Danielle Cavallucci and Yvonne K. Fulbright, Ph.D.
Reviewer: B.I. Laureano
I must begin by admitting my biases. First, I have no interest whatsoever in being pregnant, experiencing pregnancy, and/or parenting an infant child. Second, I went to graduate school with Yvonne K. Fulbright and know she’s the real deal. So, doesn’t that make me the perfect person to read a book by someone I know is a great educator yet on a topic that I am completely disinterested in? Yes, it does.
Admittedly, I did not have any expectations for this book. I knew the authors were not speaking to me and I knew there would be times when I would just want to finish the book already. And yes, those times did occur; however, they did not occur as often as I expected.
Danielle and Yvonne begin their book assuming you, the reader, is already pregnant (or your partner is). They speak in the first person, not always in the third, which makes the read a bit more personable. Danielle is the author who has experienced pregnancy; so several tips come from her perspective as a pregnant woman and mother. Not only do they cover sex, emotions, desires, and physical changes during each trimester, but they also provide information on health, relaxation, and self-esteem.
You’ll also find tips and pointers for expectant mothers and their partners. They use gender-neutral language, so this text is far from heterosexist. Could this be one of the first of its kind books to talk about pleasure during pregnancy and not focus on heterosexual couples? Even the images have same-gender couples having intercourse. Yes, intercourse. For example, on page 78, there is an image of someone strapping on a harness and penetrating their pregnant partner. There are other images of women spooning and caressing their pregnant partners as well.
The drawings alone won me over. They are inclusive, informative, and beautifully drawn. There are images introducing each chapter and topic, as well as images to help you along, especially when giving ideas for how to have and experience sex during pregnancy. The duo leave no stone unturned. They write off sex after pregnancy and post-partum challenges. They suggest penciling in sex when possible, napping when the baby does, and try to make breastfeeding stress-free. I can only imagine that being given this kind of permission on these topics can lead to a sense of relief for some women and their partners.
My only challenge in reading this book (beyond my bias on pregnancy) is some of the language used. Danielle and Yvonne love the terms “hot mama,” “sexpot,” and “sex kitten.” This is terminology that is not part of my vernacular or any of the mothers I know. For me, these terms are a bit on the “frat boy” tip, yet I appreciate their attempt to use terms in ways that sexually objectify and embrace the sexuality of pregnant women. That, after all, is their goal.
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