Quick Honey Take a Picture of My Sexy Pregnant Ass
While the Japanese may be ahead of us in many areas of electronics, cars, special effects and perhaps even weapons development, they are …I am going to with centuries upon centuries behind…um like the rest of the world if taking naked pictures of women while pregnant is a “new trend.” I recently read this article that discusses the new trend of photographing pregnant women in the nude. While some people say this came into vogue when Demi Moore did it, I am going to say Europeans have been painting women since the Renasaaicnce ages with all body shapes – some with big big curves, some that are just fat and some that were pregnant. We are really kidding ourselves if we think Britney Spears or Ms. Moore started this trend.
But putting who “did it first” aside, I have to ask you, my friends….Really?! I know, I know. Pregnancy is sexy. Pregnancy is beautiful. Pregnancy is natural. Pregnancy is…blah blah blah. Sure those pictures when you are 18 weeks and you looked like you swallowed a little basketball may be all well and cute and good (provided of course you are still working out with your trainer, still don’t eat carbs, and are a celebrity with a great personal shopper), but by 35 weeks (okay okay 28 weeks) I was feeling pretty whaleish. Here is something I NEVER said while pregnant “I am feeling so damn sexy lets just capture THIS moment forever.” My pregnancy involved lots of things I did NOT want captured on film.
And while Angelina Jolie claims Brad Pitt made her feel “sexy the whole time” she was pregnant I have two things to say: 1. I am not Angelina, and my husband is no Brad and 2. She is full of shit.
I had a hard enough time taking pictures with my clothes on. Thank God for digital – I was deleting at least 8.6 pics for every 10 that were taken. Call me vain. Call me shallow. Call me anti-feminist, but “naked”, “pregnant” and “photo” really don’t belong in one sentence. (Actually, if you talk to Paris Hilton, and a few other overly trusting celebrities the word “naked” and “pictures” alone don’t belong in the same sentence, but I think that is another post entirely. )
So in sum, it was hard enough to look at myself in the mirror for those 3.2 God aweful seconds between disrobing and the shower – why in the WORLD do I want those 3.2 seconds captured on film? For OTHERS to see. Forever.
Are You NOT Having Sex with Your Husband?
We just love studies on relationships and sex! It’s so voyeuristic reading about what 80% of people are SUPPOSEDLY doing.
In a New York Times article (you can read it for yourself here), American couples are having sex 58 times per year. That’s roughly once per week. That’s roughly 58 MORE times than I am!
Wait?? What??? Um yeah! Now you know why I am so into this crap!
Anyway….. apparently this number is a median as there is a wide variation between couples under 30 years of age (111 times per year) and couples over 30 (58 times per year) and then freaks like me (1 per year). Where is my violin. Oh never mind.
Apparently, it’s not so uncommon. “It’s estimated that about 15 percent of married couples have not had sex with their spouse in the last six months to one year, according to Denise A. Donnelly, associate professor of sociology at Georgia State University, who has studied sexless marriage.”
Are couples in sexless marriages less happy than couples having sex?
Generally, yes. There is a feedback relationship in most couples between happiness and having sex. Happy couples have more sex, and the more sex a couple has, the happier they report being. But keep in mind that sex is only one form of intimacy, and that some couples are fairly happy (and intimate) even without sex. In my 1993 study, I did find that people in sexless marriages were more likely to have considered divorce than those in sexually active marriages. There is no ideal level of sexual activity — the ideal level is what both partners are happy with — and when one (or both) are unhappy, then you can have marital problems.
There are mixed opinions about what to do to rekindle marital sex. For some couples, it may be as simple as a weekend away from the kids, taking a vacation or cruise, or just having some time off, alone. Others may need help in re-establishing communication and may seek professional assistance. The sad fact is that there are few counseling professionals that deal with this issue. Often, marriage counselors focus on other aspects, rather than sex. While these other aspects may play a big role in sexual inactivity, talking explicitly about sex is essential.
