The following program discusses sensitive issues. 00:00:01.36\00:00:03.33 Parents are cautioned that some material 00:00:03.37\00:00:05.23 may be too candid for younger children. 00:00:05.27\00:00:07.34 Hello, my name is Dajanae Anderson, 00:00:40.34\00:00:42.70 and I will be your host 00:00:42.74\00:00:44.07 for this program of Pure Choices. 00:00:44.11\00:00:46.74 Today's topic, we will be discussing 00:00:46.78\00:00:48.84 sexuality and pregnancy. 00:00:48.88\00:00:51.25 But before we go into the topic, 00:00:51.28\00:00:53.82 and I tell you who my special guest 00:00:53.85\00:00:55.95 is for today, let's have a word of prayer. 00:00:55.98\00:00:59.19 Dear Heavenly Father, Lord God, I just want to invite 00:00:59.22\00:01:03.43 and acknowledge Your presence with us now. 00:01:03.46\00:01:06.36 I just want to invite and acknowledge Your presence 00:01:06.39\00:01:08.96 with those that are viewing this program. 00:01:09.00\00:01:11.27 I pray that the things that are discussed here 00:01:11.30\00:01:14.44 will be pleasing and acceptable to You 00:01:14.47\00:01:16.81 and that it will ignite a conversation for the viewers. 00:01:16.84\00:01:20.44 I pray these things in the precious name 00:01:20.48\00:01:22.24 of Jesus Christ. 00:01:22.28\00:01:23.68 Amen. Amen. 00:01:23.71\00:01:25.25 Okay. 00:01:25.28\00:01:26.61 So here we have my friend and special guest, 00:01:26.65\00:01:32.09 Brittany Morales. 00:01:32.12\00:01:34.12 Brittany will be discussing the topic 00:01:34.16\00:01:36.59 of pregnancy and sexuality. 00:01:36.62\00:01:40.16 She has an M.Div with an emphasis on family life. 00:01:40.20\00:01:44.17 So in my opinion, that definitely qualifies her. 00:01:44.20\00:01:47.87 And she is also going into counseling, 00:01:47.90\00:01:51.14 she is working on her license currently. 00:01:51.17\00:01:53.84 And so I'm newly married, and I've not... 00:01:53.88\00:01:58.25 I'm yet to have children, newly... 00:01:58.28\00:02:00.92 It's only been about four months. 00:02:00.95\00:02:02.65 And so, and that Brittany has a child 00:02:02.68\00:02:05.85 and has a nine-month-old, 00:02:05.89\00:02:07.49 and she has both some practical experience 00:02:07.52\00:02:11.03 in terms of what she learned as she is going through school 00:02:11.06\00:02:15.03 and through and some experience because she's had a child. 00:02:15.06\00:02:20.00 And so with some... 00:02:20.04\00:02:22.60 One of the question that I've had 00:02:22.64\00:02:24.91 and I've heard other women have had is, 00:02:24.94\00:02:28.41 is it safe or is it okay, both on the medical side 00:02:28.44\00:02:33.05 and the spiritual side of having sexual intercourse 00:02:33.08\00:02:37.69 with my husband while being pregnant? 00:02:37.72\00:02:42.89 When it comes to that question, on the medical side, 00:02:42.92\00:02:45.69 the first thing to definitely do 00:02:45.73\00:02:47.13 is talk to your doctor about it. 00:02:47.16\00:02:49.13 Because some women do have medical concerns 00:02:49.16\00:02:53.40 based on what might be going on 00:02:53.44\00:02:54.90 if there is any issues in the pregnancy. 00:02:54.94\00:02:58.27 When it comes to sexuality in our marriages 00:02:58.31\00:03:01.74 and our relationship, God doesn't want us to do 00:03:01.78\00:03:03.91 anything that's going to be harmful 00:03:03.95\00:03:06.21 to not only ourselves 00:03:06.25\00:03:07.58 but also to that potential child. 00:03:07.62\00:03:09.18 Right. 00:03:09.22\00:03:10.55 So you want to make sure that everything 00:03:10.59\00:03:11.92 that is being done is safe based on that premise. 00:03:11.95\00:03:13.29 Right. 00:03:13.32\00:03:14.66 Spiritually, nowhere in the Bible 00:03:14.69\00:03:16.79 is there anything that says, "Do not engage." 00:03:16.83\00:03:19.96 The one place where there is some sort of regulation 00:03:20.00\00:03:24.03 is based on after you just had the child 00:03:24.07\00:03:27.04 that used to be a time period to refrain 00:03:27.07\00:03:29.90 from having intercourse, 00:03:29.94\00:03:31.27 and that's also unsupported by medical. 00:03:31.31\00:03:33.68 And it's in Leviticus to have... 00:03:33.71\00:03:36.11 A couple of weeks to just refrain 00:03:36.14\00:03:37.88 so your body can heal right after giving birth. 00:03:37.91\00:03:41.28 Yes. Right. 00:03:41.32\00:03:42.65 I definitely, definitely agree with that 00:03:42.68\00:03:45.29 that when it comes to the physical intercourse 00:03:45.32\00:03:48.99 on the medical side, people are concerned... 