You wanted the hot guy. You wanted the diamond ring. You wanted the adorable baby in the hip-but-affordable stroller. Now you've got it all. But you're not "getting any." Yet, somehow, between choosing bridesmaid dresses and recommending breast pumps, your girlfriends neglected to mention this.
1. Not everyone glows. Yes, it's true that some women take to pregnancy like a fish to water. They look great; they feel great. They shrug sheepishly when they admit to never suffering even a day of morning sickness. That's some women. The rest of us are just trying to keep from pulling over and puking on the drive to work. We feel fat. We're tired all the time. And while we're counting the days until the misery of pregnancy ends, we're also just a little bit terrified about what comes with that finish line: labor, delivery, an actual living, breathing baby and, basically, the end of life as we know it.
Having an awesome pregnancy? Great! You have my eternal envy (and you can skip right ahead to the next tip). But if you're not exactly lit from within, don't worry about it. And don't worry about sex. It's tough to feel hot to trot when you're not feeling so, well, hot.
2. You might want sex more than ever. Once the waves of morning sickness ebb in your second trimester you may be raring to go. You're feeling better, your hormones are raging, and you're not so big that intercourse is awkward. When I was pregnant, I also noticed a surge in sexy dreams. Not the worst side effect, all things considered!
Seize the moment! Take advantage of those sexy dreams, and use your shift in hormones as a good reason for a roll in the hay (before you get too big to roll anywhere).
3. But your husband might not. Books and websites will tell you that the changes that accompany pregnancy are natural and beautiful and that men think so, too. Well, not always. Sure, pregnant women can be gorgeous. But that doesn't always translate to hot sex. Let's face it: Pregnancy sex can be physically awkward. With a baby bump between you, it's easy to feel like there's a little witness to your X-rated adventures. Your man may start to see you as a mother, not a lover. He may be worried he'll hurt the baby (near impossible, by the way). And, let's face it: Some guys are just weirded out by pregnancy sex.
Don't pressure him. It's okay to wait until after your baby is born. For now, you'll just have to take matters into your own horny hands, so to speak. But that shouldn't mean that you lose your intimacy altogether. Take the time to kiss, hug, cuddle and talk now. Pretty soon, you're going to wish you had the time to do it.