In the Belly of the Goddess: Belly Dance
for Pregnancy and Birth
By Cathy Moore, CNM
I began belly dancing the same year that I finished my nurse-midwifery
training program. At the time, I had no idea that there was
an association between this dance form and birth. I guess
you could call it a bit of synchronicity that a midwife would
find herself pointed in the direction of studying an ancient
dance form whose origins are rooted in childbirth preparation
and ritual.
I was studying belly dance with a group of women, whose mission
was to explore the deep feminine power and spiritual connection
inherent in this dance form, and to share their discoveries
with other women. My belly dance teachers informed me that
there was a link between belly dance and birth. This assertion
made intuitive sense to me, but it wasn’t until about
a year later that I had a personal epiphany regarding this
claim.
Belly Dance and Birth
There have been a number of women, most belly dancers themselves,
who have made the correlation between this dance and childbirth.
Most often cited, is Morocco, a NYC dancer and scholar, who
in a series of articles written in the 1970’s related
her personal experiences of being awakened to this connection,
and of her experience of attending a traditional birth ritual
in the Middle East which confirmed for her that belly dance
is indeed a birth dance. Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi, in her book
Grandmother’s Secrets, describes birth customs still
practiced in contemporary times in Arab countries which include
the laboring woman being surrounded by her female friends
and family who belly dance with her to support the labor process.
Barbara Brandt, the founding mother of The Goddess Dancing?,
was one of the first in the Boston area to talk and write
about the belly dance and birth connection. She collaborated
with area birth professionals to present a series of workshops
exploring the link between belly dance and childbirth. And
Delilah, a dancer from Seattle, has written about her personal
experiences as a pregnant belly dancer, and also produced
a beautiful video featuring herself dancing in the third trimester
of her pregnancy as she embodies Isis, the Great Mother.
My personal realizations
I had my first personal understanding of the connection of
belly dance to birth when I was learning to shimmy. The shimmy
is a quick vibration-like movement of the hips, chest, and
full body. I had struggled with the shimmy for a while, as
many students do, and when I finally “got it”,
and could feel the wonderful looseness and relaxation of the
muscles of the pelvic floor, I knew instantly that this move
was intended to move a baby down the birth canal.
As a midwife, I have the great privilege to observe human
labor and birth on a regular basis. Any of you who have had
the opportunity to witness a birth know that this is one of
the most amazing displays of female creative power that you
will ever see…The forces at work are nothing less than
awesome. In my observations of laboring woman, I began to
see for myself that the movements used in belly dance actually
mimic many of the physical and emotional manifestations of
labor in a woman’s body.
In the early phases of the first stage of labor, the mood
is one of excitement, anticipation and welcoming of the onset
of labor. Many women, if left to their own instincts, choose
upright positions and naturally move their hips and pelvis
in circles and crescents. Rhythmic movement is understood
by midwives as evidence that the laboring woman is coping
well with the labor progression. These movements help to disperse
the pain, and are often prescribed by midwives especially
when the woman is experiencing back pain. Many midwives believe
that moving the hips also facilitates the baby finding the
optimal position for entering the birth canal.
As the labor progresses to the active phase, and contractions
become stronger, the woman goes deeper into herself. An emotional
turning inward which resembles the mood of the chiftitelli,
the slower movements of a typical 5-part belly dance routine,
is observed here. Floorwork, dancing on the floor, is often
employed during the chiftitelli, and illustrates many of the
positions women assume when actually giving birth. In ancient
birthing traditions, a shallow depression would have been
dug into the earth to receive the baby, and the birthing woman
would lower herself to the floor and position herself in such
a way as to gently release the baby into this hollow.
Most women, as they enter the phase of labor known as transition
– a time that is considered to be the most intense of
the entire labor, will often display an uncontrollable trembling
in their limbs and entire body. A natural shimmy, brought
on by the labor itself!