00:03:49.02\00:03:51.16 I've heard that people are concerned that 00:03:51.19\00:03:53.50 during intercourse, 00:03:53.53\00:03:54.86 the husband may accidentally harm the baby, 00:03:54.90\00:03:57.30 but that there is a embryonic sack 00:03:57.33\00:03:59.00 that is covering the child, and there is no way to go 00:03:59.03\00:04:02.44 all the way there to touch it or to pierce it. 00:04:02.47\00:04:07.68 And then in the Levitical law, when it talks about 00:04:07.71\00:04:11.91 cleansing and what things are clean and unclean, 00:04:11.95\00:04:15.55 the woman is unclean after pregnancy 00:04:15.58\00:04:18.55 for a certain amount of time. 00:04:18.59\00:04:19.92 If the Bible says nothing about the women being unclean 00:04:19.95\00:04:22.26 or not supposed to be touched by her husband while pregnant, 00:04:22.29\00:04:25.33 and so I think that there are some things 00:04:25.36\00:04:27.73 that we can draw from what the Bible doesn't say 00:04:27.76\00:04:31.10 but does emphasize when it comes 00:04:31.13\00:04:33.03 to being clean and unclean. 00:04:33.07\00:04:35.00 Another question that I have is what... 00:04:35.04\00:04:40.84 Is it true that women do not want 00:04:40.88\00:04:44.95 to have sex while pregnant? 00:04:44.98\00:04:48.48 That they, in some kind of way, her desire to have sex 00:04:48.52\00:04:51.85 on a broad scale, most women, is it true to say most women 00:04:51.89\00:04:57.03 or all women would rather not have sex while pregnant? 00:04:57.06\00:05:01.80 That is a difficult question for me 00:05:01.83\00:05:04.37 to answer about all women. 00:05:04.40\00:05:07.37 I can speak from my personal experience. 00:05:07.40\00:05:12.07 We talked about earlier, the qualifications that I have, 00:05:12.11\00:05:16.28 being a family ministries leader. 00:05:16.31\00:05:19.05 When I discovered I was pregnant, 00:05:19.08\00:05:20.92 some people might automatically assume, 00:05:20.95\00:05:22.28 "She knows exactly what's going to happen, 00:05:22.32\00:05:23.69 what to do, what to expect, what to anticipate," 00:05:23.72\00:05:26.55 and I did not. 00:05:26.59\00:05:28.92 I had no idea what to anticipate. 00:05:28.96\00:05:31.39 I... 00:05:31.43\00:05:32.76 And part of me had almost 00:05:32.79\00:05:35.86 no one to talk to about it either, 00:05:35.90\00:05:39.93 and that was a very scary experience. 00:05:39.97\00:05:43.24 Right. 00:05:43.27\00:05:45.24 Before going too detailed into that part of the story, 00:05:45.27\00:05:48.74 we can probably talk about it later. 00:05:48.78\00:05:51.95 I had a rare condition during my pregnancy 00:05:51.98\00:05:54.68 called hyperemesis gravidarum. 00:05:54.72\00:05:56.92 And I was extremely sick during... 00:05:56.95\00:05:59.99 Not only the first trimester, but into the second trimester 00:06:00.02\00:06:03.43 where even the smell of my husband 00:06:03.46\00:06:07.80 was making me nauseous. 00:06:07.83\00:06:09.80 And it wasn't hygiene on his end? 00:06:09.83\00:06:11.53 And it wasn't...Yes, it wasn't hygiene on his end, 00:06:11.57\00:06:13.60 let's be honest... 00:06:13.64\00:06:15.30 And it was hurtful to him, and it was hurtful to me 00:06:15.34\00:06:19.91 because I love my husband, I care for him 00:06:19.94\00:06:22.18 and that's the reason why we got married 00:06:22.21\00:06:23.98 because I love him. 00:06:24.01\00:06:25.48 And when you are not able to have that level of intimacy 00:06:25.51\00:06:30.45 where not even talking about the full, 00:06:30.49\00:06:33.49 like sexual intercourse, just having him being able 00:06:33.52\00:06:36.22 to sleep next to me, to able to cuddle, 00:06:36.26\00:06:39.33 just to give a hug or peck on the cheek, 00:06:39.36\00:06:41.80 that questions a lot of things when you're pregnant. 00:06:41.83\00:06:45.60 And during that period, I was not able to 00:06:45.63\00:06:48.20 just have the simple elements 00:06:48.24\00:06:50.34 of just connecting and touching. 00:06:50.37\00:06:53.84 And so for me during that period, no, 00:06:53.88\00:06:56.81 but what the doctors have said is and even what other women 00:06:56.85\00:07:00.25 have told me, I mean, only one women has told me, 00:07:00.28\00:07:04.45 it does fluctuate, it goes up 00:07:04.49\00:07:06.45 'cause when you're in a second trimester, 00:07:06.49\00:07:07.82 it did, it was okay. 00:07:07.86\00:07:09.22 But during that period, 00:07:09.26\00:07:10.93 that was the most difficult timeframe 00:07:10.96\00:07:13.06 of being extremely sick. 00:07:13.09\00:07:15.46 I'm looking at my spouse, and he's looking at me, 00:07:15.50\00:07:17.77 and we know something that he's doing that's bad, 00:07:17.80\00:07:19.97 and it's not something I was doing that was bad, 00:07:20.00\00:07:22.27 it was just a matter out of our control. 00:07:22.30\00:07:24.31 Right. Right, right. 00:07:24.34\00:07:25.67 That sounds like a difficult place to be in, 00:07:25.71\00:07:28.94 and I think that's why this conversation 00:07:28.98\00:07:31.91 is so important that we are able to let women know 00:07:31.95\00:07:37.09 that there are a variety of issues 00:07:37.12\00:07:41.69 that happened while pregnant that effect sexuality. 