Conference moira::naturism

What difference does it make?  I think pregnant bodies are very beautiful!
I think I have seen only 2 women that were pregnant at Valley View and they
didn't appear to be uncomfortable.  I thought it was great!  Sure seems
like you would be more comfortable without clothes than with them on.  I'd
say, "Moonstone here we come!" and not worry about it.  If you are comfortable 
about it, I think you should be able to do it.

Judy

P.S. Congratulations on your soon-to-be new addition!

I was at Moonstone some years ago with a woman who happened to be two days
away from giving birth.  She may not have been 36-24-36 (if that's anything
to measure by), but her pregnancy didn't make her seem unattractive to me.
Go ahead and enjoy Moonstone, see ya there!

David

That was supposed to read "flabby guts".  Oh, well, my fingers want to do 
different things than my brain! ;-)

    
    
    In some ways a pregnant woman, especially one who is proud of and
    happy with her pregnancy is much more beautiful than most cover
    girls and models. It may just be her general feeling of well being
    and her attitude towards life and love showing through but I love
    the looks of a pregnant woman.  

    re: .0
     
          Gosh, it's so hard for me to relate to your husband these
    days (though at one time perhaps I could have.)  Ten years ago
    in my massage class we had a big AND pregnant woman as a classmate.
    She probably weighed 200 pounds WITHOUT being pregnant but 
    participated with us just the same.  The last day of our training
    she was 2 weeks away from delivery.  Anyway, since our classes
    were generally held in the nude, we all had plenty of opportunity
    to watch her belly...in fact, the last day of class (which was
    held in a party-type of atmosphere) we all gave group massages
    to each of us.  Since we had lots of choices of oils (scents, that
    is) the one we chose for her was *watermelon*.  :-)
          I have a couple of women clients right now who are over six
    feet tall and weigh well over 200 pounds each.  I have seen many,
    many women who are overweight and who have "imperfections" of
    many types (as reported in another note.)  Not only that, I have
    to touch them (as the massage implies) and do so with integrity.
    What this means is that if *I* find them unattractive and unlovable
    somehow, how can they possibly benefit from my energy?  They couldn't,
    I could assure you.  What I have learned to do is to ignore the
    stupid little ego voices that say that any woman who doesn't look
    like Kim Bassinger or Tanya Roberts, e.g., is somehow not worth
    being loved.  I have learned that these "imperfect" bodies deserve
    as much love as I can possibly, appropriately, give them.  Perhaps
    they need even more, for in some cases there is clearly a major
    problem with self-image, etc.  It does not commit me to anything
    more than what I am doing, so what's the big deal?  Very often they
    appreciate me far more than the "more normal" women do, and that
    feels good to me.  In any case, this is how it is for me in my
    massage work.
         As for nudity in general, there is far less physical intimacy
    than what I have described, so what's the threat to any observer?
    If someone is equal to someone else in every other way (hygiene,
    e.g.) then they should not be discounted because of their size
    or physical conformity.  And right now I'm talking about large
    (fat) people (women or men.)  No one said that people have to 
    be a certain anything in order to take their clothes off.
          As for pregnancy, it may be tough for many of us (especially
    men) to deal with the shape change that occurs there...but only
    at first.  After a while, it is easier to accept and eventually
    the "miracle" of the changes become more apparent.  (For it is
    quite incredible that the hip bones can separate the way they do
    and the breasts can swell the way *they* do and then everything
    can go back almost to its previous state sometime after the
    process is completed...I have had many, many women clients who
    have had children who showed no signs whatsoever of having gone
    through it.)  
         I think you husband has an immature or undeveloped or ignorant
    or misinformed set of beliefs at present.  Perhaps he has never
    had to challenge those beliefs and maybe now is the wonderful 
    opportunity for him to do so.  You do not need to be severe
    with him...for I believe he isn't consciously being malicious.
    Once he has had an opportunity to change his mind but doesn't
    is perhaps a time to "judge" him, but not right now.  Indeed,
    as a couple of the responses leading to this one have indicated,
    there are MANY people (MEN, in regards to this reply, as well
    as women) who find pregnant women more beautiful to look at
    that non-pregnant women, for whatever reasons.  No, a woman
    should not feel any sense of shame whatsoever for her pregnancy
    nor her shift in body dimensions.  It's others who perhaps
    should feel more empathic and understanding.  I have seen
    many women with "normal" shaped bodies walking around naked
    with strings from their tampons dangling.  Is this any less
    unattractive?  Where would one draw the line at nudity?  As
    has been discussed in this notesfile before, nudity *should*
    be for anyone who wants it...behavior while nude is or should be
    far more scrutinizable than the nudity itself.
    
    Frederick
    

Kathryn,

Congratulations!

