Yes Debbie, you are correct in stating that belly dancing was (and still
is!!) used as a skill for women to assist them in labour not just for mens
pleasure in Egyptian pubs. It is believed that women would come together in
a circle, arms all interlocked and encourage the labouring woman in her
active birth through belly dancing what a glorious picture of supporting
one another through birth.
I recently supported a dance teacher in labour, as her doula and in our post
natal conversations I asked her about what she thought of whether dancing
made a difference to her experience of birth.
She said she had met with some of her dance friends who have had babies and
all their labours were quick. She attributes this to the fact that dancers
are more comfortable with their bodies and probably spend more time on the
floor than non-dancers. Her midwife also suggested that dancers are probably
more used to pushing their bodies to the limit (perhaps more used to muscle
pain) and not so afraid of the pain that childbirth can bring.
From spending time on the floor, the hips are more open and flexible as well
as the back muscles are much stronger, these are both reasons why labour can
be shorter for dancers. All the dancers (5 including my client) are
contemporary dancers and contemporary dance does tend to have a bit of floor
work in it. Also 3 of the women have been doing yoga for the last 10 years
and did prenatal yoga throughout their pregnancies, which is very good
preparation for birth, both in relaxing and strengthening the body.
Hope this information is of help and interest to you Paivi.
Blessings,
Luci
Doula, Adelaide, South Australia
www.doulaluci.blogspot.com
From: "Debbie Slater" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au>
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Dancing in labour and pregnancy
Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 10:11:36 +0800
Paivi
My understanding is (and I may well be wrong, so please anyone tell me if I
am), that belly dancing was originally devised as a skill shown by women to
women to assist them in labour a sort of pelvic rocking to movement.
Slow belly dancing movements are a good skill for an active labour.
As someone who did ballet til her mid-20s, I found that I had quite
strong
pelvic floor muscles, and found it quite difficult to let go of my pelvic
floor muscles during second stage. Ballet dancing does give you a good
awareness of your pelvic floor the instructions of the ballet teacher to
pull in and up is all about the pelvic floor and core muscles.
Debbie Slater
Perth, WA
_____
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Päivi
Sent: Saturday, 4 November 2006 5:26 AM
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject: [ozmidwifery] Dancing in labour and pregnancy
Hi all,
After being to the Midwifery conference in Germany last week and attending
a
great latin american dance show last night I am inspired to write an
article
about dancing and birth. I have a long history in dancing and had easy
births myself. I have talked to quite a few dancing friends lately and all
had natural labors and felt empowered by it. So if you have great stories
of
women dancing trough labor or how dancing during pregnancy can help, please
share. Do you think, that dancing makes pelvic floor muscles stronger, and
that is what helps, or what other advantages can we find in dancing? How
have you seen women use rythm and movements? Does anyone know if there is
difference weather you dance ballet, ballroom, salsa or belly dance...
(prenatally, that is)
Päivi
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