00:07:41.72\00:07:46.03 And some of them may be spiritual, right? 00:07:46.06\00:07:49.90 Some of them may be spiritual, some of them may be medical, 00:07:49.93\00:07:53.97 and so being able to go to the doctor like you did 00:07:54.00\00:07:57.61 and find out what the issue was is definitely something 00:07:57.64\00:08:01.31 that we encourage. 00:08:01.34\00:08:02.68 And not just automatically assume, 00:08:02.71\00:08:05.81 "Oh, I'm having a problem, so it must be that 00:08:05.85\00:08:10.52 we're not supposed to be engaging 00:08:10.55\00:08:12.39 in this activity while pregnant." 00:08:12.42\00:08:14.26 But instead, maybe something is actually going on 00:08:14.29\00:08:17.66 with my physical that's stopping 00:08:17.69\00:08:20.70 and something abnormally is happening 00:08:20.73\00:08:23.40 with my physical body that's causing issue. 00:08:23.43\00:08:28.70 I can completely agree with that, 00:08:28.74\00:08:32.64 wondering, questioning. 00:08:32.67\00:08:34.01 Because sexuality is not just, as I said it before, 00:08:34.04\00:08:36.14 it's not just intercourse. 00:08:36.18\00:08:37.68 It is our beings, our bodily changes, 00:08:37.71\00:08:40.72 the relationship between a husband and wife. 00:08:40.75\00:08:43.65 And one benefit in that moment 00:08:43.69\00:08:47.79 is knowing who my husband is 00:08:47.82\00:08:50.93 and knowing who I am and having that confidence 00:08:50.96\00:08:54.90 that we love each other. 00:08:54.93\00:08:57.93 So when that moment is bringing 00:08:57.97\00:09:00.04 all types of questions into our relationship, 00:09:00.07\00:09:02.74 is there something more going on, 00:09:02.77\00:09:04.44 being able to talk to the doctor, 00:09:04.47\00:09:06.37 and they were a little bit uncertain 00:09:06.41\00:09:07.88 about what was going on, 00:09:07.91\00:09:09.31 but having that conversation was great. 00:09:09.34\00:09:13.75 One thing I will want to say that I did not do, 00:09:13.78\00:09:17.15 and as a Christian woman, I should have done. 00:09:17.19\00:09:19.09 Okay. I did not go to God about it. 00:09:19.12\00:09:22.22 I did not say, "Lord, this is a burden on my heart. 00:09:22.26\00:09:25.89 I'm trying to figure out what to do." 00:09:25.93\00:09:29.86 We talk about bodies being a temple 00:09:29.90\00:09:32.47 that God made us, that God loves us, 00:09:32.50\00:09:34.10 that He cherish that, we are His precious beings. 00:09:34.14\00:09:37.81 And during that moment, 00:09:37.84\00:09:39.17 knowing that He values marriages, 00:09:39.21\00:09:40.54 He values the connectivity between my husband and myself 00:09:40.58\00:09:43.18 and sexuality, sex being a form of that expression, 00:09:43.21\00:09:47.78 I didn't say, "Lord, what is going on?" 00:09:47.82\00:09:51.89 And God says, "Cast your burdens upon me. 00:09:51.92\00:09:54.29 Talk to me." 00:09:54.32\00:09:55.66 We didn't do it, I don't think my husband did it, 00:09:55.69\00:09:57.13 I don't think I did do it during that time, 00:09:57.16\00:09:59.73 and that is one thing that is extremely important 00:09:59.76\00:10:02.06 while being pregnant. 00:10:02.10\00:10:04.33 Even knowing you're not pregnant, 00:10:04.37\00:10:06.84 going to God and saying, 00:10:06.87\00:10:08.30 "Lord, this is unknown territory. 00:10:08.34\00:10:11.61 I'm not sure what my sexuality is supposed to look like." 00:10:11.64\00:10:14.68 I'm questioning all these different things about me. 00:10:14.71\00:10:17.65 And again... You know, we might say, 00:10:17.68\00:10:19.01 "Well, your family, 00:10:19.05\00:10:20.38 you're doing magic family therapy. 00:10:20.42\00:10:21.95 You're a therapist... 00:10:21.98\00:10:23.32 You should know all this different stuff." 00:10:23.35\00:10:24.69 But in that moment, there was a lot of uncertainty. 00:10:24.72\00:10:28.36 And I don't know why I didn't, and now I'm looking back, 00:10:28.39\00:10:31.43 I said, "I should have spoke to God, 00:10:31.46\00:10:33.50 cast those burdens onto Him. 00:10:33.53\00:10:35.50 Let Him know what was going on between us 00:10:35.53\00:10:37.57 first couple of months." 00:10:37.60\00:10:38.93 I didn't. 00:10:38.97\00:10:40.60 That's, yeah... 00:10:40.64\00:10:42.20 So the advice right out of that. 00:10:42.24\00:10:44.94 So the advice for those that are at home 00:10:44.97\00:10:47.28 or is to actually pray about it. 00:10:47.31\00:10:50.35 Because God cares. Right. 00:10:50.38\00:10:52.05 God definitely cares. 00:10:52.08\00:10:53.42 I would agree with that 100% that God cares, 00:10:53.45\00:10:56.95 and so we look at... If we go to Genesis, right? 