No, not yet. Thanks for the heads up. I will definitely check it out.

Katy

Congrats and Ditto on what Marta said, I have a almost 3 year old and a 7 month old. I stopped at about 5-6 months with my first cause I thought I should and I had work to finish and so on and so forth. But with my 2nd, I pretty much danced up until the end. My last performance was on July 1st and my son was born September 3rd. But I kept going to rehearsals until the end of August. I found I always felt better after dancing, I just had to pace myself and slow down. No drum solos or fast shimmies. And I started dancing as soon as I could after with my son in tow. So do what works best for you, I think if you stay moving, dancing or whatever, I think will make you feel better physically and emotionally. It truly is beautiful to see a woman dancing pregnant. I think I did some of my best performing pregnant. Anyways, good luck, and enjoy, it really is a wonderful time. I occassionally miss it.

Leona

All that I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you so much to everyone that has responded to my post and shared their experiences with belly dancing and becoming a mother Goddess. The stories and advice that everyone has given has helped me immeasurably to say the least and all your kind words have all been taken to my heart.

Michelle,
I have to admit something that was sort of a coincidence with my pregnancy and your tribe group. Back in early November when I joined I was looking a photos of your last stages of pregnancy and the ones of you dancing while you were showing and I thought how remarkable you looked and what awesome energy you seemed to radiate while creating a new life inside of you. I thought to myself that I could not wait to one day dance while I was pregnant and hopefully I would half as awesome as you. Then bam......the beginning of December I found out my big news. I have to say immediately you became my role model for the "quintessential mother Goddess belly dancer" and for what I hoped my pregnancy to be.

As of right now I am approaching my 7th month and I am beginning to feel the stress of carry the little bundle. I am moving a little slower but when it some to dancing I seem to perk right up, but everything else....forget about it! Thanks for the heads up about watching out to not over-exert myself, and the fact that everything gets all stretched out and not to push my limits. I am trying to squeeze as many performances that our troupe does before my time runs out. We only do at most maybe 3 a month but I don't want to miss one ya know.

I have another question, leading up until your delivery, how did you prepare mentally and physically? Any special breathing or meditation techniques etc.? And about not getting a c-section, I totally hear you about that. It seems that doctors are c-section happy so I will definitely do all that I can to avoid it.

Well, thank you so much Michelle for sharing and any advice other advice that you can think of don't hesitate to send it my way. How is little Akasa doing? I just love his name! Many blessings to you and your family~~~**~***~*

Katy )O(