People don’t often associate birth with sensuality or sex, but the majority of the time – that’s how the person became pregnant in the first place.
Many of the sensations and hormones that help aid with arousal, also support people during birth.
Believe it or not, sex toys can actually be used during labor!
So whether you’re pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or are just curious about all things pleasure, let’s take a look at just how sex toys can benefit someone during birth.
The Power of Oxytocin
When you hear oxytocin, you probably think “the love hormone”. That wonderful feeling that is triggered by cuddling, helps with orgasms, and makes you feel all ooey gooey inside.
It’s also a key player in labor and birth. Oxytocin is a crucial component in labor as it helps to induce contractions of the uterus. These contractions help push the baby down, as well as dilate and soften the cervix. Oxytocin is so important during labor that many providers often suggest people use a synthetic form of oxytocin in order to induce or augment labor.
There are ways that you can release oxytocin during labor, in addition to or before turning to the synthetic form.
You guessed it. Sex toys.
Orgasms and Birth
It’s not entirely uncommon for someone who is giving birth to reach down and touch their clitoris during labor. This is because instinctually they know that it may help them move through the intense sensations they’re feeling.
Clitorial stimulation helps induce orgasms. Oxytocin is one of the main hormones that is released during an orgasm. As you now know, oxytocin helps move the birth train along. This means that packing a vibrator or using your hand to stimulate your clitoris may help make a big difference in your birth experience.
Some studies support the idea that orgasms may help induce labor for someone at full term, or augment labor that has already started.
It’s not just a matter of getting labor going, sex toys can help you manage the intensity of contractions during labor. While oxytocin helps with contractions, it also creates feel good hormones, and can help with pain relief.
While having an orgasm during labor won’t necessarily make the pain go away, it can help make it less intense, and give you another option in your tool belt of labor techniques.
Reducing Stress
Labor can be stressful or overwhelming, or every combination of human emotions. Some ways people help to combat stress during labor is by lowering the lights, using calming essential oils, getting in a hot shower or tub, and through birth affirmations.
Orgasms can also help to reduce stress and cortisol levels, which in turn helps increase oxytocin.
Clitoral stimulation in labor can help the birthing person to shift their focus to their vagina and pelvis. This may help them feel more in control of the sensations they’re experiencing, and like they have an active role in their pain management.
Some other ways you can induce oxytocin during labor are:
- Making out or kissing with your partner.
- Breast and nipple stimulation.
- Have someone hold you, especially from behind, so they can give you hip compressions during a contraction.
You might not have an orgasmic birth, when the birthing person orgasms as the baby is coming out, but that’s not necessarily the goal. The point of using sex toys during labor is to give you another tool to deal with intensity of the experience.
Sex Toys During Labor: Things to Keep in Mind
If you or your partner are pregnant, or if you’re a support person like a doula – here are some things to keep in mind about sex toys during labor.
Penetration and Labor
Fun fact, hormones called prostaglandins are also a key player in labor. While these are produced naturally in the birthing person’s body, they are also present in semen. Which is why some people suggest penis in vagina intercourse as a means of helping to induce labor.
That being said, you most likely will not want to have penetrative sex after labor starts, whether that’s with a penis or a toy. This is especially important to avoid once your water breaks, as it could increase your risk of infection by introducing bacteria into the vaginal canal.
Make it Easy
While sex toys aren’t necessary in order to reap the benefits of arousal during labor, they sure do make it easier. When someone is in labor, they are already working so hard that even the extra movement of moving their hand on clitoris or breasts may feel impossible.
Ask For Privacy
Whether you’re in the hospital, at home, or at a birth center, it’s ok to ask your providers for privacy. While many providers totally understand the use of sex toys and arousal during labor, you still may want extra privacy, at least for a short time. Don’t be afraid to ask, or have your partner, or support people ask for you.
You can also try going in the shower or bathroom for extra privacy, and just taking your partner with you.
They Might Not Work For You
Another important thing to remember is that sex toys or other forms of arousal may not feel good while you’re in labor. The whole point of these tools is to try to keep you comfortable while moving this process along, if they’re not working for you, no worries, don’t use them!
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get back to using them in a much more enjoyable setting soon enough.
What to Pack
If you’re packing a birth bag or putting together a birth kit, and would like to try using sex toys, bring some options. You may want to try a bullet vibrator or a small ergonomic stimulators like the LILY 2 or NEA 2.
Choose sex toys that you’re familar and comfortable with and make sure they’re charged and sanitized!
Natasha (she/her) is a full spectrum doula, reproductive health content creator, and sexual wellness consultant. Her work focuses on deconstructing the shame, stigma, and barriers people carry around birth, sex, and beyond, to help people navigate through their lives with more pleasure, softness, and sensuality. You can connect with Natasha on IG @spectrumoflovedoula.
Article Source : lelo.com – Swedish designer brand and the world’s leading provider of intimate lifestyle products.