Belly Dance as Childbirth Class

Belly-dancing was brought to the United States in the 1980's when a belly dancer was brought to the Chicago World's Fair. To appeal to the fair audience, the dance was embellished with elements of stripteasing and sex appeal, so the belly dance has certain unsavory reputation in the United States.

Shakira has brought this type of dance into popular attention in the past 7 or 8 years. Her potent mix of belly dance, vocals, and songwriting have turned her into one of the most successful artists of this new century.

But belly dancing is gaining a new reputation in the United States, and where you'd least expect it. Women looking for a more natural, less medicated labor and delivery experience are using hypnotherapy, waterbirthing and even belly dancing.

According to sociologists and belly dancers, this dance was originally a woman's dance, designed to celebrate womanhood and prepare a woman for childbirth. The fact that the years have sexualized and even vulgarized this dance is no reason to keep it from helping the pregnant woman today attain a natural birth.

Many of the movements in belly dance are similar to movements and techniques taught in childbirth class. For instance, the belly roll in typical belly dancing is similar to the pattern of breathing progression women are taught to practice during labor: lower abdominal breaths, to more shallow chest breathing, and to the popular panting breath.

The pelvic rock that most childbirth preparation classes teach is to stretch and strengthen the pelvic muscles; allow the baby to attain a better position in the pelvis; and to ease the strain on the laboring mother's back. These hip and pelvic movements are synonymous with the hip circles, figure eights, and hip lifts of belly dancing.

Some people have expressed a concern that the rolling hip motions of belly dancing that mimic childbirth can cause premature labor. There have been no indications that this is true.

However, it is wise to remember your pregnant body's limitations. The hormone, relaxin, that is released during pregnancy is designed to loosen your ligaments in your pelvis, so it can stretch and allow the baby passage. This relaxin will actually loosen the connective tissue throughout your body. You need to be cautious when doing belly dancing, yoga or any other exercise that requires a lot of bending and joint flexion or you can cause injury to your joints that will last throughout your life.

Most belly dance birthing instructors caution to avoid aggressive hip snaps, especially in the latter trimester. Any movements involving hip drops, snaps, or reaching up on your toes need to be avoided during pregnancy.

But belly dancing and the muscles involved in this form of exercise are proving to be perfect for preparing for labor. Belly dancing strengthens the thighs for the squatting position; hip rolls loosen and prepare the pelvic muscles; the hip shimmy can relax those tight pelvic band muscles as well.

Fit women have an easier time during labor and delivery and their bodies recover more quickly afterwards. So many women are exercising specifically to get in shape for the arduous work of natural labor. Belly dancing offers a time-honored, feminine, and affirming way of doing that, both physically and mentally.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported a woman in Missouri who danced her way through labor, ending in a quick, successful birth. She had gone the traditional medical route in previous births and like many other American women, was looking for a more natural alternative way of giving birth.

Belly dancing during pregnancy can do more than strengthen your muscles. Women report feeling that belly dancing has caused them to be more self-confident, unafraid, and proud of their bodies, too.

Now that this ancient woman's dance has re-emerged as the laboring woman's friend, dance instructors are picking up on the trend and offering belly-dancing/childbirth classes. And some DVD instructional videos, complete with modifications made for the pregnant body, are on the market now so you, too, can dance through your next delivery.