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Can Dancing During Pregnancy Help Reduce the Risk of Gestational Diabetes?

benefits of dance gestational diabetes healthy pregnancy prenatal exercise stephanie larson Jan 02, 2023
Midwife smiling at pregnant woman at a health check up

by Stephanie Larson  

When you’re pregnant you naturally pay extra attention to your health and well-being, because you’re staying healthy for two now. This is a great time to start or continue a healthy lifestyle. Gestational diabetes is a common complication of pregnancy, affecting approximately 2% to 10% of pregnancies in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The good news is, you can be proactive to help prevent it. 

Dancing is a fun and engaging form of physical activity that has numerous health benefits. There are several ways in which dancing helps prevent gestational diabetes. One of the most important is by helping you maintain a healthy weight. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can lead to developing gestational diabetes. Dancing burns calories, which can prevent excess weight gain. It also builds muscle, which can increase metabolism and further aid in weight management.

Dancing also has the ability to improve insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is a common cause of gestational diabetes, and by improving insulin sensitivity, pregnant women and pregnant individuals can reduce their risk of developing the condition. Dancing has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes, and it is believed that the same benefits may also apply to pregnant women. According to a 2019 study, “Dancing is indicated for the management of diabetes to improve psychosocial parameters, motor control, insulin sensitivity, vascular health, and the efficiency of immune function.”

Another benefit of dancing is that it reduces stress and improves mental health, both of which can have a positive impact on gestational diabetes. Pregnancy can be a stressful time for many people, and high levels of stress can have negative effects on you and your baby. Dancing improves mood and overall mental well-being. By managing stress and maintaining good mental health during your pregnancy you can reduce your risk of developing gestational diabetes.

The social benefits of dancing should not be overlooked. Many pregnant people feel isolated or lonely, and dancing can provide a sense of community and social support. By joining a dance class, such as Dancing For Birth class, you can connect with others who are also pregnant, and this social support can be an important factor in your healthy pregnancy.

Can dancing during pregnancy help reduce the risk of gestational diabetes? Yes, for all of these reasons, incorporating dancing into your life is a great way to reduce your risk of developing gestational diabetes and enjoy a healthier pregnancy. Dance on!

Sources:

"Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period." American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, April 2020, https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2020/04/physical-activity-and-exercise-during-pregnancy-and-the-postpartum-period

"Gestational Diabetes." Mayo Clinic (N.D.) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355339

"Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes." American Diabetes Association, https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/39/11/2065/37249/Physical-Activity-Exercise-and-Diabetes-A-Position

OuYang H, Chen B, Abdulrahman AM, Li L, Wu N. “Associations between Gestational Diabetes and Anxiety or Depression: A Systematic Review.” J Diabetes Res. 2021 Jul 27;2021:9959779. doi: 10.1155/2021/9959779. PMID: 34368368; PMCID: PMC8337159. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8337159/

Borges L, Passos MEP, Silva MBB, Santos VC, Momesso CM, Pithon-Curi TC, Gorjão R, Gray SR, Lima KCA, de Freitas PB, Hatanaka E. “Dance Training Improves Cytokine Secretion and Viability of Neutrophils in Diabetic Patients.” Mediators Inflamm. 2019 Nov 20;2019:2924818. doi: 10.1155/2019/2924818. PMID: 31827375; PMCID: PMC6886327. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6886327/#B6

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Stephanie Larson is a leading world expert on vertical birth and supporting birth through movement and instinct. She is the Founder and CEO of Dancing For Birth™. She calls for an end to forced lithotomy position, and for a worldwide shift to primal, powerful, euphoric birth.

Evidence-Based
Childbirth Method

Dancing For Birth™ is an evidence-based, effective childbirth method based on our principles of movement, gravity and instinct. It has a twenty+ year history of efficacy. It decreases labor pain, increases birth satisfaction, and improves outcomes.

