Hi Everyone,
I'm currently 5 months pregnant and I was just wondering how many other teachers are currently expecting. What are your experiences so far and how do you handle teaching through the different trimesters? This is my first pregnancy and I have been teaching for 10 years. This is a difficult year for me teaching because of bad back pain and not being able to dance Full Out because of the growing belly and fatigue. However it is also an enjoyable year too. My assistants are extremely helpful and the parents are so much nicer. My students are also very cute and have many interesting things to say to me each week.
thanks.

My best friend/fellow dance teacher is 5 months, we jsut found out today she is having a boy!!! Just last week she has noticed its much harder for her to dance full out, so she is taking it easy now. Congratulations!

I'm about 8 weeks pregnant.

Right now I'm currently tired, and nauseous. I am not teaching very much this year though, so that is a PLUS! Last time with my son I was working a full-time day job plus at the studio 4 nights a week. I think I about killed myself, haha.

I'm not going to push things too hard. I know I'm going to get real lazy, real fast. LOL

I'm 3 1/2 months, almost 4 months pregnant right now, and the beginning was definitely rough. I was so fatigued at first that I wasn't sure I was going to make it through the year.

I've found myself getting really frustrated with the situation, but I'm in a unique position because I took 3 years off of dance to complete my MBA and then couldn't find a professional business position (because of the economy) so I went back to teaching dance. So not only am I now dealing with the stresses and changes of being pregnant, I am not in my best "dance shape" and took time off from dance not particularly intending to return. So long story short - I'm outta shape.

That being said, I knew I was going to go into this year with limitations - but I feel like I've had curtail what I could demonstrate moreso because of pregnancy then the time off. I can't do anything beyond a single turn because it just made me woosie in the beginning, and I feel particularly off balance at this point since I'm starting to carry some weight in the front. Also, I've had to eliminate demonstrating any type of move that uses a backbend motion (I teach jazz - so layouts, some leaps, and some ground work is out)or that puts stress on my lower back - my OB didn't want me doing them, but I kept trying to do them up until a few weeks ago and it was absolutely wrecking my back. I almost wasn't able to walk one day after teaching the night before, I knew I was going to have to lessen what I was demonstrating.

So basically, the biggest changes for me were: Not demonstrating turns like I normally would have, anything that puts stress against my lower back, doing leaps numerous times that land onto the ground, not doing the choreography as full out, and I'm not moving fast on groundwork these days either.

It's been a frustrating experience for me, as I never intended to combine these two things... but I'm working through it. It's doable. I'm just trying to stay as positive as possible, because I know I have a ways to go...

Hi Jazzdancerdi,
My lower back has been bothering me too. Like you, some nights after teaching I can barely walk and I usually teach 3-4 hours per night 3x's a week. I found that lying on a heating pad (low heat) as soon as I get home from teaching really helps my back.
Balletstar05- I was really tired and nautious in the beginning too but shortly after my 4th month my nausea went away but then the back pain started.
Good luck to everyone and thanks for posting. It's so comforting to know that other dance teachers go through the same things while being pregnant. My non-dance friends don't understand my back pain and think I'm just being a baby. So thanks.

I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant right now, and hoping to teach through the whole pregnancy if possible. Although I can't jump or leap full out anymore, I try to demonstrate the "shapes" that I want the dancers to make in the air. I have assistants for many of my classes who are able to demonstrate for me as well. I have just started to wear a brace on my back/belly for teaching and I think that will help me to avoid too much back pain as I get bigger. Good luck to you!!!

Hi Kadance,
Now I'm almost 6 months and my S.O. made an announcement that she will be taking over my classes shortly after the holiday break which saddens me. I was hoping to teach until March but I'm not sure if it will work out that way. I can't demonstrate leaps or jumps anymore either. I haven't tried a back brace yet, my back pain has subsided a little.
Good luck.

I taught last year while I was pregnant (now have a 10 month old baby girl!) right up until 10 pm the night before she was born. There were definite days of exhaustion but I think keeping active my whole pregnancy also helped me recover faster afterwards. Assistants are very helpful and even though as dance teachers we are not used to it a SIT down break is often need. I found that actually sitting on the floor (sometimes laying down to ease back pain) I got a different perspective that I don't often see...which if you perform on a raised stage that some audience members do!
I also found especially towards the end of my pregnancy that doing/demonstrating the stretching part of a class was great and helped ease pains....jumping though becomes almost impossible...at least without feeling the constant need to pee.
Remember every trimester is different and I believe as long as you stay active (without adding too much extra) your body will power through!