00:10:56.99\00:10:59.35 If we go to Genesis 2, and we see that God 00:10:59.39\00:11:02.39 has created human beings, and then it begins 00:11:02.42\00:11:05.99 to break down what that looks like, 00:11:06.03\00:11:08.80 the creation of human beings. 00:11:08.83\00:11:11.40 In saying that, the woman came out of the man, 00:11:11.43\00:11:15.04 and it takes, and we know biologically, 00:11:15.07\00:11:17.14 it takes both the female parts and the male parts 00:11:17.17\00:11:20.38 to come together and create life, and in this, 00:11:20.41\00:11:24.31 God had just completed creating life. 00:11:24.35\00:11:27.92 And so for Adam and Eve to come together, 00:11:27.95\00:11:31.99 and for Eve to become pregnant as a result of that 00:11:32.02\00:11:36.12 that God is very much so involved in that process 00:11:36.16\00:11:40.43 because He gave your body the ability 00:11:40.46\00:11:42.40 to go through that process. 00:11:42.43\00:11:44.80 And so I would definitely agree that it will be necessary. 00:11:44.83\00:11:49.00 It is necessary, as a Christian, to consult God. 00:11:49.04\00:11:52.97 And so another question that I have in terms of... 00:11:53.01\00:11:56.71 From the male's perspective, I know I've talked to a friend. 00:11:56.75\00:12:00.72 And he was telling me 00:12:00.75\00:12:02.52 that when his wife was pregnant, 00:12:02.55\00:12:05.02 and she had two of his children and when she was pregnant, 00:12:05.05\00:12:09.22 he understands that for women... 00:12:09.26\00:12:13.60 That for his wife and for women, 00:12:13.63\00:12:17.03 we need to be affirmed, 00:12:17.07\00:12:19.50 and that in the marriage relationship, 00:12:19.53\00:12:21.67 we need to be told that we're beautiful. 00:12:21.70\00:12:23.71 And so that did not... 00:12:23.74\00:12:26.11 Not only did that not decrease or become less of the case 00:12:26.14\00:12:31.11 while she was pregnant, but he sensed that his wife 00:12:31.15\00:12:34.22 needed more affirmation from him. 00:12:34.25\00:12:37.79 And so, right, when she was pregnant 00:12:37.82\00:12:39.95 because there was something happening on the out, 00:12:39.99\00:12:42.69 especially with the first child, he said, 00:12:42.72\00:12:45.23 that she had never been pregnant before, 00:12:45.26\00:12:47.20 and there's all these different affects 00:12:47.23\00:12:49.23 that happen to the body. 00:12:49.26\00:12:51.67 And there is a lot of things that's going on 00:12:51.70\00:12:53.20 with the female body. 00:12:53.23\00:12:54.84 And again, understanding sexuality, 00:12:54.87\00:12:57.47 we should know that there are different things 00:12:57.51\00:12:59.11 going on with your body. 00:12:59.14\00:13:00.48 Your libido increasing, decreasing, 00:13:00.51\00:13:02.88 your mood is increasing, decreasing, and everything, 00:13:02.91\00:13:06.85 you're getting bigger or in my case, 00:13:06.88\00:13:09.35 I was getting smaller... 00:13:09.38\00:13:10.95 Oh, wow. Because I was losing weight. 00:13:10.99\00:13:14.19 So knowing one form of our sexual identity 00:13:14.22\00:13:17.66 that we have been considered as women, 00:13:17.69\00:13:19.19 you know, we are mothers, we are the nurturers, 00:13:19.23\00:13:22.56 we carry the baby, that's our procreation purpose, 00:13:22.60\00:13:26.50 to carry the child, 00:13:26.53\00:13:27.87 that's one of the elements in our sexual identity. 00:13:27.90\00:13:30.61 So, I, here as a mother to be carrying my child. 00:13:30.64\00:13:34.74 I have this rare condition that I feel 00:13:34.78\00:13:37.11 as if no one can understand or realize, 00:13:37.15\00:13:40.15 but I know what my purpose is by God is to carry this child 00:13:40.18\00:13:43.18 to full term. 00:13:43.22\00:13:44.85 And I'm wondering, 00:13:44.89\00:13:49.22 "Am I doing it right?" 00:13:49.26\00:13:53.13 Because I was losing... 00:13:53.16\00:13:54.50 I lost almost 10% of my body weight. 00:13:54.53\00:13:57.27 And I still don't understand why I didn't automatically 00:13:57.30\00:14:00.94 start praying and talking to God about it. 00:14:00.97\00:14:03.94 But losing that body weight, I was getting thin, 00:14:03.97\00:14:06.47 but I don't know who told my husband 00:14:06.51\00:14:08.81 to keep on saying, "Honey, you're beautiful. 00:14:08.84\00:14:12.31 I love you. You're glowing. 00:14:12.35\00:14:14.25 You're pregnant, it's wonderful, it's great." 00:14:14.28\00:14:16.89 Being affirmed in that, that is my purpose 00:14:16.92\00:14:20.72 to be carrying this child for me 00:14:20.76\00:14:22.92 'cause some women are not able to carry children. 00:14:22.96\00:14:25.29 I don't want to insensitive to that concern, but for me, 00:14:25.33\00:14:28.36 being able to carry this child. 00:14:28.40\00:14:29.90 And some people are like, "Aren't you eating? 