Some of our former respondents have kept in touch with me, and the happiest ones are actually those that have moved on to other partners. It may be that lack of sex is a signal that all intimacy in a marriage is over, and that both would be happier in other situations. I know that this may not be a popular idea with the religious and political right, but it may be a better solution than staying in a marriage that is hurtful and unfulfilling.
In sum, these situations are just so complicated. Each couple has to examine their specific histories, their motivations and goals, and whether it is worth it to them to work on putting sex back in the marriage. It can be a difficult task and require that people take emotional and physical steps that aren’t comfortable for them.
I find this very interesting indeed. How about the fact that people let themselves get fat, sloppy and disgusting in the course of their relationships.
Or they get so bored of having sex with each other, they prefer to wash the floors or get a root canal?
Or maybe their man is soo “tapped out” from his daily porn obsession, he is just not “up to” having any more with an actually human being?
Or maybe their man is too selfish to make it satisfying for their woman?
Or maybe both or one person has an intimacy issue and eventually it catches up to their relationship?
Or possibly, there may be an illness or disability or some other physical condition preventing sex?
I’d like to blame my sexless marriage on the 65 pounds I gained from pregnancy that I still haven’t lost 2 years later and on my DH probably hating my guts (figuratively and literally).
What do you think???? Are you in a sexless marriage??? Have you been in a sexless marriage?? How did you resolve it?
Creepy or Cool??? Life-sized Replicas of Babies in Utero.
My sister recently got a 3D ultrasound which was not widely available just 2 years ago when I was pregnant. I thought about getting one then, but didn’t see the need for it. I suppose if you are a high risk pregnancy, you may actually want to take a closer look at your unborn baby for medical reasons. But just for kicks and giggles??? I didn’t find it compelling. Plus, you never know what those sound waves are REALLY doing to your fetus.
Recently, I saw this article on ultrasound waves turned into life-size replica molds of unborn fetuses.
A Brazilian student Jorge Lopes @ Royal College of Art design in London has pioneered the conversion of data from ultrasound and MRI scans into life-size plaster models of living embryos using a method called rapid prototyping.
‘It’s amazing to see the faces of the mothers. They can see the full scale of their baby, really understand the size of it,’ said Dr Lopes.
‘The technology can be also be used as an emotional tool for parents whose fetus might be deformed or needs treatment,’ added Hilary French, who heads the School of Architecture and Design Products.
A good way of understanding how rapid prototyping works is to imagine a printer that prints plastic powder instead of ink.
Then as it prints layer upon layer, it slowly builds up a 3D model.
Think of all the things you can use this for unrelated to babies?
Ok….so you tell us …. Is this creepy or cool?? What do you think???? Would you do this?? Or should we just leave the fetus alone???
Stay at Home or Working Mom – Which is Better?
Quite frankly, I often struggle with this topic myself. I chose to “Work From Home” when my child was born with the belief that it would allow the best of both worlds. I would be home with her whenever she needed me and I could still make a living!
Some days are tougher than others! I feel like I’m doing both things terribly! My attention is divided among 19 things at the same time and that includes, changing diaprs, cooking lunch for my daughter, answering work related questions (I have 3 employees working out of my house for my business), new product lines I’m launching and soooo much more! It almost seems unfair to my child and to my business because I feel like I’m failing them both.
However, there is some part of me that feels fulfilled and happy that I chose this path and am able to stay home with my daughter. I’ve fallen into a rhythm where I work while she sleeps, we play while she is awake, and then I have a babysitter for 3 hours per day, 3 days per week. It seems to work for now! I get a 6 hour workday between her nap and the babysitter, she gets to see me all day, I cook her breakfast, lunch and dinner, we spend our mornings reading and playing together and she socializes with someone other than me and her daddy. I can’t possibly think of a better scenario.
