The belly babies!

BABIES and belly dancing -- it's a combination that might not seem obvious, but for three Lancashire mums-to-be it's the perfect pairing.

For when three enthusiasts of the Middle Eastern dance form became pregnant, they thought belly dancing would be the perfect way to help them through their pregnancies and even usher in the births of their children.

And so enthusiastic are Sarah Garrish, Bev Lynn and Alison Blackburn -- who attend a weekly dance session run by teacher Anne Kingston in Longridge -- they've even recruited a belly dancing midwife to help them -- fellow class member Bridget Jakubowsta.

So how exactly does belly dancing help with giving birth? According to the experts, it has both physical and emotional benefits -- good news for 33-year-old Sarah, from Hesketh Bank, who's expecting her first child this week.

"It's a low-impact exercise which works your muscles and makes you more flexible," said Sarah, who's been attending the classes for five years.

"It's also a good way to learn how to relax -- particularly during practice contractions!"

Sarah's classmate Alison, 31, from Longridge, is expecting her first child in eight weeks and is keen for anything to ease the trauma of giving birth.

"I've heard it's quite painful!" laughed Alison. "So anything that will help the pain, whether it's a belly dancing or something else, I'll try it."

Of course, dancing around in a two-piece costume and veil might not be every mum-to-be's cup of tea and Alison admitted some of the moves had proved taxing.

"There's a sort of snakey move we do called the camel that my body doesn't like that any more," she said.

"But doctors do recommend continuing with gentle exercise during pregnancy and the classes are very interesting. I think my husband finds it all a bit strange, but I think it's great -- all girls together."

Indeed, the friendships forged within the class have become all the closer since the three women announced their pregnancies.

Alison's fellow class member, Bev, 31, from Darwen, said: "It was a bit of a shock to find three of us from the same belly dancing class had become pregnant. We thought it must be something in the water."

Bev is already a mother-of-two, but her two sons were born before she took up belly dancing, four years ago.

This time around she'll be using Arabic music and belly dancing moves to ease the birth of her third child.

"I won't actually be belly dancing in the birth, but I'll certainly be doing some of the movements," said Bev, whose baby is due in four weeks.

"When you dance, it's as if you're rocking the baby and sometimes you can feel it moving when you are."

Bev will also be recruiting belly dancing midwife Bridget Jakubowsta for the delivery at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

Bridget, who joined the belly dancing class four years ago, said: "There are certain movements you do in belly dancing which I've used with several women in labour. It can really, really relieve the pain."

She pointed out that in African and Arabic tribal cultures, where belly dancing originated, women dance around the woman in labour, doing birth-like belly dancing movements to encourage her.

"I will be dancing myself to encourage Bev," she said. "Some of the movements -- hip circles and figure of eights -- are all very natural when you're giving birth."