Not only will the sex be better, but you'll feel sexier too; pregnancy hormones as well as androgens (male hormones produced by both male and female fetuses) kick in, heating up the libido. Take advantage of this time to connect with your partner. During the first trimester, fatigue and nausea likely took a toll on your sex life. And later, as your due date nears, you may feel too bulky and uncomfortable for sex. Don't worry that you want too much or too little sex. Every woman's experience is different. The best way to make the most of your pregnancy is to enjoy feeling good for as long as you can. If you're not up for sex, create intimacy by asking your partner to brush your hair, massage your feet, or rub your back and shoulders. However often you indulge your desires, don't fret about sex hurting the fetus. As long as your pregnancy is uncomplicated, feel free to indulge.

Benefit 2. Health Becomes a Habit
Pregnancy causes many women to institute all kinds of positive health changes and drop bad habits. For instance, experts say pregnancy is one of the most effective inspirations for quitting smoking. It's also a great motivator for getting fresh air and exercise, notes David Acker, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. And research has shown that one group of women in particular, those with diabetes (Types I and II), make good use of pregnancy to learn how to better manage their disease. Often these new health habits become shifts to a healthier lifestyle.

Benefit 3. Say Bye-Bye to Menstrual Cramps
Sooner or later after childbirth, your menstrual cycle will resume. But here's a welcome side effect: You may have fewer bothersome cramps. Some women even find that menstrual pain ceases altogether after pregnancy and childbirth. This pain reduction is a well-known phenomenon, but no one really knows for sure why it occurs. One possible theory is that childbirth eliminates some of the prostaglandin receptor sites in the uterus. Prostaglandins are hormones with several functions, one of which is to direct the uterus to contract during labor. They also play a role in menstrual pain. The upshot? Fewer pain-receptor sites, fewer cramps.

Benefit 4. Cancer Risk Is Reduced
Recent studies report that pregnancy produces a protective effect against breast and ovarian cancers. The more pregnancies you go through — and the younger you start having babies — the greater the effect; some research has found that breastfeeding for more than three months can also lower the risk of certain cancers.