Many (many!) years ago, I thought that pregnant women looked strange, and
couldn't imagine why anyone would want to go through that.  Then we decided
to have a child of our own, and suddenly I discovered how attractive a
pregnant woman really is.  (We weren't naturists then, but I still have some
favorite nude pictures I took of Lynne in the White Mountains that summer.)

Our daughter is seven now, but I still believe that women are exceptionally
attractive when pregnant.  Yes, your body is different when you're pregnant.
Glory in it!  Show off!  I can't imagine anything more appropriate than to
enjoy a nude beach when you're pregnant.

Well, those are my personal feelings.  At a more mundane level, I have seen 
pregnant women at nudist camps, and never saw any sign that they felt 
embarassed, or that anyone took any special notice.  Being utterly practical,
I believe that exposing your breasts to the sun and air is good preparation
for breast feeding; and I'm pretty certain that one of our childbirth
preparation books recommended that you ought to go without underwear for
several hours a day.  All that is aside from the simple fact of how much
more comfortable you'll feel when you don't have to wear clothes in the 
summer heat.

So tell your husband that it's both attractive and practical; and have a
great summer at the beach.

	-Neil

By the way, I'd like to emphasize, from my own experience, that however much
you may have thought about pregnancy and having children before, your whole
perception of the world changes when you actually do it!  I'm sure that when
your husband sees how beautiful you are pregnant, he'll forget how he could
ever have imagined that some people might not want to see a pregnant woman
at the beach.

	-Neil

          Something I want to add that I was just thinking about...
    
          Perhaps this should go into a separate note but it relates...
    
          Many (as in "most") of us carry with us belief systems rooted
    in childhood or adolescence.  Many, if not most, of these beliefs
    can be very detrimental towards functioning as an adult.  For more
    about this, read "Bradshaw on the FAMILY" or visit some of the dialogs
    in a couple of other conferences.  In any case, part of what comes
    out of those beliefs are what are called "projections".  All of
    us project certain images or ideas or beliefs, etc. onto others
    from time to time, mostly sub-consciously.  The most common projections
    are of mother and father, whether we had one we knew or not.
    The unfortunate part of this is when we choose a mate and then project
    one of these people onto them.  For example, it is not uncommon
    for women to project father onto men.  But more to the point of
    this topic and the point I am trying to get at is the projection
    of mother onto women by men.  This can have severe side effects.
    To the point of this topic, one side effect *can* be that a man
    could not possibly harbor thoughts of incest with his mother...yet
    if he has projected mother onto his mate, and if he is doubly
    doing so as a result of *her* motherhood, then it will eventually
    become impossible or unpleasant for him to have sexual relations
    with her (after all, he can't have sex with his mother, can he?)
    This is where very often men stray away from having sexual relations
    with their mates.  Obviously getting pregnant and being a mother
    can remind a man somehow of his own mother and may elicit a
    reaction which is not as pleasant as the thought of the "sex
    bomb" from teenage years would be.  
         So without going into more depth or supporting arguments
    here, let me just say that these are some of the beliefs which
    may be being carried over.  These are the beliefs which need to
    be looked at and changed, if necessary.  Once the projections
    are out of the way, if they are, then more normal interactions
    with individuals can occur.
    
    Frederick
    

    RE: .0
    
    Think about it...where else but at a nude beach do you *NOT* have to
    worry about finding clothes that fit while you're pregnant? :-)
    
    i've seen several pregnant women at Solair (I think) and at Moonstone.
    I personally think they're very fascinating to look at; I mean, "how do
    you actually fit a kid in there?" :-)
    
    As was stated earlier somewhere else, you go to a nude beach to enjoy
    yourself, not to show yourself off to other people.  If someone doesn't
    like to look at pregnant nude women, they don't have to look.  I really
    don't think that anyone will have a problem with you.
    
    B.
    
    PS: Now we'll have one way of identifying one DEC naturist at Moonstone
    	this year. :-)

    The general consensus is and I agree that just because a woman is
    pregnant doesn't mean that she shouldn't enjoy naturism at it's
    finest.
    
    
    Congrats and go for it...
    
    Ken
    

    My wife went with me to a CO beach while pregnant, and received
    favourable comments. Enjoy it!
    
Peter.    

    Tell your husband that if he doesn't want to be seen with you at
    Moonstone, that maybe you should go on different days (but if that's
    the case, I'd say he's very immature).
    
    Whatever happens, don't let your husband stop you from doing what
    YOU want to do, just to please him !
    
    Congratulations !
    
    Darrell
    

    My first nude beach experience was Woodstock (farrrr out!) and I
    was struck by the beauty of a very pregnant, nude woman at the pond
    where we all swam, and realized that here was a beautiful, natural
    sight. She had a wonderful calmness and air of serenity about her,
    and this seemed to put me in touch with some of the magic of
    childbirth.
    
