Dare devil act: As a heavy pregnant woman 'Michelle Arvin' is involve in an acrobatic display

Michelle Arvin has been a professional trapeze artist for decades. So when she got pregnant last fall, she decided not to let it hold her back.

The 39-year-old from Queens, New York, says that even though she cut down on the more strenuous parts of her aerial acrobatic routine, as well as anything that requires a harness, she kept on training right up until she hit 39 weeks.

And she has the photos to prove it; in awe-inspiring images shot last month by Rachael Shane, the performer dangles upside-down from the feet of two other women, her baby bump jutting out from beneath her sports bra.

In another photo, the mother-to-be, whose due date was on July 26, shows off her flexibility while swinging on a metal ring, her purple hair dangling freely down.

Ms Arvin is part of the La Cage Trio, a trapeze troupe that practices stunts at Circus Warehouse in Long Island City. She also gives lessons there - and she continued to do so until just last week.

'I mostly focused on condition, strength exercises, staying in shape,' she told the New York Daily News, explaining that the pictures were for a maternity shoot.

'We did [them] because I wanted maternity pictures that weren't your standard maternity pictures,' she said.

Ms Arvin, who has a degree in visual art and decades of dance and theater training, said it just wouldn't have felt right to give up her passion for nine months.

'I figured that the longer I could continue training, the happier I would be and the healthier I was going to keep myself,' she said.

And doctors agree that as long as she is careful, her approach is not dangerous. 

New York-based obstetrician said that he regularly tells athletes like Ms Arvin  to modify their performance so that it doesn't harm the baby, but to keep training if they so please.

The only activities he warns against are marathon running and scuba diving, which pose serious threats to the mother and child.

When she sought the advice of her midwives, they said they felt the same.

Friends who viewed the photos on Facebook were amazed, but not surprised, that she had achieved such a feat.

'That baby is already practicing. This photo is amazing!' wrote one person.

'This is really just astounding,' said another.

'Your ab muscles have to have split down the middle to make room for that baby but they are still strong enough for this. It is really amazing!'

Circus Warehouse owner Suzi Winson, who referred to the performer as 'the sexiest looking pregnant woman ever', said she expects nothing less from her.

'Just business as usual for her as she houses her new acrobatic progeny,' she joked.

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