My dear friend, Corynn, of Corynn Templet Birth Services, and I have collaborated today to share a month’s worth of encouraging birth affirmations!
During my pregnancy with Jemma I didn’t really know much about birth affirmations and focused much more on educating myself on the physical side of what was happening to my and my baby’s body. But, during my pregnancy with Max I focused much more on the emotional aspects of pregnancy and birth. Mostly through the Hypnobabies study. That’s where birth affirmations come in. They’re emotional preparation for a very important day.
They say birth is like a marathon, and although there is no running involved, there is a very emotional element to the physical journey. In most cases, your body will know exactly what to do during birth. It goes into auto-pilot managing contractions and preparing for baby’s grand entrance. After months of growing a baby, it shouldn’t be a surprise that our bodies know how to complete the process. But just as much as mama’s body knows what to do, her mindset can heavily contribute to the progress of birth. If she is fearful, scared or perhaps, doesn’t feel safe and supported, labor will often be lengthened. A long labor can contribute to a cascade of interventions and if that is something you’re trying to avoid you can see how important the mental game of labor is.
Hence, birth affirmations. Seemingly simple, but they truly make a positive impact. So … gather, memorize or write and post a handful of your favorites in preparation for your birth. Here are 31 to get you started. I’ve highlighted my favorites and if you’d like, you can take a peek at the affirmations I reflected on in preparation for Max’s birth.
Photo by LCS Photography
- My body knows how to have this baby just as my body knew how to grow this baby.
- Birth is a safe and wonderful experience.
- My body is healthy. My baby is healthy. My body and my baby work in perfect harmony.
- I will breathe in slowly and deeply, filling myself with gentleness and relaxation, and blow away any tension and fear.
- I feel the strong waves of labor and know that everything is normal and progressing.
- Courage, faith and patience.
- My body has a wide open space for my baby to descend. There is nothing in the way.
- I love my baby and I am doing all that is necessary to bring about a healthy birth.
- Each contraction produces a healthy, positive pain that I can handle.
- My baby will be born healthy and at the perfect time.
- I am strong, confident assured, assertive and very feminine.
- I accept this labor as my labor and believe it is the right one for me and for my baby.
- I am now willing to experience all my feelings.
- Good strong contractions help my baby come into the world.
- “Imagine what might happen if women emerged from their labor beds with a renewed sense of the strength and power of their bodies, and of their capacity for ecstasy through giving birth.” -Dr. Christiane Northrup
- “There is a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong.” -Laura Stavoe Harm
- “Birth matters. It brings us into being, on many levels.” – Ananda Lowe
- “Now all you can do is wait. It must be hard for you, but there is a right time for everything. Like the ebb and flow of tides. No one can do anything to change them. When it is time to wait, you must wait.” -Haruki Murakami/ The Wind Up Bird Chronicle
- “Childbirth is an experience in a woman’s life that holds the power to transform her forever. Passing through these powerful gates – in her own way – remembering all the generations of women who walk with her… She is never alone.” -Suzanne Arms
- My pelvis releases and opens as have those of countless women before me.
- I am a powerful, loving and creative being.
- The day my baby is born will be filled with happiness and joy.
- “The wisdom and compassion a woman can intuitively experience in childbirth can make her a source of healing and understanding for other women. -Stephen Gaskin
- “There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we.” Ina May Gaskin
- All I need to do is relax and breathe – nothing else.
- “Attending births is like growing roses. You have to marvel at the ones that just open up and bloom at the first kiss of the sun but you wouldn’t dream of pulling open the petals of the tightly closed buds and forcing them to blossom to your timeline.” Gloria Lemay
- “Muscles send messages to each other. Clenched fists, a tight mouth, a furrowed brow, all send signals to the birth-passage muscles, the very ones that need to be loosened. Opening up to relax these upper-body parts relaxes the lower ones.” -William and Martha Sears
- Relaxation, is the key to dilation.
- “When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, FAITH is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly” -Patrick Overton
- “Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers – strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.” -Barbara Katz Rothman
- My body opens, my mind quiets, my baby descends.
- I deserve this wonderful birth.
What is your favorite birth affirmation? Please share in the comments!
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“Attending births is like growing roses. You have to marvel at the ones that just open up and bloom at the first kiss of the sun but you wouldn’t dream of pulling open the petals of the tightly closed buds and forcing them to blossom to your timeline.” Gloria Lemay
This could not have better timing for me!!!!
I had you in mind!
I love the birth affirmation you listed – such a good one!
"Attending births is like growing roses. You have to marvel at the ones that just open up and bloom at the first kiss of the sun but you wouldn’t dream of pulling open the petals of the tightly closed buds and forcing them to blossom to your timeline." Gloria LemayThis could not have better timing for me!!!!
I had you in mind!I love the birth affirmation you listed – such a good one!
These are so beautiful! I hope to print a bunch of them and have them at my birth. Thank you for sharing them!
As the birth of my baby grows closer, I realize that I have no fear. It almost scares me, am I so ignorant of birth pains that I am stupidly brave? I think I draw strength from all the beautiful Mamas out there who have birthed once and choose to birth again, who view birth as a strengthening, affirming process. I love my baby so much, I have waited so long for this, and all I want is to bring baby closer to me, into my arms. Whatever it takes, I accept it.
Please visit me at: http://oursesameseed.blogspot.com/
You have such a beautiful perspective! You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers as your birth draws near :)
These are so beautiful! I hope to print a bunch of them and have them at my birth. Thank you for sharing them! As the birth of my baby grows closer, I realize that I have no fear. It almost scares me, am I so ignorant of birth pains that I am stupidly brave? I think I draw strength from all the beautiful Mamas out there who have birthed once and choose to birth again, who view birth as a strengthening, affirming process. I love my baby so much, I have waited so long for this, and all I want is to bring baby closer to me, into my arms. Whatever it takes, I accept it. Please visit me at: http://oursesameseed.blogspot.com/
You have such a beautiful perspective! You'll be in my thoughts and prayers as your birth draws near :)
I love 'Los nacemientos' by Pablo Neruda. Not much of an affirmation, but such a beautiful poem about birth.
I think it was super important to write these around the house in the 3rd trimester to begin internalizing the messages! My 3 were:
– My body was made to do this!
– The strength of each contraction brings Reese closer to me
– Reese and I are a team, we are strong.
Love those! And loved reading your and Reese’s birth story :)
Love those! And loved reading your and Reese's birth story :)
Today’s affirmation: My baby will be born healthy and at the perfect time.
Today's affirmation: My baby will be born healthy and at the perfect time.
“There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we.” Ina May Gaskin. I love this and it is so true!!!
Enjoyed reading the blog above, really explains everything in detail, the blog is very interesting and effective. Thank you and good luck for the upcoming blogs.
https://blog.mindvalley.com/positive-affirmations/