My name is Helen and I joined Jo’s West Hallam class in November 2007. I was really pleased when a class started up locally - to me as it was something I’d wanted to do for a while. It was a good opportunity to meet some new people and try something different, plus get some exercise.

After a few weeks I found out I was expecting my third baby. I had a quiet word with Jo and she was happy for me to keep attending classes - my midwife thought it was a great idea too.

I carried on dancing right through my pregnancy and I think it was really good for me. Getting some exercise is a good thing anyway, but I didn’t get so much back pain this time round. Although some nights I really had to drag myself off that sofa, (especially towards the end of the pregnancy, when I felt huge and tired and it was hot) I always felt good when I got home from class.

Belly dancing when you’re pregnant is good fun. For me it’s the one time when I don’t feel self-conscious about having a big belly, because that’s how it’s meant to be. I even dared to bare my tum and dance at the Hafla. I didn’t find that it affected my movement too much, although learning to camel was interesting and shimmying for a whole song was a challenge! Jo always kept an eye on me when we were trying some thing new and assured me I’d have a good tum after. My midwives also commented on how good my stomach muscles were through my pregnancy.

Jo suggested that some moves might be good during labour, however after plenty of gas and air, figure of eights and cameling didn’t really spring to mind. But, 6 weeks after my new boy arrived, I was back dancing again and I’m enjoying learning our next choreography.