Dancing for Two

When it comes to dancing during pregnancy, there’s often a ton of mixed opinions. My opinion, like most you know is – don’t stop. It's not hurting your pregnancy. If anything, you're celebrating it and taking control of your image. That's not negligence, but a revolutionary act of claiming your fitness, your body, and your passion. 

I mean, honestly, there’s so little you can control when you’re pregnant (including your mood swings) that at least you can feel like you’re doing your best to stay healthy and happy. 

I am sitting at 34 weeks today and my hips are numb from rolling side to side trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. My feet have swollen to the point where I can’t wear any of my shoes except my house slippers. My lungs are compressed thanks to my growing uterus pushing against it, and I can’t take 5 steps without running out of breath. And oh! Don’t even get me started on morning sickness and midnight cramps. I hear of these women who have had these sublime, serene pregnancies, and envy grows deep in my chest – or maybe that is heartburn from last night’s dinner still (I’m not sure!). 

It is such a hard burden to bear, when you feel trapped in your own house or job and must limit all of your activities because you are not sure when the next wave of nausea will strike. So, the least you can do for yourself is anything that’ll keep you happy.

The one thing that has kept me sane for the last 34 weeks is - *Dance*. It brings immense happiness to me. I’m blessed to be surrounded by a very loving and encouraging community who understands the positive effects that dance has had on my pregnancy and they couldn’t have been more supportive. However, every now and then I come across a few people who like to pass their judgement and troll me for “not being responsible” or for “potentially harming my baby”. I’m writing today to break all the myths surrounding ‘dancing through pregnancy’.

Dancing (or staying physically active) is great, in fact, recommended during pregnancy. Researchers say that it has multiple benefits including (but not limited to):

• eases common pregnancy-related problems like backache, posture issues and constipation
• increase the supply of oxygen in you and your child 
• help you handle the strain of giving birth
• strengthen your cardiovascular system, making you feel fitter and more resilient
• prevent blood clots and varicose veins
• improve the quality of your sleep
• reduce your risk of gestational diabetes

For me, the main benefit of dancing through pregnancy is – I’d be lost without it. I like to believe that I haven’t had any mood swings so far (you should ignore my husband if he tries to tell you otherwise), and I credit that to dancing. Those estrogen that are being released while dancing, certainly seem to be working for me. And if I'm happy, the world around me is happy and that makes this a happy pregnancy.

Otherwise, how would you explain this – with my swollen ankles and weight unevenly distributed, scratching an itch at ankle level is a feat of flexibility. However, as soon as the music goes on, my mobility is restored, and doing knee drops is no biggy. I forget about the constant joint aches and nausea is far from my mind.

Gone are those days when pregnancy was often treated as a condition that should be greeted with as little activity as possible. Dancing through pregnancy is not a taboo anymore. As long as you have a clear chit from you doctor, you shouldn't fear to slid into a pair of stilettos and twerk away the medicalized bias that views active pregnant bodies as unorthodox. Okay, maybe I went too far! Fitting into stilettos is going to be at least an hour-long hustle in itself. But you get my point! 

Growing a baby is such an amazing thing our bodies do, but I don’t see it as a time to sit back, relax and eat. In fact, the whole – ‘eating for two’ theory is a myth! But that’s a topic for another day. Studies have shown that staying fit during pregnancy can help you have a more comfortable pregnancy. And who wouldn’t want that right? Certainly not the people who’re trolling you. You should ignore the ignorant minds and do what makes you happy. Thankfully the strong community at https://fittamamma.com/ understands the need to stay fit during pregnancy and have the most comfortable clothes that feels custom made for you, giving that perfect support to your bump. Also, they're super cute! Do check out their collection. 

Here are a series of my videos on 'dancing through pregnancy':

#8weekspregnant

#15weekspregnant

#27weekspregnant

#30weekspregnant

#32weekspregnant

#35weekspregnant

#36weekspregnant

Many people believe that dancing with a baby bump must be very different. But honestly, if you are dancing already, the growth of your belly is so slow (remind me to tell you how I feel like I’ve been pregnant for a year) that it doesn’t feel very different. Just keep it up! Your body will tell you when something is becoming too much, so always listen.

#healthymommieshealthybabies