    Go for it!
    
    -roger
    

    Looks like it's unanimous!  Add my vote to the "pregnant women are
    beautiful," and "DO IT!"  As Ben mentioned, Solair is a camp where
    there are never any fewer than 3 or 4 *Beautiful* pregnant women
    at any given time (other than Winter :-), so it might be a good
    place to get your Husband feeling comfortable about it.  (Sounds
    like you [very rightly] Already feel comfortable.)
                                   
    And like -.1 indicated, if HE doesn't feel comfortable, Go without
    him!  Maybe we'll have some DEC days at Moonstone, and we'd Love
    to have you join us!
    
    Congratulations, and Much Joy!
    
    Jack

    Thanks so much, everybody, for all the wonderful responses.  You
    can bet I'll be at Moonstone this summer - and my husband will be
    with me!  I casually mentioned to him last night that I intended
    to still go this summer and his reply was favorable.  He said that
    the only reason why he thought we wouldn't be going was that he
    incorrectly assumed that *I* wouldn't feel comfortable going while
    I was pregnant.  Then I asked him if he'd be embarrassed to be seen
    with me and he said, "Of course not!  I'd be proud to be seen with
    you."  So...  looks like both of us jumped to conclusions.  I also
    told him about my little "poll" here in the notesfile and he was
    glad to hear that the vote was unanimous.  He knows that now I'll
    be comfortable knowing how people feel.  At any rate, thanks again
    for all your support.  See you on the beach!
    
    - Kathryn
    

>>>    .... See you on the beach!
    
    	A pun, of course,...right? :-)

    A recent issue of CwS had a picture of a pregnant woman on a billboard
    that was used in the French election campaigns (if I remember all this
    correctly).  Pregnancy doesn't seem like a very good reason to wear
    clothes.

    You may also wish to talk to your Obstetrician about the health
    benefits for Mothers-to-be to at least sunbathe topless.

    I've read other claims of better health and easier delivery for
    women who live as naturists during their pregnancy.  I'm glad you're
    going!
    
    Elizabeth
    

    I've been away from this file for a while but did want to add my
    vote ....GO!
    
    Also wanted to mention that in a recent issue of US magazine was
    an article on their pick of the 10 most beautiful women. There was
    a tasteful photo of Melissa Gilbert (Little House on the Prairie)
    very preganant and showing her abdominal area. 

    Something funny just happened last night and thought you might
    get a kick out of it...
    
    My husband, stepson and I have been invited to go visiting this
    weekend at my sister's house.  Just friends and family will be
    there.  Well, we were told to "bring our suits" - she's got a pool-
    and when I put one on last night, my husband actually laughed out
    loud and said "You look much better nude".  He's right, too.  The
    bathing suit looked absolutely ridiculous - like I was some kind
    of giant pregnant insect!  Nude is definately better!
    
    - K
    

    For all of you who have been wondering, Kathryn gave birth to
    a baby girl, Allison.  The baby is 21 inches long/tall and weighed
    8 pounds, 7.5 ounces.  From early objective and unbiased reports
    from the hospital nurses, the baby is "gorgeous".  Kathryn thinks
    so too. :-)
    
    For those of you who met Kathryn at Moonstone, you might remember
    that she liked going to the beach because she could dig a hole
    in the sand for her stomach and actually lie down comfortably
    on her stomach. :-) 
    
    B.

>>      -< It's a girl! >-

Congratulations Kathryn!   And thanks for keeping us posted Ben.

Judy

    And Congratulations from downunder.
    
Peter.    

    I'm sure the naturist population will be at least 1 more !!  :-)
    
    Congratulations Kathryn !
    
    Regards, 
    
    Darrell

    Thanks for all the congrats, folks.  It's nice to be able to lie
    on my stomach now in my bed :-)  As for Allyson's weight - a slight
    correction, Ben - she was 7lbs. 8.5oz.  not 8lbs. 7.5oz.  I think
    I would have died if she was any bigger than she was!  Thanks again,
    folks, and I'll keep you posted about Deb Wasserman's baby.  Her
    due date is today!
    
    - Kathryn
    

    Kathryn,
    My son Benny will now have another playmate at Moonstone!  Young child
    at the beach are a lot of fun - but your days of relaxing at the beach
    are over for a while.
    
    							Congratulations,
    
    							Russ

    Hi all...  I haven't been able to access this file for a while so
    this news is a little late (a LOT late, actually)...  Anyway, Deb
    Wasserman had her baby four days after I had mine!  She had a little
    boy and his name is Mark Benjamin - 7lbs. 2oz. 19 inches tall.
    Both mom and baby are doing extremely well.
    
    Russ:  Now Benny has TWO playmates!
    
    - Kathryn