Another amazing observation for me, when I really saw it
with my belly dancers eyes, is the way the woman’s abdomen
begins to spontaneously undulate with the uncontainable urge
to bear down that signals the beginning of the second stage
of labor. Undulations are the slow, snakelike belly dance
movements of the arms, abdomen and torso. I have seen this
phenomenon even in women who opt for epidural analgesia. She
may no longer feel the urge to push because of the numbing
effect of the epidural, but her body knows that it is time
for pushing!
Belly Dance as a prenatal exercise
Some of the same women mentioned earlier who have written
about the belly dance and birth connection, have also suggested
that belly dance may have been the very first childbirth preparation
exercise. Morocco, in her research into prepared childbirth
classes such as Lamaze, found the exercises taught are similar
to, and in some cases exactly the same moves taught in belly
dance classes. Barbara Brandt, in her collaborations with
birth professionals, also explored the usefulness of belly
dance as a childbirth preparation exercise.
The basic posture for belly dance, with the knees slightly
bent, the pelvis tucked under, and the heart lifted, is excellent
for counteracting many of the common discomforts associated
with the physical changes to her body which a woman experiences
during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester as she
approaches her due date.
The hip and torso movements provide exercise to all the muscles
of the abdomen and the muscles of the pelvic floor involved
in birthing in terms of both strengthening and improving flexibility.
Belly dance benefits for pregnancy
From my personal observations the potential benefits of belly
dancing for a pregnant woman are many, and I will list some
of them here:
More and more, research is showing that regular exercise
in pregnancy benefits both the mother and her baby. Regular
exercisers can expect to have overall shorter labors and less
need for interventions such as C-section. Studies show placental
blood flow is increased with moderate exercise. This means
the growing baby gets more oxygen and nutrients delivered
to it throughout its intra-uterine life.
Unlike many forms of fitness where the emphasis is on muscular
contraction, belly dance balances muscular contraction with
expansion or muscular lengthening, similar to yoga. This results
in both increased strength and flexibility. In our culture,
many of the forms of physical fitness in which we participate,
emphasize only muscular contraction – for example “rock
hard abs” or “buns of steel”. For birthing,
a woman needs muscles that are not only strong, but that are
also flexible enough to expand and lengthen in order move
the labor along, and to facilitate the birth.
Also, like yoga, and Tai Chi, and other forms of exercise
which emphasize the mind body and spirit connection, belly
dance improves body awareness helping the woman to be in tune
with her changing body and her growing baby. These are essential
elements for a pregnant woman whether she desires an un-medicated
birth experience, or plans to make full use of current modern
pain management techniques such as epidural analgesia.
Healthy body image is another benefit for women who belly
dance. So many women, whether pregnant or not, have experienced
a wonderful acceptance and appreciation of their bodies, as
they learn the movements of belly dance which are essentially
natural to the female body. Any woman who lives in our modern
culture, and especially pregnant women who often hide under
tent-like clothing, can benefit from the “my body is
great!” affirming messages inherent in belly dance.
Because, at its ancient roots, belly dance tells the story
of woman’s life-giving power, it is a natural for pregnant
woman who are at the peak of their creative power. Through
belly dance, a woman celebrates her fertility, sensuality
and abundance and affirms the fullness of her being.
Pam England, a nurse midwife and author of the book Birthing
from Within, which I recommend that all pregnant women and
birth professionals read, talks extensively about the importance
of active, creative self-expression to the birth process.
She and I both agree that belly dance is one of the many
avenues for this creative self-expression that is essential
for the pregnant woman in achieving her goals of self-discovery
and
“birthing-in-awareness” (England and Horowitz,
1998). Giving birth is a rite of passage, and belly dance
is one powerful tool a woman can use to re-claim pregnancy
and birth.
In summary
Belly dance is an ancient dance form rooted in childbirth
that offers many benefits for contemporary women seeking to
re-claim their power during this significant rite of passage.
About the author
Cathy Moore is a certified nurse midwife in practice at Brigham
and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. She has over 17
years experience in women’s healthcare, and is a member
of The Goddess Dancing? belly dance troupe. For a full list
of references and to contact the author visit her website
www.thegoddessdancing.com
