We all remember how we got in this situation – it takes two to become pregnant, right? But what happens now that the belly is getting bigger and hormones are in "hyper-drive"? Worse yet, what happens after a 9-pound baby comes out of "you know where"? Can things ever be the same? Here are some answers to calm your "first-time dad" fears.

Attention all of you soon-to-be dads! Here is the information you've been waiting to hear: "Sex is safe for most women throughout their pregnancies," says Dr. Helen Rhodes, an obstetrician/gynecologist at the Hillcroft Medical Clinic Association in Houston, Texas.

In some instances, it's even recommended. "If I have a patient at the end of her pregnancy who is ready to have the baby, I tell her to go home and have sex," says Dr. Teresa Hoffman, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Md. "The prostaglandin found in the semen can cause the uterus to contract."

However, there are times when your obstetrician might recommend avoiding sex. "If a patient is experiencing the signs of a threatened miscarriage (bleeding), then abstinence may be prescribed," says Dr. Rhodes. "Other clinical situations where sex should be avoided include premature rupture of the membranes, threatened preterm labor, placenta previa (where the placenta is covering the cervix) and hypertensive disorders." Check with your obstetrician if you have questions regarding these conditions.

Can your sex life actually get better during pregnancy? Some couples feel that during the second trimester, things really start to pick up in the bedroom. "Overall our sex life during my wife's pregnancy was better than I thought it would be, particularly in the 3rd and 4th months," says Doug Patterson*, father of a 2-year-old daughter. "After being very tired the first two months, my wife seemed to have more energy, an increased sex drive and willingness to engage in sexual activity more frequently – I'm sure it was the hormones!"

These hormones, along with a growing belly and pure exhaustion, can bring about changes in bedroom behavior throughout the pregnancy – and beyond! "Expect that during pregnancy and the first six months as a new parent, your sex life will go through lots of changes," says Christine D'Amico, author of The Pregnant Woman's Companion (Attitude Press, Inc., 2002) and mother of three. "You or your partner may want to have much more sex, much less sex or no sex at all. You will need to work together to ensure each of your needs are respected in a loving way."

Sometimes, it's not the pregnant partner who is lacking interest in sex. "Sex became almost non-existent around the 5th month of my pregnancy," says Amy Chandler*, mother of a 5-year-old son. "I think my husband was a little nervous about hurting the baby."

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