Can a rigorous dance routine induce labour? This fitness star tried it and here’s what happened

Pregnant women are often advised to stay active. But while some might choose to exercise or do yoga, fitness star Emily Skye chose dancing to induce labour on her due date.

There’s only one thing that pregnant women (who are close to their due date) think about — labour. We’ve heard and read so many labour stories, but the fact that each one is so different can make even the most confident woman nervous. Adding to the misery is the wait for labour to begin.

Pregnant women are often advised to stay active through the days leading up to their due date. Fitness star Emily Skye chose dancing to induce labour on her due date. Recently, she posted a video on her Instagram page with the caption: “Another attempt at getting baby out! I call this the Bikini Baby Belly Boogie.” 

Perhaps the dance workout helped as Skye posted a photo of her holding her newborn Mia the very next day.

So, can dancing induce labour?

In medical terms, induction of labour includes use of medicines and drugs to stimulate uterine contractions in order to have a vaginal birth. Doctors recommend staying active closer to the due date in order to naturally induce labour. According to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Perinatal Education, the most commonly reported labour trigger in the study (of 663 women) was physical activity (usually walking). Other triggers included sexual activity, ingesting a substance or food, emotional triggers, or maternal illness. Though dancing was not a part of the study, it gives us insights into how physical activity can help get things moving (literally).

And if these internet-savvy mums (and their doctors) are to be believed, there are many examples of women who have successfully induced labour with physical activity such as dancing. Meet Dr Fernando Guedes Da Cunha whose Instagram page has videos of him dancing with his pregnant patients.

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