First trimester
Many women report reduced sexual desire during first trimester due to nausea, vomiting, tiredness, mood swings, weight gain, headache or tender breasts (Coppens, 2002). However, Coppens (2002) also suggests that in some women immediate sexual interest increases.
According to Walton (1994) some men are concerned about the harm they may cause to the baby or feel sympathetic to their partners therefore curtail their own sexual drive. However, women need reassurance they are still desirable for their partners therefore limitations and anxieties of both partners should be discussed as they can lead to misunderstanding and estranging of the couple.
Implications for practice
Midwife can reassure women that decreased or increased interest in sexual activity are normal as every woman is unique and responds to changes differently.
In case of decreased interest in sexual activity, midwife can suggests other techniques which allow couple to be intimate regardless sexual intercourse helping them feeling close and important to each other, e.g. :
- cuddling
- holding hands
- kissing
- caress
- massage
In case of tender breasts midwife may suggest avoiding of fondling breasts during first trimester as well as different position that avoids direct pressure on the breasts. (Advise the couple that it is a temporary situation as tenderness of the breasts usually decrease in second trimester) (Coppens, 2000).
Some couples may express concerns about safety of the pregnancy and threatened miscarriage however there is limited or no evidence that would support this fact (Aston, 2001).
Women and their partners need to be reassured that sexual activity is safe and even though it may be decreased in first trimester it does tend to increase once again in second trimester (Coppens, 2002).