http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#1b9392f2-5777-4717-880e-a1022411d9e9 In almost every way! My Father in law had actually taken the state test for mid-wifery when his wife was pregnant with their first (32 years ago) and almost passed and they had all 4 of their children at home with him delievering. So when I got pregnant last year they had wanted me to have our's at home (I decided it not to be a good idea seeing as I live in an apartment with neighbors in CLOSE proximity.) I would have danced almost through the whole pregnancy but about half way through the stress of planning my wedding and working part time plus traveling to see family proved too much. I did dance and perform up until then and even was in our local 4th of July parade and newspaper at 17 weeks! I would put music on and dance while I showered.. I had a relatively easy labor (16 hours) and had a beautiful 8 lb. 4 oz. baby girl. Now I'm a full time mommy (baby bottle/comfort/paything/entertainment/anything else she wants me to be) and belly dancer. She even comes with me to the class I teach! Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:57:57 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#1b9392f2-5777-4717-880e-a1022411d9e9 Michelle 2009-07-01T04:57:57Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#267bfa78-2f7c-4485-97a3-6c9483608966 I love your post! I homebirthed my two girls, and am currently pregnant with our third child. Belydance helped to create in me a kinf of confidence in my body and it's abilties, and an intense self-awareness that I think only physical movement can engender, It also helped allow all aspects of my person (body, mind, emotion, spirit, etc.) to combine together in ways that I didn't need to control. When it come to the active borth process, I knew I could let that connected body and self of mine do their thing in confidence, awareness, and trust in my womaness, These things are for the most part without words, but I could dance it out for you! *lol* Sa'ada http://www.easternfelicity.com Prenatal Bellydance Classes on Seattle's Eastside http://www.easternfelicity.com/pregdance.html Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:16:45 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#267bfa78-2f7c-4485-97a3-6c9483608966 rengal/JFTA 2009-04-16T22:16:45Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#ea90c6e6-989f-4bd2-ae5b-0c40baa8bc7c I am currently working on my doula certification and writting my mission statement. Part of it also includes making a reference list, midwifes, prenatal yoga classes etc...My doula certification is a jumpboard to laymidwifery. And I wanted to use some of the ladies' statements here in my missionstatement( using only initials). Do I have your permission for this? Thank you. Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:11:17 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#ea90c6e6-989f-4bd2-ae5b-0c40baa8bc7c christine 2009-04-11T21:11:17Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#bc19e0a5-0d35-4d23-81d4-1c58a5a4f6fb BellyRolls in the delivery room is impressive.... Nataj from told me doing bellyflutters saved her from having a c-section... Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:15:15 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#bc19e0a5-0d35-4d23-81d4-1c58a5a4f6fb Indigo 2009-01-25T00:15:15Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#05f76fc9-e839-42a3-928a-74edf372e62c Is there any articles / studies that have found this to be true? I hear a lot of women/bellydancers say this however with as much research as I've done on BellyDance I have never found anything to truly support this.... I do believe BellyDancing can help with much of gthe aches and pains of pregnancy, help our self esteem, encourage us to hang and talk w/ women / mothers as friends & dancers, and some if the simpler movements can be used during labor..... I have read a little bit how the movements may have been passed on to women in the MIddle East as a way to teach young girls about movements she would use on her wedding night.... And I have read a lot about how many of these movements have been traditionally passed on through women's parties over the years.... However I would love if someone has any good articles they have read about pregnancy/birth & BellyDance..... Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:14:13 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#05f76fc9-e839-42a3-928a-74edf372e62c Indigo 2009-01-25T00:14:13Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#9bbca46e-3bde-47e5-8c7e-379ed31f0304 I danced all through my pregnancy (my last performance was at 36 weeks) and found it very helpful and rewarding! I remember doing bellyrolls in the delivery room - my doctor was impressed!! :-) Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:15:36 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#9bbca46e-3bde-47e5-8c7e-379ed31f0304 Wendi 2009-01-23T21:15:36Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#012fab00-0ebd-4e5d-a745-85dfbc69bd04 Isn't bellydance supposed to be the dance of birth and pregnancy !!!!!???? Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:20:36 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#012fab00-0ebd-4e5d-a745-85dfbc69bd04 christine 2009-01-23T05:20:36Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#30ca8217-66e0-40e3-8798-b280916e3460 I agree with you about bellydance being the best exercise for pregnancy. I experienced the benefits everyone has mentioned: staying fit, no back pain, maintaining energy, strength during labour and improved recovery. I also believe that all the wrist circles and arm work prevented my hands from swelling and that chest circles/chest mobility prevented shortness of breath. And of course - feeling beautiful, graceful and enjoying my belly! I agree it was a special joy to perform while pregnant. Nowadays my daughter enjoys watching me dance around at home, and when I go off to class it provides some really grounding 'me-time'. Cheers, Mamas! Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:15:37 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#30ca8217-66e0-40e3-8798-b280916e3460 Hazina 2009-01-22T21:15:37Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#d5db15dc-00d0-4641-8db2-ba26add81bad Dancing through pregnancy felt like the most natural and best thing I could be doing for me and my baby. Lukah performed countless times with me, and the bigger i got the more amazed and grateful the audience was to see such a sight. It helped my body stay fit, normal and healthy thru the pregnancy. I thought I would dance through the labor, but as we all know, things don't always go as expected. I labored for 26 hours, 15 of them hard labor and was deep in trance...I could only sway and walk. But I had my troupemates from Luminessah with me and they danced around me throughout. I think the bellydance really helped when it came time to push...she was out in 5 pushes! (thank Goddess!!) Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:02:45 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#d5db15dc-00d0-4641-8db2-ba26add81bad Ziola 2009-01-20T19:02:45Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#b0510281-84d8-4e6d-a158-f065555aa92b I can definitely see a difference in my pregnancy, delivery, and recovery between my first (before serious study) and my second. I just found so many things more comfortable and easy to handle the second time around! Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:50:08 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#b0510281-84d8-4e6d-a158-f065555aa92b Trisha 2009-01-20T13:50:08Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#65a2d5c5-d8b5-4abe-87c0-d7b44ab58818 Bellydance was a great help during my pregnancy. I felt wonderful, kept my agility and I enjoyed "dancing" with my daughter. When I danced I danced with her and for her. I didn't experience back pain and I was very active. I didn't feel heavy or bloated. It also helped me to keep a good posture, and also helped me ease labor pains. I did a lot of shimmies and figure eights during labor pains. And it also contributed to my recovery after giving birth. BellyDance also helped me to feel proud of being a mom and a very "belly" dancer. Now my little girl is three year old and she is active and likes to dance. Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:35:20 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#65a2d5c5-d8b5-4abe-87c0-d7b44ab58818 Ana 2009-01-04T04:35:20Z http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#6a409802-41c0-4252-bf89-71caf358634c I was practicing today and realized how truly happy i am simply to move and move my womanly body. I took a Great Workshop yesterday and was truly happy to see my girlfriends I even talked with another momma we talked kid / labor talk and what not but it gave us something to talk about and I smiled more at the hostess's little girl whom stared at my big belly quite often...... I have always been one whom needs to move in order to stay on the happy side of life and healthy of course. I truly believe movement while pregnant has helped keep my body runnin in as 'regular' a fashion as possible. Yoga has taught me how to breath while pregnant. Simply put I appreciate my womanly body while bellydancing and I am happier when I can dance....o.k... Your turn I would love to read all about bellydance an pregnancy for all of you! Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:54:52 GMT http://bellydancingmamas.tribe.net/thread/e3719877-aaae-42ae-bd82-b7a5ea820dab#6a409802-41c0-4252-bf89-71caf358634c Indigo 2008-12-09T05:54:52Z