00:14:29.93\00:14:32.77 When I was five months pregnant, 00:14:32.80\00:14:34.14 someone thought I was on a weight loss plan. 00:14:34.17\00:14:36.47 They didn't know I was pregnant, 00:14:36.50\00:14:37.84 they thought I was on a weight loss plan, 00:14:37.87\00:14:39.21 I was losing weight. 00:14:39.24\00:14:40.58 That's hard. But I was pregnant. 00:14:40.61\00:14:42.28 And I'm supposed to be this healthy... 00:14:42.31\00:14:45.85 Chunky. Chunky, you know. 00:14:45.88\00:14:47.45 Yes. 00:14:47.48\00:14:48.82 People should be like, "Are you almost due?" 00:14:48.85\00:14:50.19 Those weren't the questions. 00:14:50.22\00:14:52.45 But that's how I felt like I should be 00:14:52.49\00:14:55.42 because we were told over and over, 00:14:55.46\00:14:57.53 as women, when you're pregnant, 00:14:57.56\00:14:59.29 that is what you're supposed to do. 00:14:59.33\00:15:01.00 And we also are hard on ourselves as women. 00:15:01.03\00:15:03.77 Right. 00:15:03.80\00:15:05.13 During the pregnancy, we are hard on ourselves, 00:15:05.17\00:15:06.90 and if you don't have the right spouse, 00:15:06.94\00:15:08.94 he could also be hard on you and say, 00:15:08.97\00:15:11.14 "Why aren't you eating? 00:15:11.17\00:15:12.51 Why aren't you doing this? Why aren't you..." 00:15:12.54\00:15:14.08 And my husband was not like that. 00:15:14.11\00:15:15.68 He was supportive, honest, 00:15:15.71\00:15:17.05 and I was having a different level of change. 00:15:17.08\00:15:21.98 And that's how it should be because we look to the Bible 00:15:22.02\00:15:25.89 and songs of Solomon and all, the way he talks 00:15:25.92\00:15:28.46 about his love, how beautiful she is, 00:15:28.49\00:15:33.06 how he cares for her. 00:15:33.09\00:15:35.00 Privacy should also be that period 00:15:35.03\00:15:36.83 where you're also talking about it 00:15:36.87\00:15:38.20 because again mood changing, libido changing, 00:15:38.23\00:15:41.90 depression, wondering, "Can I actually be a mother? 00:15:41.94\00:15:46.54 Will I be successful in this?" 00:15:46.57\00:15:49.04 It's important to have that conversation. 00:15:49.08\00:15:52.55 I think I appreciate that. 00:15:52.58\00:15:54.48 I appreciate you letting us all know 00:15:54.52\00:15:57.45 that it is not uncommon for a woman to lose weight 00:15:57.49\00:16:03.63 because most people think you gain weight 00:16:03.66\00:16:06.66 when you have a child. 00:16:06.70\00:16:08.03 And in some cases, you know, you do. 00:16:08.06\00:16:10.43 But there are cases, you're not the only person 00:16:10.47\00:16:13.34 that I know that has actually lost weight. 00:16:13.37\00:16:16.87 And with your case, it was a medical problem. 00:16:16.91\00:16:19.91 With her it wasn't a medical problem, 00:16:19.94\00:16:21.74 it was just what happened. 00:16:21.78\00:16:23.51 And so she... 00:16:23.55\00:16:24.88 There are some other things that she had to do, 00:16:24.91\00:16:26.25 so it didn't become medical, 00:16:26.28\00:16:28.25 but that's something that happened. 00:16:28.28\00:16:30.39 So for all the viewers out there, 00:16:30.42\00:16:33.32 for the husbands or the husbands to be, 00:16:33.36\00:16:35.96 for the wives or the wives to be, 00:16:35.99\00:16:37.59 for the mothers or the mothers to be, 00:16:37.63\00:16:39.59 know that if you lose weight, you should go to the doctor 00:16:39.63\00:16:42.53 but it's not uncommon. 00:16:42.56\00:16:43.90 Doesn't automatically mean 00:16:43.93\00:16:45.50 that you have a medical condition, 00:16:45.53\00:16:46.90 but it may mean that you have a medical condition. 00:16:46.94\00:16:50.11 So going to the doctor is definitely something 00:16:50.14\00:16:53.01 would be a good choice. 00:16:53.04\00:16:54.38 It is. 00:16:54.41\00:16:55.74 And creating a community that supports women 00:16:55.78\00:17:00.98 becoming mothers, with that element, 00:17:01.02\00:17:03.89 just to talk to her for a few seconds... 00:17:03.92\00:17:07.16 Talking about making pure choices. 00:17:07.19\00:17:09.42 When I discovered that I had hyperemesis, 00:17:09.46\00:17:11.96 I did what I shouldn't have done, 00:17:11.99\00:17:13.40 I went online and started searching 00:17:13.43\00:17:16.23 and understanding and learning how rare my condition was. 00:17:16.26\00:17:19.83 And when I heard that only less than 2% of women have it, 00:17:19.87\00:17:23.44 I started to separate myself, 00:17:23.47\00:17:27.61 where I shouldn't have done that. 00:17:27.64\00:17:29.58 I tried to separate myself feeling 00:17:29.61\00:17:30.95 that I'm the only one. 00:17:30.98\00:17:32.31 You're saying that, you know, you have a friend, 00:17:32.35\00:17:34.52 I wouldn't... 00:17:34.55\00:17:35.88 If I had not separated myself, I probably would have heard 00:17:35.92\00:17:38.09 that there were other women. 00:17:38.12\00:17:39.45 It might be a rare case, but there are other women 00:17:39.49\00:17:41.79 who are losing it, I mean, losing weight. 