Dancing While Pregnant?

[pygmalion]

Last week, I got into a conversation with a dance coach who mentioned a student of his, seven months pregnant, who was working on dance routines with her husband. I was shocked, because I'd never seen any visibly pregnant woman dancing. I assumed pregnant women don't dance, especially in the third trimester, because of balance issues. What has any of you seen? Do pregnant women dance? Or was this woman I'm talking about the exception that proves the rule? Hmm? :?: Inquiring minds want to know.

[SDsalsaguy]

I know of several salseras here who have been dancing well into their third trimester. I think they are a little more careful about who they agree to dance with, their turning radius is a little larger (as you'd assume), and their endurance goes down a little -- all more then understandable if you ask me -- but they're still out there on the floor!

[will35]

Dancing is great exercise for pregnant women. My wife and I danced until about two weeks before the birth of the baby, and in a week or two after the birth, we were dancing again.

[pygmalion]

That's cool, will35. :D How old is the baby?

Just out of curiosity, did your wife take any special precautions when she was pregnant and dancing? Flat shoes? Fewer spins and turns? Slower music tempos? Or did she just go for business as usual? :D

[will35]

Well, it was strange, we danced a lot of shag then. It was summer. We took it easy, but it was fun.

[pygmalion]

Cool. 8) So it can be done. The woman (and partner) just have to be careful and accomodate the little one on the way. That's touching, and wonderful. You're a lucky guy, will. :D

[will35]

Yeah, I'm lucky, and she lets me know it every now and then.

[Danish Guy]

The Danish Champions 2003 cheated a little, because they where 3 on the floor :wink:

Yuliette (pregnant) & Ricky made a fabulous performance.

http://www.aarhussalsa.dk/album/photos/DM_i_salsa_13_september_2003/fullImages/dm21.jpg

Time will tell if she is able to go for the Nordic title as well.

[Sarah]

I have one friend who was dancing two hours before she went into labour. Full term pregnancy - no problems.

Cheers
Sarah

[Swing Kitten]

I remember the first time I saw a notably pregnant woman dancing... it was a wonderful sight! GO YOU!!!

[smoothdancingirl]

Do pregnant women dance? Or was this woman I'm talking about the exception that proves the rule? Hmm? :?: Inquiring minds want to know.

Hey I love this question. I've had three children. And with all three I danced and taught right up until the day I had the baby. It is great exercise and my doctor says I'm one of the most fit mother's he's ever seen! I was also able to do a show just three weeks after having the baby. The hardest part of it all was finding a gown to wear!! Can anyone say WE NEED MATERNITY BALLROOM WEAR!!!! :D

[Sagitta]

I too have seen pregnant women out on the dance floor...

[MissAlyssa]

We have a few pregnant students at our studio. I assume it's good for the pregnancy. I've never had kids but I've heard they are urged to walk a lot to get ready for the baby...dancing is close to walking right..?? :?

[pygmalion]

Yeah, MissAlyssa.

The execise is good for you. My concern was balance, because your center of balance moves. But apparently, pregnant dancers have been working around that issue. Hmm. Women are the coolest. 8) :D

[surrealgyrl]

yea my dance teacher was pregnant for 4 years(baby after baby) and she taught everything...excecpt right before recital time but other than that she did everything

[pygmalion]

The other thing I've noticed, at least on the social scene, is that very few people with young children dance at all. Older kids, yes. Grown kids, yes. But young kids, for the most part, no. The pros seem to be different, though. I guess they're just working moms and dads like anybody else. *shrug*

[DancingMommy]

I found the thread!!! YAY!

Ok, let me add my $.02...

My OB was all for me dancing as much/as often as I felt I *could*.

Since I'm on preg #2 (and counting down the days), I'll post my experiences this way: #1, #2.

With #1, we danced up until I was a month away from my due date. Actually it was more like 3 weeks, but who was counting? Certainly not me :lol: The only time I didn't dance was in the early months when I was really sick and lost 20 lbs. I looked so good. :evil: Too bad it all came back.

The main thing that got me early on was PIVOTS - UGH! It wasn't that my center of gravity was shifted, but I would get majorly nauseous from turning and the room would start to spin. Equilibrium problem. ;-)

As the pregnancy progressed, I didn't feel very comfortable hopping up and down (Quickstep was a no no). It stemmed more from the fact that the baby would revolt and start punching/kicking me because I was shaking her up too much. Nothing like a grumpy baby that gets woken up too soon - especially on the inside.

