If the usual position of intercourse becomes uncomfortable during the pregnancy, the couple will need to experiment with other physical arrangements. It might work well for some if the woman is on top. The couple can also try a side by side position, a spooning position, or the rear entry position. This is a time when a couple needs to communicate well, so together they can discover positions that are comfortable and enjoyable for both.
Many couples substitute non-coital activities for intercourse.
They might, for example, find that with the woman straddling her partner, she can, in this female superior position, slide her vulva along the underside of his penis. This erotic maneuver has been referred to outercourse, and allows pleasurable genital contact without vaginal penetration. Manual or oral stimulation might also be substituted. Couples should remember to use an artificial lubricant during outercourse or manual stimulation if the woman is not lubricating well on her own. Sexual activity is not the only way to express physical affection.