Local Moms Turn To Belly Dancing To Enhance Pregnancy, Birth Experience

There are several theories about the origins of belly dancing. One is that it evolved from traditional birthing practices.

It's a practice some local moms are putting to the test.

"It helps you relax, it helps you let go of some of your fears, and that aspect's also really nice especially for someone who's having their first baby for the first time," said Liza Lara, who is expecting her first baby.

Because of her love of dancing, the 33-year-old is also trying belly dancing classes designed for prenatal or postpartum moms.

Dancing For Birth is a weekly class offered at the Maryland Heights Center. The classes incorporate elements of Latin, African and belly dance, all tailored for pregnant moms or those caring for infants.

38-year-old Stephanie Baird belly danced through both of her pregnancies, and into the post-partum period. She remembers being nervous during her first pregnancy.

"For my first one I was really worried about the outcome, I kind of debated there's only one way this is coming out," Baird said.

She found support and increased her fitness level at Dancing For Birth.

"Not only dancing," said Baird, "but talking about it makes you feel more confident in what you're doing and it takes a lot of the fear away."

Pregnant moms should ask their doctors before starting any new activity. But Dancing for Birth founder Stephanie Larson says the movements are as safe and beneficial as any other form of exercise.

"Sometimes women come because they've had a birth experience that they didn't enjoy," explained Larson, "and they're looking for ways to improve upon that the next time. But sometimes people come just for the fitness element and what they walk away with is increased trust in their bodies and in the birth process."

Larson is a certified doula, someone who accompanies women in labor for emotional, physical and informational support. She's also a child birth educator with a background in dance.

"It's really been embraced," said Larson. "The women in the community have been really hungry for knowledge about how to give better births, how to enjoy their pregnancies more, and just how to have fun."

Larson believes it made her deliveries easier. She is the mother of four children under nine.

"You don't have to plan a natural birth to want to explore dancing, you can have a planned C-section or know that you want to have an epidural," said Larson.

Many moms admit to feeling shy at first. But most find themselves and their babies dancing with abandon.

"I felt like I wasn't really showing," said Lara, "and then there are these women I'm dancing next to who are obviously pregnant. So I was a little self conscious but I got over that pretty quickly."