So if I stuck to Waltz, Tango, FT I was OK. VW was a no no too because of the equilibrium problem which turns out is a very early indicator of pregnancy for me (found that out this time).

At 7 months or so, I was still climbing ladders and building staging/flying to the bahamas for a modeling show, etc. I was INVINCIBLE!!!! :lol:

Now fast forward to #2... I started to suspect I was pregnant when I couldn't dance pivots anymore... I would sit in on lessons for the first month or so, but I rarely could participate. I was having the most horrific reflux/nausea (I eventually was medicated for this) and couldn't have danced if I wanted to. I was actually down for about 3 months flat on my back from being so ill. Had to quit working, etc.

My stamina notably decreased with this pregnancy and I started showing WAY much earlier (around 8 weeks). The invincible just found out how every pregnancy can differ D'oH! :roll:

Now, I'm in major withdrawal and would love to go out dancing, but everything is so sore all the time :-( I am not sure how long I could hold out.

As far as turning, degree of spin, etc. I think it depends a lot upon who you dance with and how well they know you. My husband bless his heart has a hard time not doing multiple spins. He forgets sometimes, even thought I end up looking like a weeble. It's kind of comical really. And he should know better. My general rule is to only dance with him when hugely pregnant (most guys get intimidated anyways) or with my coach who is used to it by now.

Funny story, when I was pregnant with #1, sometimes she would kick my coach if we closed up our frame too much. It was quite an experience for both of us. He's got 2 daughters though so he's used to it... :P

[Sagitta]

I've seen pregnant women dance. I think it's cool that they keep at what they love!! :) However, most drop out during their third trimester... :( I've only noticed one lady who stayed on until almost the end and she was a salsera!

[Vince A]

The other thing I've noticed, at least on the social scene, is that very few people with young children dance at all. Older kids, yes. Grown kids, yes. But young kids, for the most part, no. The pros seem to be different, though. I guess they're just working moms and dads like anybody else. *shrug*
We're not pros, but we've taken our youngest with us to most events. Now that he is 12 and a brown belt in martial arts, we don't even have to watch him anymore . . . he watches us! He has always loved to watch us dance, and he has a great time when he goes to the events. He is part of the family.

[DancingMommy]

we don't even have to watch him anymore . . . he watches us! He has always loved to watch us dance, and he has a great time when he goes to the events. He is part of the family.

I wish we could do that with ours, but at 18 months, I couldn't just plop her on a chair and expect her to sit there, lol. She used to go with us when she was an infant (slept through most of it in her carrier), but no longer. Until she is old enough to hang out (say 3 or 4) she won't be going. Fortunately my mom lives 6 blocks away and has been able to watch her most of the time.

[d nice]

Jenny Thomas, a world class lindy hopper was dancing right up until her pregnancy. I don't mean that slow music stuff that some people like to groove to and call lindy hop, I mean authentic big band music that cooks. Still one of the best followers out there, and she was a little slip of a thing before she was pregnant, with the belly she was "huge" compared to her normal self.

[DancingMommy]

It all really depends on what you are used to doing. I coudn't do much hopping because it made me ill to have the baby going one way while I was going another. Being a human gyorscope can be a little daunting at times.

[pygmalion]

You go, girl! You and Annabella are representing for dancing mommies and babies everywhere. :D

[DancingMommy]

Funny story about Gabriella in utero. People would ask em "what are you having".... I'd say "a break dancer" because she NEVER quit moving...

With Anabella, I think I'm having a Standard Dancer, because she only hops around *part* of the time. :lol:

Actually, Gabriella hasn't quit moving. She came out of the womb in high gear and kept right on going. I'm hoping her little sister is a little more "low key" :)

[pygmalion]

Ha! There's a whole organization develoted to this idea. Should've known.
http://www.dancingthrupregnancy.com/

[ShyDancer]

My sister danced right up till she had her daughter, well a few days before anyway..we took our monday night class and social dance, then she had Annabelle on the saturday. Even though she had to have an emergency c- section she only missed 2 classes :lol: :lol: :lol
Our teacher was mighty suprised to see her back so soon, he even announce to the whole class that "this lady had a baby 2 weeks ago" hehehe!

She didnt have any trouble turning and she did wear her latin shoes the whole time..no problems there.

[pygmalion]

That's cool, and inspirational. 8) Not that I plan on any emergency C-sections anytime soon. LOL.