Thanks Luci, This is very interesting.
Päivi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Luci Bubner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 8:11 AM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Dancing in labour and pregnancy
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
men's 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: [email protected]
To: <[email protected]>
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-20's, 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: [email protected]
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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