Best for the first and second trimester, this gentler pregnancy sex position just requires you to lie on your side with a raised leg while your partner does the same but flipped the other direction, with their head by your feet and their feet by your head. To create the scissor effect, slip their lower leg underneath yours—as they inch closer to you, they can (with their vagina) rub against yours slowly or (with their penis) enter your vagina with the slow penetration this position is known for.

This rear-entry sex position is great during all three trimesters and may be especially handy during the third trimester since it takes pressure off your back, pelvis, and stomach. Typically, you'll be on all fours while your partner penetrates or performs oral on you from behind. Based on how far along you are, it might be difficult to hold yourself up, so try to relax your weight on pillows or enjoy this position on the couch.

Since this position allows for deeper penetration, make sure to communicate with your partner about your level of comfort if you're going that route. You can also put a pillow between you two to keep them from going too deep inside you. "There are also rings that can be put on a partner's penis, or on a sex toy that prevents it from going too deep," says women's health expert Wendie Trubow, M.D.

Consider this penetrative sex position a twist on the face-to-face classic: missionary. But instead of you both being vertical, Ghofrany explains you'll have your butt on the edge of a comfortable surface (a tabletop, the bed, etc.) while your partner stands up and enters you. Since your partner holds your legs up and the bed supports your weight, your hands are free to engage your clitoris or caress your breasts.

Definitely explore this intimate sex position in your first and second trimester, but only during your third if you're comfortable and not experiencing dizziness.

If your partner's got a penis or strap-on, the cowgirl is one of the best ways to stimulate your clitoris with friction while you're penetrated. Straddle your partner and face them as they lie beneath you with their legs bent. You can also pull a Missy Elliot and flip that thing back and reverse it: Get on top but backward. 

This "riding" sex position is a great option for sex during all three trimesters of your pregnancy. Whether you straddle your partner and face them or their toes, both variations let you keep the weight off your belly, plus you can control the depth and pace of their strokes.

To relieve even more strain, try this: Have your partner grab your hips or waist and hold you up as they (gently) meet you with each thrust—less effort; same pleasure. 

If you want to try full missionary, gauge your comfort along the way. While it can be dangerous to lie on your back, Ghofrany says data supports that if a woman is comfortable on her back and not short of breath or dizzy, then it should be OK.

Missionary is best for sex during the first and second trimesters. Any further along, keep this in mind: "As you get closer to 20 to 24 weeks," explains Sterling, "your uterus gets heavy enough to put pressure on the vena cava," which is the major vein that circulates blood from your heart through your body and to the baby. 

The lotus sex position is great for the first and second trimester, and potentially the third depending on the size of your belly, and it can be done with or without penetration. Have your partner sit upright in a comfortable position and then sit on their lap or between their legs, with your legs wrapping around their torso. From here, take a page from tantric sex practices and allow elongated eye contact, closeness, kissing, and deep embraces lead you to fulfillment. 

"So many [people] try from behind while lying on their side," Ghofrany says, and it might be because all you have to do during this popular pregnancy sex position is lie on your side and receive penetration from behind. Pregnant people in the first and second trimester will love this relaxing position, but proceed with caution if you're in your third trimester—you might feel some discomfort.

Rest on your hip and forearm close to the edge of the bed (or couch, futon, counter...) with your thighs pressed together, then your partner can massage your body while they penetrate you with a penis or toy. If you can handle it, thrust your hips slightly and match your partner's speed to share the stroke.

Among the easiest of the pregnant sex positions here, all you have to do for this one is stand up against a wall or your bed with your legs spread, then your partner will hold your waist and penetrate you from behind with penis or toy. With all the pressure off your belly, use this opportunity to guide the depth and strength of your partner's thrusts. Or, up the ante on your own pleasure with clitoral stimulation. 

This position is safe for any trimester, but keeping your balance may get difficult after 26 weeks.

Keep this sex position in your rotation during the first and second trimesters. While facing away from your, sit on your their lap while they sit in a chair—ideally, one without armrests—and let them do the rest of the work. Whether you use this position to grind on each other or receive penetration, you have tons of leverage: Being upright provides extra G-spot stimulation, and since your belly is out of the way, you can find the angles you like best. If you're up for it, use your free hands to stroke your partner's perineum, scrotum, or clitoris.

Third-trimester folks, this lazy, intimate position is all you. Lie on your side with slightly bent knees, then invite your partner to do the same behind you. You'll both face the same direction as your partner enters you from behind with a penis, toy, or fingers, so there's no pressure on your belly, back, or bladder. 

Since deep penetration can be hard to achieve with this position, your partner can grab onto your shoulders to deepen their thrust. However, you can also take advantage of this snuggly option to be gently stimulated. 

Although spooning sex is great for any stage, it especially lends itself to the increased size or pressure you might experience closer to your due date.