00:17:41.82\00:17:44.39 Right. And God created this community. 00:17:44.43\00:17:46.90 And I don't know where in my mindset 00:17:46.93\00:17:51.13 I got this understanding that I shouldn't talk 00:17:51.17\00:17:54.40 about pregnancy and sexuality 00:17:54.44\00:17:55.90 and what's going on with my body, 00:17:55.94\00:17:57.31 what's going on, I mean, my husband... 00:17:57.34\00:17:59.74 I don't know where I got it, but I had this fear 00:17:59.77\00:18:02.44 that I can't talk to anyone else about it. 00:18:02.48\00:18:04.88 I can't speak to anyone else about this. 00:18:04.91\00:18:07.35 It's only me, I'm the only one, I'm alone in this situation. 00:18:07.38\00:18:10.89 Yeah. 00:18:10.92\00:18:12.25 And I don't know where that came from. 00:18:12.29\00:18:15.19 And I wish someone would have just thought and said, 00:18:15.22\00:18:19.73 "Listen, I see you're pregnant. 00:18:19.76\00:18:22.50 How is your body functions going on? 00:18:22.53\00:18:24.73 Are you able to still be with your husband?" 00:18:24.77\00:18:27.70 And they don't have to talk about 00:18:27.74\00:18:29.07 the whole intercourse element, 00:18:29.10\00:18:30.44 but just being able to hold his hands 00:18:30.47\00:18:32.17 and be near him, to confer, 00:18:32.21\00:18:34.18 to still build a relationship during that time. 00:18:34.21\00:18:36.54 That is a part of our sexuality, 00:18:36.58\00:18:38.71 in our religion, in our identity 00:18:38.75\00:18:40.52 as heterosexual married couples to have that conversation. 00:18:40.55\00:18:44.72 Yes. And that was... 00:18:44.75\00:18:46.09 That's really important having a conversation 00:18:46.12\00:18:49.19 with your spouse about what's going on, 00:18:49.22\00:18:52.53 how you're feeling the uncertainty 00:18:52.56\00:18:54.46 that's going on. 00:18:54.50\00:18:55.83 If you don't talk, then how can you improve? 00:18:55.86\00:18:58.87 Yes, definitely. 00:18:58.90\00:19:00.24 Definitely, I would agree with... 00:19:00.27\00:19:01.80 I mean, I don't think that that would ever be 00:19:01.84\00:19:04.21 a false statement in every aspect of marriage, 00:19:04.24\00:19:08.21 of any sort of relationship for it to function properly, 00:19:08.24\00:19:11.31 you want to communicate. 00:19:11.35\00:19:13.75 Something that I've heard that's a little... 00:19:13.78\00:19:19.52 It's this bit extreme in my opinion. 00:19:19.55\00:19:21.79 It's a bit extreme is that there was at least one man 00:19:21.82\00:19:26.90 out there that had this question. 00:19:26.93\00:19:29.30 And this question was or this statement was 00:19:29.33\00:19:32.97 that it is now appropriate for him to participate 00:19:33.00\00:19:37.51 in either extramarital affairs or in masturbation 00:19:37.54\00:19:42.48 since his wife is pregnant. 00:19:42.51\00:19:44.05 And so what would you have 00:19:44.08\00:19:48.52 to say to such a statement? 00:19:48.55\00:19:51.25 That sounds like blackmail sex where he is telling his wife, 00:19:51.29\00:19:57.86 "You are not at ease with us having sexual relationships. 00:19:57.89\00:20:03.23 So this is our two options, 00:20:03.26\00:20:04.63 either I cheat on you externally 00:20:04.67\00:20:07.67 or I cheat on you internally, 00:20:07.70\00:20:09.20 and I ruin our bond and our connection." 00:20:09.24\00:20:11.81 And God has not provided any provision 00:20:11.84\00:20:16.24 for that type of talk for us 00:20:16.28\00:20:18.51 to be sexual immoral by having affairs. 00:20:18.55\00:20:23.08 God has not provided any provisions for us 00:20:23.12\00:20:25.95 to be sexual immoral by masturbating, 00:20:25.99\00:20:28.29 which would call for fantasizing 00:20:28.32\00:20:30.59 about someone else who isn't your wife. 00:20:30.63\00:20:32.56 And even if you're fantasizing about your wife, 00:20:32.59\00:20:35.33 you're making her into a sexual object. 00:20:35.36\00:20:37.47 It's not a sexual object, it's a sexual being 00:20:37.50\00:20:39.73 who is your spouse, who is your partner, 00:20:39.77\00:20:42.40 who God has designed to be your mate, 00:20:42.44\00:20:45.97 not only the mate but the mother of your child. 00:20:46.01\00:20:48.91 And there is a level of respect that you need to have for her. 00:20:48.94\00:20:53.88 If you do have the desire to have sex, converse with her, 00:20:53.92\00:20:58.39 talk to her, "Okay, what is your concern? 00:20:58.42\00:21:00.32 What is my concern? Let's go to a doctor." 00:21:00.36\00:21:03.46 Or maybe he might need to have other external activities 00:21:03.49\00:21:07.80 such as talking with his boys and maybe playing basketball, 00:21:07.83\00:21:12.23 baseball... Going to the gym. 00:21:12.27\00:21:13.60 Going to the gym. 00:21:13.64\00:21:15.04 But sex should not be needed during pregnancy. 