Active birth can shorten labour time, reduce the risk of interventions and leave women with more positive memories of the birth. Dancing is a great way of staying active during labour. It’s fun, the music can help to keep you focused and gravity will be doing its job whilst you’re busy grooving away.
Hip circles are a great movement to help open up your pelvis and encourage baby to travel down the birth canal. What better motivation is there for doing hip circles than sticking on a bit of Rihanna, turning the volume up loud and dancing like nobody’s watching? Plus, dancing is always fun – even when you’re in the midst of labour.
Create the playlist to end all playlists, filled to the brim with whatever music it is that gets you twerking, booty dancing and belly popping. Channel Beyonce, unleash your inner birthing warrior and get ready to meet your baby.
If you feel self-conscious, don’t worry. You’re in labour, you can definitely force your birth partner to join you in the dancing. Hell, make him wear a tutu if it helps. Remember, it takes two to tango. And that rule applies both during conception and the birth itself. So make sure your birth partner bump and grinds along with you during the contractions.
To further convince you of the wonder of dancing during labour, here’s a collection of 7 videos featuring amazing mamas who literally dance their babies out! Don’t forget to let us know your favourite at the end of the article:
#1: The Gravity-Defying Twins
Prepare to feel like a very lazy pregnant lady when you watch this. This mama seems to defy gravity as she jumps around the room with her adorable sidekick. When she dances to the ground, there will be a moment where you breath catches as you expect her to get stuck (like you would). Instead, she dances straight back up and into some impressive leg stretches. Mama ends her awe-inspiring dance routine with the splits. Whilst 4cm dilated. With twins. Yep, you’re feeling pretty lazy right now, aren’t you?
#2: The Belly Dance
Belly dancing has been used during labour for generations. The movements of the dance are perfect for opening up the pelvis and helping the baby to travel down through the birth canal. Watch in wonder as this gifted mama performs a mind-bogglingly delicate, precise and exotic routine from inside her hospital room. Oh, and to the soundtrack of Sweet Child of Mine, of course.
#3: The Sit-Down Dance
It doesn’t have to be an all-singing all-dancing routine with high kicks and splits, you can wiggle your hips from the comfort of your birthing ball. With the encouragement of her doula, this mama bounces her way through a contraction with the help of Robin Thicke.
#4: The Deep Breath Dance Routine
Belly dancing is the move at choice at this serene looking home birth. This mama seems to be in total control of her body as she calmly exhales during a contraction without skipping a beat of her belly dance.
#5: The 9cm Shake Down
A doula and mama dance together like two friends having fun. You’d never think this mama was a whopping 9cm and so close to giving birth!
#6: The Outside-The-Box Choice
Do not be ashamed of your music choice. Your labour, your choice. If it’s the oompa loompas that do it for you, then you stick that music on loud and dance your baby out. Like this mama did…
#7: The Hydrated Dance
It’s important to stay hydrated both during labour and when doing your best Beyonce moves. This fabulous mama keeps her water bottle close as hospital staff work around her as she dances her baby out.
