Is belly dancing in pregnancy safe and beneficial? The views of two expert panels

Abstract

This article describes a study of the impact of belly dancing on women’s experience of pregnancy, labour and birth. In order to identify the core movements of belly dancing suitable for pregnant women, an expert panel of belly dance teachers was convened. Next, based on the teachers’ consensus, a video demonstrating the core movements was produced. Finally, a second expert panel was convened, comprising midwives and childbirth educators, who were asked to comment on the video from their professional standpoints. The panel considered that the movements demonstrated were safe and would help with pregnancy ailments such as back-ache, pelvic discomfort, constipation, sleeplessness and anxiety and that belly dancing would assist pregnant women’s mental health, positive self-image and confidence in their bodies to give birth. The relational aspect of belly dancing in terms of building a sisterhood of women making the transition to motherhood was also noted.