Bellydancing for an easier birth?

[justlookatthatbooty]

I've heard from numerous sources that bellydancing helps with an easier natural birth, that the origins of bellydancing were infact for pregnant and birthing women. Has anyone had any experience? I'm 30 weeks thinking of taking some private sessions....
Thanks!

i have never heard of thsi but do it. it will be great fun and i would love to hear your belly dancing birthing story.

A MW friend of mine from Zimbabwe told me that they often tell mums to rotate their hips several times a day in order to make sure baby's head engages well and to ensure correct presentation. So, belly dancing would make sense from that point of view!

Prolly because it tones your core muscles.

I suspect you'll have needed to be doing it for longer than 10 weeks to make a dramatic difference, but I can't see any harm in giving it a go.

In pregnancy yoga we do a lot of hip circling, it helps the baby into the optimal position and also helps ease pain in the back. Lots of the videos I've seen of natural birth show the women doing a lot of swaying and hip circling to encourage the baby downwards - maybe there is something in it?

I suppose its not much difference than getting a birthing ball and rotating your hips while sitting on that.

Why not do belly dancing. I think you can make a difference in less than ten weeks. My birthing ball made a difference in six weeks.

My bellydancing teacher has the smoothest tummy I have ever seen (also has three children) & swears the dancing makes the skin supple & the muscles stronger. And it's great fun!