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Advance for Nurses
Vol. 5 •Issue 14
• Page 14 .
In the Spotlight.
The Art
of Birth:
A Boston nurse midwife reconnects
patients with the ancient roots of belly dancing
By Sandy
Keefe, MSN, RN
Cathy Moore, MS, BSN, RN, FNP, CNM, a nurse midwife for the Brigham and Women's Midwifery Group of Brigham and
Women's Hospital in Boston, is also an accomplished belly dancer. She is
intrigued by the age-old relationship between belly dancing and the birth
process.
"The movements used in belly dance
actually mimic many of the physical and emotional manifestations of labor in a
woman's body. The belly dance was, and still is, part of the birth ritual in
some countries of the Middle East," she explained.
"The women attending the laboring
woman dance around her to provide instruction in how to give birth."
An Epiphany
Moore earned her BSN in 1980 and
worked as a staff nurse for 15 years before going back to school to become a
midwife. Twelve of those years were spent in labor and delivery, where Moore
continued to be fascinated by the birth process.
"Those of us who have the
opportunity to witness birth know it is one of the most amazing displays of
female creative power a person will ever see. ... The forces at work are nothing
less than awesome."
As Moore completed her midwifery
training, she started studying the ancient art of belly dancing with a group
called The Goddess Dancing, whose mission is to explore the deep feminine power
and spiritual connection inherent in belly dancing.
"At this time, I had no idea that
there was an association between this dance form and birth," she recalled. "I
guess you could call it a bit of synchronicity that a midwife would find herself
pointed in the direction of studying an ancient dance form whose origins are
rooted in childbirth preparation and ritual."
As Moore struggled to master some
of the more complex movements involved in belly dancing, She discerned parallels
between the dance and the birth process. "As a labor and delivery nurse and then
a nurse midwife, I've observed many women in labor. When I was learning to belly
dance, I realized the similarities between belly dancing and the birth process.
"I had my first personal
understanding of the connection of belly dance to birth when I was learning to
shimmy," she said. "The shimmy is a quick vibration-type movement that is done
with the hips, chest, belly, and entire body. ... When I finally 'got it,' I
could feel the wonderful looseness and relaxation of the muscles of the pelvic
floor. ... I knew instantly that this move was intended to move a baby down the
birth canal."
Preparation for Birth
Moore and a partner will soon
begin teaching a series of belly dance classes to expectant mothers at
Destination Maternity in Natick, MA.
Belly dancing is a form of
prenatal exercise that's different from the tightening exercises common in
American culture, she said. "Women's muscles need both strength and flexibility
during the labor and birthing process; the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles
need to lengthen, relax and open in order for the baby to pass out of the uterus
and out through the vagina. Belly dancing exercises those deep muscles of the
pelvic floor, along with the muscles of the abdomen."
In addition to preparing the
muscles for the labor and delivery process, belly dancing increases the woman's
body awareness, helping her to stay attuned to the changes in her body
throughout pregnancy and to her growing baby. Belly dancing promotes a healthy
body image for all women, pregnant or not, affirming the message, "My body is
great!"
Moore views belly dancing as an
important tool women can use to empower themselves while embracing birth as a
normal, natural life experience. It can be used during labor to facilitate the
birth process, either as part of a natural, non-medicated birth or in the early
stages of labor prior to using epidural anesthesia.
Gifts of the Goddess
Moore and her colleagues at The
Goddess Dancing are dedicated to sharing their discoveries with other women.
"We believe that the dance form
originates from matriarchal times, when people believed that God was a woman and
that women had a God-given purpose," she said. "The belly dance in particular
was a form of worship of The Goddess. While today many think in terms of a
generic 'Goddess,' back then The Goddess was known by a different name in each
country — Isis in Egypt, Inanna in Sumeria, Kali in India. One of the most
common aspects of The Goddess from many, many countries and cultures is Her
facet as a life-giver, as a mother.
"Dance celebrates the life-giving
powers of The Goddess," Moore continued. "Because at its ancient roots, belly
dance tells the story of women's life-giving power, it is a natural for pregnant
women who are at the peak of their creative power.
"Through belly dance, a woman
celebrates her fertility, sensuality and abundance, and affirms the fullness of
her being."
Sandy Keefe is a nurse,
freelance writer and regular contributor to
ADVANCE.
This Article
used with permission.
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