What does the Bible say about sexual relations during pregnancy?

Today I have received this question:

Pastor Vasile Filat, I have read your both articles that explained those five reasons why God established sexual relations between man and woman. But I have got a question: is it allowed to have sexual relations during pregnancy too? There are many ministers of the church (Arsenie Boca and others) that condemn it from various motives, which I consider exaggerated. What do you think is the truth in the light of God’s commandments? (Matei)

So, what does God say in the Bible about sexual relations during pregnancy?

The Bible doesn’t forbid sexual relations during pregnancy

God doesn’t touch this subject in the Bible. In the list of perverse and prohibited sexual practices from the book of Leviticus 18 and 20, it is not mentioned anything about sexual relations between the husband and wife during pregnancy. In 1 Corinthians 7:1–6 it is written:

Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not of command. According to this passage, unmotivated abstinence from sexual relations between husband and wife is prohibited by God. And the pregnancy is not mentioned as a reason for them to abstain from sexual relations. (1 Corinthians 7:1–6)(NASB)

According to this passage, unmotivated abstinence from sexual relations between husband and wife is prohibited by God. And the pregnancy is not mentioned as a reason for them to abstain from sexual relations.

What does medicine say?

Alina Popescu writes a medicinal article regarding this subject:

There is no any reason to change your sexual life during pregnancy, unless your doctor advises you to do this. Sexual relations or orgasm will not affect your baby, unless you have medical problems. Remember that the baby is protected in your womb by the amniotic fluid surrounding him or her. The doctor can recommend you to abstain from sexual relations if you have experienced miscarriage, such complications as premature birth or bleeding.

Concerning the teaching of the priest Arsenie Boca, I have found it unfounded on the Holy Scriptures or on the writings of the Church Fathers.

Translated by Felicia Djugostran