I started reading this book by Dr. Laura Schlessinger “In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms,” in which she “unapologetically urges mothers to remain at home instead of juggle a career and motherhood.”
Now I have to warn you, some of her ideas and suggestions sound a bit archaic and unrealistic. But I do have to admit, there is some rhyme, reason and sense in there if you listen carefully.
This Wall Street Journal article covers an interview done with Dr. Schlessinger discussing her book and some of her ideas.
What do you think? Should women stay home with their babies or should they work if they have to??? What choice did you make?
Home Birth vs. Hospital Birth? What do you think?
It seems that the battle over birth continued with this a study led by OSU assistant professor and midwife Melissa Cheyney.
The study compared birth records in Oregon’s Jackson County from 1998 through 2003 to attempt to find whether a correlation existed between poor health outcomes and homebirths.
A link between the two factors was not found. It did however find ongoing conflicts between doctors and midwives with physicians asserting that only hospital births were safe. This finding is in line with a 2008 American Medical Association resolution (pdf), which stated:
The safest setting for labor, delivery and the immediate post-partum period is in the hospital, or a birthing center within a hospital complex.
Personally, I couldn’t imagine having my baby at home. She was 10 lbs 02 ounces, measured 21 inches long and refused to come out naturally. After 3 hours of serious pushing, she had not dropped at all and refused to fit through my pelvis. I think her head circumference was 15 inches. On top of it all, I tested positive for strep, needed to be on antibiotics during birth and ran a fever. There is no way I would’ve done this at home. Why risk the life of my child or myself?
On top of it all, the day after she was born, at 2AM, the nurses rushed it to take her away because one of her blood tests showed signs of infection which indicated possible spinal meningitis. Birthing at home, for me? No thanks!
Have you given birth in a hospital or with the help of a midwife? What was your experience? Did you experience tension between doctors and midwives?
Is There a Pregnant Women’s Curfew I Don’t Know About?
I’m 6 ½ months pregnant, young and single and I want to go out and hangout at bars, concerts, beaches, etc. with my friends. But it seems like everywhere you go people are giving you dirty looks like what are you doing out of your cage!?
I don’t get it!
Is it assumed that once you’re pregnant you should stay home and knit baby clothes?? It’s not like I’m drinking or going to rave parties……or even trying to pick up men. I’m just going out with friends and enjoying my time out until I can’t.
Everyone knows that once you have a baby you can’t go out whenever you want to so why can’t I do it now???
A War on Pregnancy: Just Say No
By the last month of my last pregnancy I was out of my mind. I could NOT WAIT to return to my slim self. I was all about it – I would wear mini skirts, I was going to love doing 1000 crunches a day, I would look at my size 4 friends with envy at their cute clothes, the swiftness at which they could move, the sexy shoes and I was SOOO over being pregnant. I was ready to perform my own c-section most days. I wanted out of pregnancy-ville and I was going to bring sexy back. I …WAS…DONE.
And I was. I worked out, I got the new clothes, the smaller waist….I was back. Then I see one of my friend’s that is pregnant and I want to be pregnant again. I HATED being pregnant. What is it though about seeing a pregnant woman that makes you forget that fact and instead think “Hey I want to do that to!?!?” All of sudden I am blinded by how great it is NOT to have to suck in your stomach for pictures, and the allure of flowing shirts with empire waists, and I begin to hallucinate about how much I loved being pregnant. I start to think things like…It wasn’t so bad. (Yes, it was.) I loved being pregnant sometimes (no, I didn’t..EVER), It was fun watching my belly grow (I was horrified).
And the main problem is, a lot like most drug addicts I am by the wrong people. I am running with the wrong crowd. The pregnant crowd. As discussed my friends are now reproducing at an alarming rate. Seriously, I am at the point that when someone calls me and says the words “Guess what?” I just have the auto reply of “Your pregnant.” Some of my friends have 3, 4 chidlren yet they go to a baby shower and I get the “I want another one….just one more” call.
