Recreational exercise decreases the chances of both premature labor and the birth of a very small baby.

Maternal exercise throughout gestation improves fetal heart health.

Upright positions and mobility during birth significantly lowered admissions to neonatal intensive care.

All aspects of growth and development after birth in babies from exercising mothers are equal to or better than those of babies from non-exercising mothers.

At five years old, children whose mothers exercised during pregnancy scored much higher on tests of general intelligence and oral language skills.

Baby is 54% less likely to become distressed during labor/birth if mother is in an upright position.

98% of Dancing For Birth class participants feel a strong bond with their baby.

98% of pregnant women had less fear of giving birth after attending Dancing For Birth class.

99% of women who were upright and mobile during birth said they would make the same choice again.

Dancing during birth increases birth satisfaction.

Dancing during birth decreases labor pain.

Birthing women had a 56% lower average cesarean rate after attending Dancing For Birth class.

Being upright during labor and birth increases the available space within the pelvis by up to 30%.

92% of new moms said their birth was easier because of Dancing For Birth class.

Being upright and mobile during birth resulted in:

• Shorter Labors (by more than an hour)

• 20% Fewer Epidurals

• 21% Fewer Episiotomies

• 23% Fewer Assisted deliveries (forceps, vacuum)

Women who use movement in labor report that it is an effective method of relieving pain.

77% of Dancing For Birth class participants had a natural birth without an epidural.  

52% of pregnant women had a euphoric birth after attending Dancing For Birth class. 

Exercise helps prevent Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), the most common medical complication of pregnancy.

Engagement in structured dance for 12 weeks decreases depression levels.

90% of Dancing For Birth class participants said it reduced their pregnancy aches and pains.

Dance promotes the release of endorphins known to decrease stress and alleviate pain.

Dance reduces muscle tension and promotes relaxation.

Dance improves communication and physical coordination.

Women who participated in a 12 month weekly dance class had no evidence of expected bone loss, and those who had osteoporosis experienced increased bone density. 

Higher social support reduces the impact of stress on pregnant women, thereby decreasing the risk of prenatal depression.