Kim Kardashian -- Ass Photo Last Hurrah Before Getting Pregnant

Kim Kardashian shot the instantly iconic ass photo because it's her last stand before getting pregnant again ... TMZ has learned.

We know Kim is telling close friends and family she's about to get pregnant again, and wants to show off her body before the weight gain. She's proud she dumped the weight after North was born and wants to show her tight figure off.

As for Kanye ... we're told he's the opposite of jealous. He loves her public displays.

Our sources say there were a number of pics the photog took and they will be released soon. The photog -- Jean-Paul Goude, is famous for shooting nude celebs, including Naomi Campbell.

The Kim pic is actually a recreation of the famous champagne photograph that Goude shot in 1976. The model is Carolina Beaumont.

Goude shot a similar pic of Grace Jones. And get this ... another photog copied the Grace Jones pic, using Amber Rose as the model. Amber, of course, was Kanye's GF before he hooked up with Kim.

And we're told ... this will not be the last nude photo shoot before Kim gets pregnant again. She plans a few more, but it'll happen soon because she wants baby #2.