I need to remind myself that these pregnancies create HUMAN BEINGS – babies are not meant to be collected and traded like a sticker collection or beanie babies. After the pregnancy there is actually a BABY to take care of which we all know is fine and dandy (because of course one look at baby shoes and all logic is COMPLETELY GONE) but that BABY turns into a CHILD. And a CHILD needs to be feed, and educated, and it costs a million trillion dollars. And it is going to be a lot like the three other “models” I already have now.
In the 80s we launched a “War on Drugs”. We need to bring the war back but realize this drug is more powerful than crack, more tempting than heroine: Pregnancy is really an epidemic; It is the worst drug us suburban moms have seen since Ritalian. We need to stop hanging out with the wrong crowd ,(you know the pregnant people) and put down the ovulation sticks.
Step away from the preggos and Just say no.
Almost ready…for baby
I feel like all of a sudden my body is just falling apart. Like my hips are being ripped apart, it is harder to breathe – I am really confused by it becuase I can DO alot of stuff (running around, lifting, etc.) and not get out of breath but sitting down for some reason leaves me breathless. Sometimes i feel like someone is sitting on my chest – so FAB! I feel A LOT of pressure on my stitch – I try not to say much but has become extremely painful.
The baby feels BIG. He is supposed to be about 5.5 lbs – I can’t imagine what a 10 lb would feel like. Scary. I am nervous still – just because I feel like I am so close now and I don’t want anythign bad to happen now! I came so far…..
So I have about 7 days to go! I have my last OBGYN appt tomorrow at 11:15 am ish. I am supposed to get all my instructions for my c-section because it is next monday at my appointment tomorrow.
I can’t believe I am here. I am so ready for our family to be complete, and just to move on from this phase. I can’t imagine what he is going to look like, I can’t imagine having a BABY again. LOL
10 days to go…
Went great except for the fact that I had three children witness and internal. I have some concerns about the boys exposure so young to my legs being spread, a light placed there, and stirrups that look like a torture device. You do realize that they will never remember the countless art projects, baking, days at the zoo that their childhood as contained. It will be that moment – the pap smear like event they witnessed that they will remember clear as day.
Normally my doc does not do them but she wanted me to get the Strep B test for some reason (even though I am delivering via c-section). The kids were great though – thank goodness. Every once in a while God has some mercy!
So I gained 2 lbs in the past 2.5 weeks. So for the pregnancy that puts me at 31 lbs or so. I am fine with that…. Long as i have this baby healthy and happy that is the small stuff! (See how great denial is!?)
The beat was good, I measured at 34 weeks and she told me my cervix is still long and closed..go figure.
I am definetely totally nervous about stillbirth and check the beat a lot more now because i don’t feel as much movement. My doctor said that is totally normal so I am trying not to freak. LOL. I can NOT believe I have about 10 days to go and he should be here!!!!!
My OBGYN does crack
He must. Because that is the ONLY way to explain what he said to me today.
In my meeting with my high risk fetal doctor, I had the biggest laugh of my life. This is of course, a very nice change of pace since most of my appointments with him in the past have ending with crying, hysteria, and just plain madness. (And if that is how HE was acting imagine my reaction! ) Anyway, today he said the funniest thing I possibly even heard: He said “This is such great news…You are doing so well, everything is holding fine. I am so happy to see you can do this and you should be so happy to know you no longer need a surrogate next time.”
UM…wait what!? I don’t need a surrogate NEXT TIME!? Has this man seen one too many whoo-haas and gone insane!? He is very well aware we have three children at home, one that is less than two months away from birth… I am counting FOUR kids here people..did this guy fail math? Does he think that only adds up to one or two!?
So I told him ”Doc, if I am ever pregnant again, the only thing I am going to ask you for is a bullet, and the only stitches perform would be in my autopsy.”
UM we are done. DONE. YOU HEAR ME !???!
