Questioni am 23 years old and is 6 months pregnant with my first child.i haven't had sex
since my second month of pregnancy.
does not having sex during pregnancy lessen the chances of a natural birth?
what can i do to increase my chances of dilating and having natural birth?
AnswerWhile having sex, especially at the end of pregnancy, can help to soften and ripen the cervix and stimulate uterine contractions, it is by no means a necessary requirement. To encourage labor to begin, you should stay active, maintain good posture to encourage the best positioning of your baby (see www.spinningbabies.com for recommendations), eat a healthy diet, and reduce stress.
To encourage natural childbirth once labor begins, you want to avoid interventions as much as possible. Check out the book "Pushed" by Jennifer Block for lots of up-to-date information on the myths surrounding typical hospital births in our country, and ways to avoid unnecessary interventions. My general recommendations (what I do in my own births) are to refuse internal exams, refuse to be on a clock, refuse augmentation for "slow labor", refuse artificial breaking of your water, and insist on remaining mobile and out of bed as much as possible.
Good luck!
