It does! Honestly, aside from mommy-brain, which is its own whole other issue ;), your whole life has a new focus. Add that to sleep deprivation and the physical changes of recovering from pregnancy... and cut yourself some slack :). After my kids were born I had to consciously cut back on my commitment to dance---down to one night a week from three, and that meant missing out on some really awesome performances and projects. And while it killed me to do it... it was getting to a point where going to class and even performing just wasn't fun, because it was too stressful to try and carve that time out of my day. You'd think being home with a baby would mean having more time, but... no. Honestly it wasn't until a couple of years ago (when my youngest was two, maybe) that I really felt like I could put enough time and energy into my dance to have it improve again, and I still can't put the time into it that I did when I was a child-free teenager ;).

Seriously, though... give yourself a year at least to recover from pregnancy, both physically and mentally. Maybe longer before you can contemplate a performance without worrying about being done quickly to get home to the baby (it probably depends on you and your baby as well... my friend has an almost-two-year-old who still hasn't slept through a night in his life, and that makes life in general really hard for her).

If you're not comfortable with the look/fit of your old costumes, maybe consider investing in something new that will make you feel fabulous? (It's hard to have that *spark* when you don't think you look your best) Though if your weight (and bra size, if you're nursing) are still in flux you may not want to spend a fortune... even spending some play time dressing up and getting some killer pictures can be a big boost to the ol' self image.

All I can say is, work with what you've got... the level of time, commitment, and attention you have available now. Babies don't stay small forever, your body will recover itself, though it will never be quite the same as it was pre-baby. Be patient with yourself, and try and enjoy the great things about your new life... like that adorable baby in your profile pic ;). In time you'll have a little more space for yourself, and in turn a little more room to focus on dance. But right now, your baby needs and deserves your time and focus... and that's okay :). Keep dancing, because it feels good and it's fun... but try not to be hard on yourself if it's not at the level it was before.

Hmm, that turned into a book... sorry ;)

My kids are 3 years old and I still don't feel like my balance is back. It's getting better but I'm not as steady as I used to be. I did gymnastics when I was younger, I used to have great balance. Ah, those were the days. The mommy brain fog will start to lift though, so hopefully choreographies will get easier to learn again.

I'm so glad you posted this! I've felt the same way lately and thought it was just me. I did a competition (yes I'm crazy) 2 1/2 months after Ally was born and felt so off balance. I kept thinking it was just nerves, but even at home I can't get "into" it. Dance isn't bringing me the release I usually achieve. I really can't seem to "feel" music or the steps (or remember anything). It's depressing. I hope it goes away.

It just gets better slowly. People always talk about getting their body back after pregnancy. But the thing women don't really talk about is that it never goes back to pre-baby shape entirely. It's like going through puberty only not quite as extreme.

I've had to focus on accepting and getting aquainted with a new body: wider hips, flatter chest and this terrible extra skin on my belly.
I've also had to accept that I'm a changed person in a lot of emotional and mental ways

For improving your balance: Have you ever tried Sufi whirling?

Dancing means more to me now than it ever has before, because I realize how precious my time is. And Im more at ease with performing now than I was before I had my son.

BTW--If it helps, you definately looked 'on' at the Tribo performance.

Heh...I feel removed from myself somehow, like just a little bit outside and not quite all there most of the time. It is weird because that is how people in pain describe themselves because they are trying to remove themselves from the pain but I don't feel like I am still in pain (took me 2 years to recover from my 41 hour labor).

You looked great Sat night, I loved all the pieces especially the Firefly and devil ones!

Thank you all for the replies - it helps to know I'm not alone. :)

you all hit the nail on the head to feel like I'm in two places at once, and I'm not quite inside myself anymore. It's definately a new experience. I love teaching and I love choreographing peices... it's the performing that feel VERY different for me!

Again, reading all these posts just makes me feel so much better and relieved to know that it's common to still experience adjustment, even after the baby turns 1.

ORacle