying flat on your back for long: the weight of the uterus then presses on a large vein (the vena cava), which can make you light-headed. If it happens, roll onto your side: the discomfort soon passes.

Health-wise, every pregnancy is different. At the slightest doubt or pain, or if anything worries you, stop and ask the doctor or midwife looking after your pregnancy for advice. The same goes for back pain or limited mobility: a health professional will point you in the right direction.

And these positions aren't just for pregnancy. Spooning with thighs drawn up works outside it too, and spooning remains a trusty ally on tired evenings.

Variations to take it furtherVariation 1: at the edge of the bed, him kneeling on the floor

Lie on your side right at the edge of a low bed or a low sofa, your back facing out. He kneels on the floor behind you and slides into you.

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The album · Photo

Sex positions during pregnancy, in pictures.

A couple spooning in a cosy bedroom, the man's hand resting under his pregnant partner's rounded belly

A pregnant woman, leaning tenderly over her partner, props herself on the pillows so her belly stays free, in a softly lit bedroom.

A couple entwined on a bed, the pregnant woman leaning over a pile of cushions, the man behind her supporting her belly, in the soft evening light

2 more illustrations for members The same scenes in Comic art. Members only: a free account is enough, no bank card. See them

Your questions

What people wonder.

Can you make love all through pregnancy?

Every pregnancy is different: it's a question for the doctor or midwife looking after you, who knows your situation. If nothing stands in the way, these positions let you carry on month after month, changing position as your belly grows.

Is missionary really one to avoid?

Yes, as soon as your belly starts to round out: lying on top of you, your partner weighs on it, and many women quickly feel squashed. Go for spooning instead, or her on top, which keeps you face to face without the weight.

What if I'm too tired?

Then you slow down, change position or stop, no explanations needed. Spooning takes very little effort, and making love isn't only about penetration: a cuddle, caresses or a massage count too. You'll pick up again later if the desire comes back.

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