You may not know about the benefits of sperm in pregnancy, and you may not even feel very intimate while you await your new arrival. However, knowing it can be good for your pregnancy and your relationship with your partner may re-ignite the spark so you can share some closeness. Always check with your doctor to make sure everything is okay with your pregnancy. If you get the "go-ahead," you can enjoy:

Benefits of Sperm During Pregnancy

1. Actual Nourishment

There are numerous vitamins, minerals, and even a dose of protein in every ejaculation. While this won't take the place of your prenatal vitamins, anything helps. If anything, the nourishment in sperm will keep your vaginal tissues healthy and get the cells ready for repair after delivery.

2. Good Sleep

Semen has some melatonin in it that may be absorbed through your vagina and enter your bloodstream. This may help with those sleepless nights, a common side-effect of pregnancy. If your doctor gives the okay, sex every night before bed may be the best sleep remedy you've ever had. No pun intended.

3. Getting Your Cervix Ready

One of the benefits of sperm during pregnancy is that it helps get your cervix ready for the big day. Semen or sperm contains high levels of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins soften the cervix to help it open up easier when labor begins. The prostaglandins may also help trigger contractions, so ask your doctor if sex is okay at the end of pregnancy.

4. Feeling Better About Yourself

Some women may not find pregnancy a very sexy time of their lives. Weight gain, fatigue, and changing looks may cause a lowered self-esteem. Semen may contain chemicals that when absorbed through the vaginal walls, may decrease depression. Levels of these “feel good” chemicals have been found in women’s blood at increased levels for a few days after sexual intercourse.

5. Immune System Protection

Another one of the benefits of sperm during pregnancy is immune system protection. Sperm contains proteins that may help strengthen your immune system. It may help prevent interactions between mom and baby, reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, and keep you healthy. One reason being studied is that pre-eclampsia may be a DNA incompatibility between mom and dad. Sexual intercourse with baby daddy may help desensitize the immune system to dad's DNA. 

Safe Tips for Better Sex During Pregnancy 

Your doctor is the best advice for safe sex during pregnancy. Just to catch you up on some of the more common things to look out for, make sure you know these important ones: 

• Don't force things. Your desire for intimacy may wax and wane over the months. Let your partner know how you are feeling. Your body knows just when the right time is, listen closely. Be gentle and take things slow.

• You may need to use a safe water based lubricant for comfort. Sex drive may be less in the end of pregnancy. While sperm is helpful then, you may need some help to get things started.

• Make time for intimacy. Sperm is healthy for your pregnancy, but you need to have sexual intercourse to reap the benefits. Busy schedules, morning sickness (makes mornings a bad time), work, and other kids can all get in the way. Try going off to bed soon after dinner before you get too tired.

• You may have to adjust positions. If you are making love for the benefits of sperm at the end of pregnancy, you may need to try different positions for the most comfort.

• If you have oral sex, never let your partner blow air into your vagina. This is very seriously dangerous and can be life threatening. The air can form an embolism in your bloodstream and block a blood vessel.

• Refrain from sexual intercourse if your water has broken already. This may mean your contractions have already started and you won't need the benefit of semen to get things going, they already are. Intercourse could put you and your baby at risk for infection.

• If the benefits of sperm during pregnancy are contraindicated due to a high risk pregnancy, you can ask your doctor about sex with a condom. Just keep in mind that even orgasms can be detrimental if you are at risk for miscarriage.

• If you cannot have sex during your pregnancy, find other ways to be intimate. You can cuddle and watch movies, spend time reading together, or go for a walk every evening after dinner (as long as you aren't on bedrest).

• Last but not least, communicate with your partner. He may be feeling like "sex may hurt the baby," or that "his sperm may get into your uterus," all of which are old wives tales. Your baby will never know or be hurt by your lovemaking. The uterus is sealed off by the mucous plug and nothing gets past it until it dislodges at the end of your pregnancy. The baby is also cushioned by amniotic fluid, protecting him or her from any "bumps." Explaining these things will help make your partner feel better about sex while you're pregnant.