The first picture of a naked woman I ever saw was Demi Moore on the cover of the August 1991 issue of Vanity Fair magazine. She was posing seven months pregnant. As a 10-year-old, I didn’t understand why there was a picture of a naked, pregnant woman on the magazine—but I knew I liked it.
Seventeen whole years later, pregnancy and sexuality still maintain an uneasy relationship in our society. Tabloids are filled with candid snapshots of swollen celebrities walking around in bikinis, but the MILF craze still doesn’t quite include mothers-to-be. Are we afraid of hurting the baby? Or is it simply the fact that we never expect to find the expecting sexually attractive?
How many sitcoms have featured a pre-sex, nervous husband muttering, “I’m afraid I’ll dent the baby’s head”? But is this a real danger?
“Concerns of injury to the fetus are comical to me, but couples have to do whatever is comfortable for them,” says Dr. Peter DeKay, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Alpine Women’s Health in Reno. “As long as a patient is not at risk for pre-term labor or miscarriage, sex is certainly safe. All in all, the majority of people are at very low risk during intercourse throughout the entire course of pregnancy.”
DeKay stresses that comfort is the key factor for a couple to enjoy sex. “Many women enjoy sex throughout pregnancy. It’s a way for them to feel in touch with their bodies, and it’s a way for them to relieve stress, which is very important. At the same time, hormone levels are at an all-time high. They have body and weight changes that are uncomfortable, their bodies can feel out of control, and the last thing they want to do is be intimate. And if that’s the case, the important thing is that there is more to a relationship than sex. A little bit of understanding on both sides is crucial.”
With sex during pregnancy deemed safe, where do we turn to see pregnant women depicted as sexually attractive? Pornography, of course. Mainstream media may be hesitant to explore a pregnant woman’s sexuality, but the adult entertainment industry takes a different stance. SugarDVD, an online adult rental site, lists 208 pregnant-themed DVDs, and January saw two pregnant titles enter Adult Video News’ Top 75 Specialty DVD Sales chart. It appears that even though it might not be overt, a portion of our society finds the curvy, pregnant female form to be as erotic and enticing as their skinny supermodel counterparts.
Why are men attracted to pregnant women? The answer is as uniquely specific as the reason why any man is attracted to any woman. Rounder hips and fuller breasts could play a part. Or perhaps it’s because there is nothing more decidedly restricted to women than pregnancy—the allure of something that a man will never know.
Regardless of the reasons, there is no denying that sexuality does not stop at conception. Not only does pregnancy not mean a delay in sexual activity, it could also mean an exploration into a completely different facet of eroticism in a couple’s relationship.
“The bottom line is sex is a healthy part of any relationship, and it’s a healthy part of pregnancy, as well,” says Dr. DeKay.
Still don’t believe that pregnancy can be sexy? Check out that Vanity Fair cover.