!Disclaimer! I am not a medical professional. This is info that I have gathered, as a model, from several medical professionals who I have consulted during my own pregnancy. The best thing you can do is talk to your own doctor about getting tied while pregnant, but I know that for many folks, that might not be an option.
First of all, if you need to read this article, congrats!!! For me, pregnancy has been the wildest ride of my life and a totally awesome adventure. So I wish you that it is the same for you, whether you are the mommy, the daddy or one of your rope partners is pregnant without you being involved directly involved in the process! Now let’s get down to business.
Pregnancy, motherhood or fatherhood doesn’t make you less of the person that you used to be before adding to your family. You have every right to have the same desires, the same sexual urges and the same desire for connection in a way that is meaningful to you. Some things obviously may change, but you continue to be you. So if you want to get tied during pregnancy, know that it is entirely possible. I got tied up until week 34 and tied into the last weeks of my pregnancy. I was aware of potential risks and considered them low.
Coagulation problems
The most stringent problem, when it comes to pregnancy and ropes is the coagulation one. Pregnant folks tend to have thicker blood, because the body adjusts so that you don’t bleed to death during delivery. That also means that you are more prone to blood clots and also bruising because of the pregnancy. The problem aggravates the longer you are in rope or if you put more pressure on certain limbs (as in suspension or semi-suspension).
My doctor’s recommendation was to stop doing full suspensions after the 16th week of pregnancy, but semi-suspensions were ok, if I wasn’t hanging in ropes for too long. However, keep in mind that few people encounter serious, life threatening problems because of clotting during pregnancy (only about 2 in 1.000), so you will most likely be ok getting tied, especially if you err on the side of caution and reduce the duration of scenes and limit full suspensions.
Joint problems
Another big problem is joins which can become more flexible or damaged during pregnancy. The pelvis is affected by relaxin, a hormone meant to help during delivery and the back and leg joints are affected by changes in weight distribution throughout the body. Back problems are quite frequent in pregnancy, because the spine’s position modifies. So just make sure that you are not putting extra pressure on joints that are already suffering. Maybe pick positions that don’t overextend joints and avoid torsion.
Nausea and dizziness
A lot of folks suffer from nausea during pregnancy and that can be problematic when getting tied. Also, the volume of blood in a pregnant person’s body increases dramatically and that can cause more pressure in limbs, when blood circulation is impeded (such as in getting tied). But it can also make them very dizzy, especially when it comes to rapidly changing positions. So, if you do changes in the position of the body, these should be slow and gradual. And make sure that you are well supported by suspension lines, even if you are not doing suspension, just in case you do get dizzy.
Balance problems
Another problem that can appear is a lack of balance. Because the body’s center of gravity changes, people who become pregnant notice that they feel more wobbly and are unable to maintain their balance. So there is greater risk of falling, coupled with the larger blood volume in the body, which can make one more prone to faint. Just something to keep in mind.
No pressure on belly
If you are pregnant, no ropes, pressure of any kind or impact on the belly. That means that you will have to find tying positions where you are resting on your back or side. But also that your legs are not being pulled up towards your belly, putting pressure on the stomach.
Also, speaking of pressure, because of higher water retention in the body, limbs may feel more numb, which can cover up nerve damage that is happening in the body.
The feels run high
Beyond the physical aspects, there are some emotional concerns to keep in mind. It’s good to be aware that pregnancy can make you feel more emotional, vulnerable, even fragile. Or, on the contrary, it can make you feel invincible and strong. Hormones that were not there before surge through your body. So you might find that play can feel more intense and drops can be harder to manage. Or maybe they become easier to manage. It’s just something to keep in mind, as there is no guarantee, one way or the other.
One last down side is that you might have to do quite some emotional and educational labor. If you are the person getting tied, you will most likely have to be the person educating the ones tying you. Very few people that I have met had any experience tying pregnant people and a lot will not take the risk. And if they do take the risk, they might be scared, panicky and unable to enjoy the scene. So just make sure that they understand risks and your emotional state. But also try to see if they can handle the pressure of tying someone who is pregnant.
On the up side, for a lot of pregnant people, this is a time where they feel way more sensual and sexy, so this just goes hand in hand with a bit of bondage. If you have no interdiction for sexual activity, maybe you can even combine the two, for some sexy fun! If you do have a high risk pregnancy, you can still get some ropes here and there, just so you can feel the familiar smell and texture. And, after birth, you’ll be at it in no time!
