One of the most common questions that I get is “can I have sex while I’m pregnant?”. The answer is YES—have all the consensual sex your heart desires! (UNLESS you have been diagnosed as a high risk pregnancy and your physician has instructed you to refrain. In which case, explore other safer methods of pleasure!) .
Sex during pregnancy is great for a number of reasons:

• it’s a great bonding tool for you + partner

• it’s a great way to feel sexy and grow confidence in your changing body

• nipple stimulation encourages labor and strengthens contractions

• orgasms release adrenaline which can reduce stress during pregnancy and labor

• the hormone that starts contractions is oxytocin, which is the hormone that is released during orgasms

• if partner is male, semen contains natural prostaglandins that help to soften the cervix, causing it to open

Positions can be tricky as baby + belly grows so be sure to get creative with which ones make you the most comfortable. Laying on your side or on all fours tends to be preferable—use lots of pillows! And don’t trip, your growing baby is protected in the womb and surrounded by shock absorbing amniotic fluid 😉

Growing up in Georgia, comprehensive sex education was virtually nonexistent in schools, but surprisingly, we did have a couple days of science-based sex education (with some conservative, Bible belt undertones, of course) when I was in middle school. We took a field trip to the Fernbank Science Center (I still love that place!), separated by sex, and learned about puberty, fallopian tubes, zygotes, and periods.⁣⁣
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I’ll be honest though, the bulk of what I learned about sex came from sneaking and watching porn during my adolescent years. ⁣⁣It wasn’t until fairly recently that I realized just how much those white male dominated narratives presented themselves in my own perceptions of what it meant to give, receive, and experience pleasure. Not to mention the lessons that I accepted around “ideal” body shape, size, and even body hair! The lies of capitalism and patriarchy can be pervasive AF, y’all.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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I digress.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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I’m grateful for spaces (and partners!) that have allowed me to explore, learn, challenge, and re-write narratives about sex, bodies, and pleasure. Please allow this to be that space for you.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Where did you first learn about sex? Did you have sex education in school? Did you learn about pleasure from that same source? I’d love to hear your experiences below!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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📷: @theklabel + model: @alxgaliero

This week is dedicated to raising awareness about lactation disparities in Black families and communities.

⁣There are snuggles.⁣⁣ Nights that turn into morning.⁣⁣
Cracked and bleeding nipples.⁣⁣
Pumping.⁣⁣
Tongue ties + tears⁣⁣
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Now pair all of this with being black...⁣⁣
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There is systemic racism.⁣⁣
Bias.⁣⁣⁣
A history of wet nursing.⁣⁣
The over sexualization of black bodies.⁣⁣
The disregard of our bodies. ⁣⁣
The lack of breastfeeding support. ⁣
The under representation within the lactation + motherhood community.⁣⁣
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This is why #BlackBreastfeedingWeekis necessary. Because WE need to see US, joyFUL, loved, and Blacker than ever... #MadeByStereoLove 

We had such a great time this past Saturday! I love when I learn so much from my own events! Let’s continue to own our own narrative when it comes to family planning and birth control. A special thanks to @ken.ya and @plannedparenthoodsoutheast for bringing the goods and to @forkeepsbooks and @antylc for hosting and always supporting me!!