Sex and Pregnancy: The Naked Truth Revealed

While the virtuous virgins are chastely knitting booties, on the other end of the spectrum you've got the Foxy Mamas who can't seem to get their minds out of the bedroom! Wilson recalls, "With my second pregnancy, it was awesome, I could not get enough. I think it's because of the testosterone because I was having a boy. I wanted it more than usual." (Dr. Spetalnick refutes the testosterone theory, saying that only a minute amount is produced by the tiny baby.)

Lots of nine-month-nymphomaniacs blame a heady hormonal cocktail for their libidos, and some moms attribute their sudden sexiness to the increased intimacy that having a baby brings to a relationship. Others say that putting aside birth control allowed them to be spontaneously romantic for the first time. Talley Gottlieb, mother of three boys, put it this way, "When I was pregnant my appetites for food and sex were out of control. I figured, 'I'm already fat, so I might as well enjoy this donut. And I might as well let my inhibitions go because it's pretty obvious to anyone who looks at me that I've been having sex!'"

What's Normal?

Just as gestation brings heartburn to some women and stretch marks to others, every mother-to-be has her own unique story to tell about her bedroom experiences (or lack thereof . . . ). The important things to keep in mind are that pregnant sex is perfectly natural and safe, and while it won't trigger a miscarriage, it may help labor along toward the end. The key is to find a frequency and a position that works for both partners, and for the parents-to-be to get used to adapting their lives around a pregnancy, because it's just a warm-up for the changes they can expect as parents. Vasquez looks back and says, "I kind of expected our sex life to change and just hoped things would go back to normal later. . . . What was I thinking? Nothing in your life is normal after you have a baby!"