00:21:15.07\00:21:19.87 I don't want to say it as if sex and pregnancy 00:21:19.91\00:21:22.94 could not be important or essential, 00:21:22.98\00:21:25.18 but it doesn't have to happen. 00:21:25.21\00:21:27.32 We do talk about period. 00:21:27.35\00:21:28.78 The Bible does talk about periods where of fasting, 00:21:28.82\00:21:31.52 and that's the only time where you know 00:21:31.55\00:21:32.89 you should not have or it's safety 00:21:32.92\00:21:34.46 because the marriage bed should not be defiled. 00:21:34.49\00:21:36.79 And part of defiling is hurting your wife. 00:21:36.83\00:21:41.46 Nothing is worse than not being connected to your spouse 00:21:41.50\00:21:46.94 and you are engaging in intercourse. 00:21:46.97\00:21:49.10 That is rape. 00:21:49.14\00:21:50.57 If she is not there, she doesn't want to be there, 00:21:50.61\00:21:53.17 and she is being forced to be there, 00:21:53.21\00:21:54.68 she's being blackmailed to be there, 00:21:54.71\00:21:56.75 especially during that time on pregnancy, 00:21:56.78\00:21:58.81 you are so sensitive. 00:21:58.85\00:22:01.18 And you are told by this person who should love 00:22:01.22\00:22:03.39 and encourage and support you. 00:22:03.42\00:22:04.95 If you don't do what I think you're supposed to do, 00:22:04.99\00:22:07.66 and especially if they use the Bible in certain ways 00:22:07.69\00:22:09.59 to be like, "The Bible says you're not supposed 00:22:09.62\00:22:11.29 to refrain from me except for fasting..." 00:22:11.33\00:22:14.20 There's a problem. Right. That's pressure. 00:22:14.23\00:22:15.96 And I think that's, you know, what you're saying, 00:22:16.00\00:22:18.80 what I hear you saying in terms of rape. 00:22:18.83\00:22:21.40 It would be if you're trying to pressure me, I'm pregnant, 00:22:21.44\00:22:24.47 and maybe I have some things going on with me, 00:22:24.51\00:22:27.34 maybe they're medical, 00:22:27.38\00:22:28.71 like they were in your condition. 00:22:28.74\00:22:30.08 Or maybe, I just don't feel like having intercourse 00:22:30.11\00:22:34.22 with you, and I happen to be pregnant. 00:22:34.25\00:22:36.82 Whether I'm pregnant or not, and I'm saying, 00:22:36.85\00:22:38.72 "I don't want to have intercourse with you." 00:22:38.75\00:22:40.56 The solution that or a possibility 00:22:40.59\00:22:43.63 that you give to me, should not be okay 00:22:43.66\00:22:46.16 while I'm going to take care of myself, 00:22:46.19\00:22:48.03 I'm going to serve myself, which by masturbating 00:22:48.06\00:22:51.63 or I'm going to go and find someone else 00:22:51.67\00:22:54.10 to fill this need that I have. 00:22:54.14\00:22:56.84 That's just not appropriate in any sense. 00:22:56.87\00:22:59.67 When it comes to the conversation 00:22:59.71\00:23:01.18 that you were saying about having a community, 00:23:01.21\00:23:04.95 that is super essential. 00:23:04.98\00:23:08.62 There's a belief that in Old Testament time 00:23:08.65\00:23:12.72 that the women, when they were on their menstrual, 00:23:12.75\00:23:16.59 when they were on their periods 00:23:16.62\00:23:17.96 having gone through menstruation, 00:23:17.99\00:23:20.00 and they were unclean, they will be sent away, 00:23:20.03\00:23:22.80 and all the women will be in a tent together. 00:23:22.83\00:23:25.47 And it was during that time that the older women 00:23:25.50\00:23:28.14 will share with the younger women 00:23:28.17\00:23:31.81 different things about sexuality, 00:23:31.84\00:23:33.71 whether it'd be intercourse, 00:23:33.74\00:23:35.54 whether it'd be what to do when you have children, 00:23:35.58\00:23:38.98 while you're pregnant, all of those things 00:23:39.01\00:23:40.85 that encompass sexuality. 00:23:40.88\00:23:42.42 It was a space for women to come together 00:23:42.45\00:23:45.05 and have the conversation like you so eloquently said, 00:23:45.09\00:23:48.56 having the conversation is necessary. 00:23:48.59\00:23:51.83 And even before, even more recently, 00:23:51.86\00:23:56.67 should I say, that there was... 00:23:56.70\00:23:59.80 There has been a dialogue between the older women 00:23:59.83\00:24:03.54 and the younger women and saying this is what I did, 00:24:03.57\00:24:07.84 maybe this will work for you. 00:24:07.88\00:24:09.64 And between generations, 00:24:09.68\00:24:12.41 there has been such a great divide 00:24:12.45\00:24:15.62 in where the older and the younger 00:24:15.65\00:24:17.59 are not having those conversations anymore. 00:24:17.62\00:24:20.16 And so just because we have access to Google, 00:24:20.19\00:24:22.82 doesn't mean that should be our only source, 00:24:22.86\00:24:26.76 having that interpersonal relationship with someone 00:24:26.80\00:24:30.13 who came before me, they're still great, 00:24:30.17\00:24:32.43 depth and strength, to that level of conversation. 