Professional Training & Certification

Dancing For Birth™ is an approved continuing-education training and advanced certification for birth and wellness professionals to learn our Dancing For Birth™ childbirth method and get licensed to teach our prenatal/postnatal class. 


Prenatal &
Postpartum Class

Dancing For Birth™ is a world-renowned weekly parent class, for preconception through postpartum, taught by certified instructors on six continents. It's a powerful fusion of Prenatal & Postnatal Fitness, Childbirth Education, and Celebration. 

 
What's Dancing For Birth?
  • An evidence-based childbirth method based on our principles of movement, gravity, and instinct.
  • An approved continuing education professional training and advanced certification for birth and wellness professionals 
  • A world-renowned weekly parent class for preconception through postpartum taught by certified instructors on six continents. It's a fun and effective fusion of Prenatal Fitness, Childbirth Education, and Celebration.
     

 

Dancing For Birth™ content is for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In an emergency immediately call your midwife, doctor, or paramedics. Dancing For Birth, LLC, its members, officers, representatives, agents, authors, employees, volunteers, assigns or any third parties who contribute to the content or who are mentioned in the content are not responsible for errors or omissions, or for how you use the information. Use of this information is solely at your own risk. 

 

Stephanie Larson is a leading world expert on vertical birth and supporting birth through movement and instinct. She is the Founder and CEO of Dancing For Birth™. She calls for an end to forced lithotomy position, and for a worldwide shift to primal, powerful, euphoric birth.
 
What's Dancing For Birth?
  • An evidence-based childbirth method based on our principles of movement, gravity, and instinct.
  • An approved continuing education professional training and advanced certification for birth and wellness professionals 
  • A world-renowned weekly parent class for preconception through postpartum taught by certified instructors on six continents. It's a fun and effective fusion of Prenatal Fitness, Childbirth Education, and Celebration.
     

 

Dancing For Birth™ content is for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In an emergency immediately call your midwife, doctor, or paramedics. Dancing For Birth, LLC, its members, officers, representatives, agents, authors, employees, volunteers, assigns or any third parties who contribute to the content or who are mentioned in the content are not responsible for errors or omissions, or for how you use the information. Use of this information is solely at your own risk. 

 

Stephanie Larson is a leading world expert on vertical birth and supporting birth through movement and instinct. She is the Founder and CEO of Dancing For Birth™. She calls for an end to forced lithotomy position, and for a worldwide shift to primal, powerful, euphoric birth.

Evidence-Based
Childbirth Method

Dancing For Birth™ is an evidence-based, effective childbirth method based on our principles of movement, gravity and instinct. It has a twenty+ year history of efficacy. It decreases labor pain, increases birth satisfaction, and improves outcomes.

Professional Training & Certification

Dancing For Birth™ is an approved continuing-education training and advanced certification for birth and wellness professionals to learn our Dancing For Birth™ childbirth method and get licensed to teach our prenatal/postnatal class. 


Prenatal &
Postpartum Class

Dancing For Birth™ is a world-renowned weekly parent class, for preconception through postpartum, taught by certified instructors on six continents. It's a powerful fusion of Prenatal & Postnatal Fitness, Childbirth Education, and Celebration. 

 
What's Dancing For Birth?
  • An evidence-based childbirth method based on our principles of movement, gravity, and instinct.
  • An approved continuing education professional training and advanced certification for birth and wellness professionals 
  • A world-renowned weekly parent class for preconception through postpartum taught by certified instructors on six continents. It's a fun and effective fusion of Prenatal Fitness, Childbirth Education, and Celebration.
     

 

Dancing For Birth™ content is for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In an emergency immediately call your midwife, doctor, or paramedics. Dancing For Birth, LLC, its members, officers, representatives, agents, authors, employees, volunteers, assigns or any third parties who contribute to the content or who are mentioned in the content are not responsible for errors or omissions, or for how you use the information. Use of this information is solely at your own risk.