Thanks for posting your stories!! My husband and I are trying to get pregnant but I have been nervous about it because I want to be able to teach as much as possible because I am the studio owner. I have been wondering how everyone does it and this was very helpful!

I am currently six months pregnant (I teach and am a studio owner as well). In the beginning I was fine, but now I am finding I have to teach more from the chair. I'm not "big" at all, but I've been having back problems with this pregnancy (plus years ago I injured my sciatic nerve running to catch the train to go home).

My students have been wonderful and very overprotective. My teen jazz class threatened to quit if I didn't start sitting down more often to teach - they told me that "they got it". I thought that was so sweet.

I've had a few miscarriages in the past, so this is my first pregnancy and I'm also dealing with the age (I'm 41 my husband is 44). My husband is an instructor also (drama), so if anything gets too bad, I can always yell down the hall for him.
My students even make sure that I'm eating and bring me healthy snacks to class, as I am always hungry.

I'm currently almost 12 weeks pregnant, and also a studio owner. Some days it is difficult, and some days it's great!

I'm still dealing with the morning sickness, but my fatigue is starting to go away. I told my single employee almost immediately, and finally told my older class assistants last week, but no one else really knows yet, though it'll be out by next week. I'm lucky that my class assistants are older teenagers, and getting to the point where they can handle taking on more in the classes, and a couple can even teach on their own if need be.

And lucky me, my due date is on our recital weekend! So I find I am planning already and arranging things to be able to run without me. And getting ready to start some of my recital dances in the next couple weeks already! Luckily, my employee is a former teacher of mine, and a former studio owner, so I know I can confidently leave things in her hands. But man, I'm already stressed about next spring!

Kaydence

I was so happy to see this post!! I'm 11 weeks pregnant and just getting over all the morning sickness phases. At first I felt like complete crap but I'm starting to feel better! I did a leap the other day and got nervous because I'm not sure if I should be doing them anymore--anyone know? It's on my list of things to ask my Dr. next time.

I'm lucky because my due date is a month after recital weekend so I should be fine for the year. I was going to go without an assistant this year until I found out the news. Needless to say, I have 2 assistants now!!

dance4starz--I read somewhere you should not use a heating pad for back pains or cramps. Something about raising the body temperature too high. You might want to talk to your Doc before doing it again. Just a suggestion.

I am not currently pregnant, but have a 3.8 year old and a 9 monther, and taught with both of them. Second time round was much harder work. My advice, as much as possible look after yourself and your precious bundle. You will have to accept that you will have to change your teaching style. I am normally very active in class, and I had to pull back at times. I also very rarely sit in a class, but towards the end tended to lean on the piano or sit on a high stool for a little rest to relieve the pressure in my back and legs. Baths after a big teaching day and early to bed when possible (!?) also helped. Also if you can, strtch out a bit (safely - remember third trimester hormones make for stretchier ligaments!) a little bit of cat stretch and things like that also help. All the best with bubby.

Thanks Everyone. I knew there had to be lots of us that are currently pregnant. I am now 6 months and very excited about having only 3 more months to go but very sad to have to stop teaching after the holidays. My back doesn't hurt as much and my energy level is still high. Good luck to everyone and keep posting.

Just left the positive prgenancy test on the counter for my husband to find when he gets home....
Its our third - The test didn't surprise me , I knew I was pregnant the day I came home from work craving a hamburger with M&M's on top so badly I actually made one!

^^^congrats! That is a CRAZY craving! lol but I once knew I was pregnant because I wanted coffee SO badly (I never drank it back then) that I actually considered buying a coffee maker. That's when I knew something was up, lol!

I am 10 weeks today. I go for my 2nd appointment tomorrow morning and I hope I will get to hear the heartbeat on the doppler

milly's mommy - I just had a positive test today too! It's our second. That is amazing that you had an m&m cheeseburger lol

My business partner is due the week after our recital. I should be due the beginning of August,. Gotta love two hormonal chicks running a studio!

Wow M&M's on a hamburger that's funny. One of my weird cravings was rice krispies in milk with Chocolate syrup on top and spagetti with cream cheese on top. I knew I was definitely pregnant when I no longer liked the foods that I normally liked.

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and still teach 4 nights a week. I can't do ANYTHING due to being so big, however, I got my team choreography done early so cleaning our routine is simple and I too have a wonderful assistant. I sit most the time, and even as little as I do wonder if how I am going to even be able to walk in the last month. But, I must keep teaching, me girls count on me, and it's what I loooove.