[winston optic beer]

SO number three, my wife

In my previous post, I wrote about my first two partners. Now, I'll move on to the third, my wife. The first time I saw her interacting with another man while she was naked was at the birth of our first child.

At the time, my wife was a successful career nurse in her late thirties. Before I knew her, she had quickly risen through the ranks to a senior position in the NHS. This VIP status got her special treatment in the maternity unit. The male consultant spent a lot more time with her than was usual. Not many pregnant women get such a first-rate personal service. He was particularly kind to her and made every effort to ensure her birth went smoothly.

During the labour, my wife refused to wear anything and resisted all attempts by the midwives cover her with a sheet. She had previously told me that patients should never be more exposed than necessary for the sake of their dignity. Yet, here she was completely naked in the delivery room. I wasn't shocked by this because she had always slept naked and had long visited nude beaches when on holiday abroad.

I suppose wanting to be naked may have been a comfort thing as it was a summer pregnancy. She could just have just been so desperate to get the whole thing over with, that she was past caring about who saw her naked. Maybe, she thought it would be more convenient for the midwives if she was naked and didn't want to be seen as being whimp about it by other health professionals. After all, she'd be aware that clinicians in this area see nudity all the time and that it would be water off a duck's back to them.

I must say that the consultant was never anything but totally professional. Nevertheless, it did occur to me that he might have secretly got a kick out of seeing a senior nurse in the nude. It could easily have been a power trip for him. Also, it's not inconceivable that my wife could have been enjoying it too. They both had plausible deniability, but a couple of points stood out to me. Firstly, he didn't need to be there. Secondly, she didn't need to be completely naked all of the time.

She had remained sexually active thoughout her pregnancy. In fact, her libido increased dramatically and we had some of our best ever sex in the cowgirl position towards the end of her term. It would be a mistake to think that women leave their sexuality behind when they enter the birthing room.

Researchers have drawn parallels between the process of childbirth and having sex. Some women are reported to have used masturbation or intimacy with their partner as pain relief during childbirth. Also, there is such a thing as an orgasmic or ecstatic birth.

Who knows what private thoughts went through my wife's mind as she struggled with the pain of labour and childbirth. It's not inconceivable that she could have distracted herself from the pain by taking exhibitionist pleasure in having the consultant see her naked.

Did I feel turned on by my wife being naked in front of this man? Yes, I probably did. Certainly, I was proud of her for not being prissy about it.

Was I jealous? Just a little. The consultant was doing a great job helping my wife fulfil her biological function. I'd already served my biological purpose nine months earlier, so felt I redundant.

I think it's probably the bitter sweet mixture of being simultaneously turned on and a little jealous that makes having your SO seen naked by another man so delicious.