00:24:32.47\00:24:36.94 Definitely. Definitely. 00:24:36.97\00:24:38.84 Conversation, communication, communication, communication. 00:24:38.87\00:24:42.24 Communicating and expressing what's going on in your heart. 00:24:42.28\00:24:48.38 While being pregnant, there was a period 00:24:48.42\00:24:51.05 of really uncertainty. 00:24:51.09\00:24:53.89 Like I said it before, I did what I shouldn't have done, 00:24:53.92\00:24:56.49 and I went on Google and did all this research 00:24:56.52\00:24:58.36 in trying to figure out what to do, 00:24:58.39\00:25:01.10 and it talked about getting so sick 00:25:01.13\00:25:06.33 that the doctors might recommend aborting. 00:25:06.37\00:25:10.61 And that level of fear and anxiety, 00:25:10.64\00:25:13.84 I had to do what... 00:25:13.88\00:25:15.94 I could say having a prayer, and I said, 00:25:15.98\00:25:18.68 "Lord, I am tired of taking these different medications 00:25:18.71\00:25:21.78 trying to control my nausea and all this different stuff. 00:25:21.82\00:25:25.49 I'm tired of all of this, Dear Lord, 00:25:25.52\00:25:26.89 I'm tired of second guessing myself and wondering 00:25:26.92\00:25:29.59 if I can be what You're calling me 00:25:29.62\00:25:30.96 to be as a mother. 00:25:30.99\00:25:32.33 So I'm taking it to you." 00:25:32.36\00:25:33.83 And after I said that prayer, 00:25:33.86\00:25:35.90 I also sent out a mass text message 00:25:35.93\00:25:37.33 to everyone saying, "Pray for me right now 00:25:37.37\00:25:40.57 and what God is trying to do in my life with this pregnancy 00:25:40.60\00:25:44.71 because I have a lot of concern and confusion." 00:25:44.74\00:25:48.11 And things started to get better after that 00:25:48.14\00:25:51.21 because God does answer prayer. 00:25:51.25\00:25:52.78 Yes, He does. 00:25:52.81\00:25:54.15 God does provide support in the Bible 00:25:54.18\00:25:55.68 while you're pregnant to help you understand 00:25:55.72\00:25:58.65 what is going on. 00:25:58.69\00:26:00.02 And again, having a great spouse 00:26:00.06\00:26:02.89 who understands that we have to converse 00:26:02.92\00:26:06.90 about 'cause sex was different. 00:26:06.93\00:26:08.76 It wasn't the same like it was before I was pregnant. 00:26:08.80\00:26:11.73 We had to have that communication, 00:26:11.77\00:26:13.17 we had to converse about what to do, how to change. 00:26:13.20\00:26:16.20 We did have to go to my doctor and say, 00:26:16.24\00:26:17.77 "Okay, this isn't, this is going on. 00:26:17.81\00:26:19.57 How do we go about changing this?" 00:26:19.61\00:26:21.94 And that's okay. 00:26:21.98\00:26:23.41 As Christians we don't need to be nervous 00:26:23.45\00:26:25.05 about having that conversation because God would want us 00:26:25.08\00:26:27.92 to have that conversation because He didn't want us 00:26:27.95\00:26:29.78 to be unhappy and to be ashamed 00:26:29.82\00:26:32.12 and to feel as if He doesn't care for us 00:26:32.15\00:26:34.72 because He does care for us. 00:26:34.76\00:26:36.09 Yes. 00:26:36.12\00:26:37.46 I believe that God cares for us very much. 00:26:37.49\00:26:40.06 I definitely agree that God cares for us very much. 00:26:40.10\00:26:42.86 And that He wants us to have that conversation 00:26:42.90\00:26:45.10 because once again, God has built us 00:26:45.13\00:26:48.20 and made us to be communal individuals. 00:26:48.24\00:26:51.14 We are individual but we prosper and we... 00:26:51.17\00:26:57.08 Our purpose in fulfillment and community 00:26:57.11\00:27:00.38 that my gifts are expressed best in community. 00:27:00.42\00:27:03.59 And so being able to what we're doing right now 00:27:03.62\00:27:07.72 and having this conversation 00:27:07.76\00:27:09.46 that you are giving me information 00:27:09.49\00:27:11.86 for when I get pregnant, God willing, 00:27:11.89\00:27:14.93 if that is a gift that I'll be given. 00:27:14.96\00:27:17.20 And so something for the viewers at home, 00:27:17.23\00:27:21.47 I would like for you all to once again continue 00:27:21.50\00:27:24.04 the conversation, whether you are pregnant 00:27:24.07\00:27:26.94 or you are looking to become pregnant, 00:27:26.98\00:27:29.38 pray to God, 00:27:29.41\00:27:31.11 have a conversation with God about it. 00:27:31.15\00:27:33.88 It is not something that God is too above, too high and mighty, 00:27:33.92\00:27:38.89 I mean, even though God is high and mighty, 00:27:38.92\00:27:40.96 God is not too high and mighty 00:27:40.99\00:27:43.29 to address the concerns that you may have. 00:27:43.32\00:27:46.23 And talk to someone older, 00:27:46.26\00:27:47.83 talk to someone who has come before you, 00:27:47.86\00:27:50.43 and to be able to make 00:27:50.47\00:27:53.00 that pure choice of sexuality and pregnancy. 00:27:53.03\00:27:56.37