Birth Affirmations

There is nothing easy about bringing a person into this world.

A few people have asked me about "how" I was able to have a natural delivery. Today I am sharing my notes that I collected while pregnant. This is just one of the ways that we were able to have a successful natural birth.
I wrote down the things that were most important to me on index cards and assembled the cards into a small book. My original intention was to make this book to give to my husband as a resource to use during labor. I wanted him to read through my collection outloud to me when I needed support/affirmation. I read through this book MANY times in preparation for birth day. It became familiar to me and familiar things are a HUGE comfort to me during a time of need.

Scripture for fear:
1 Timothy 2:15, Psalm 37:4, Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 34:4, James 4:7, 2 Timothy 1:7,

Scripture for strength:
Isaiah 40:31,

Scripture for waiting:
Isaiah 40:31,

Scripture for the mind:
2 Corinthians 10:5

Armor of God:
James 1:12, Ephesians 6: 10-13

Scripture for Anxiety:
Philippians 4:6

Prayer for a contraction:
Father God, thank you for this contraction, for it will bring me one step closer to holding my baby. Body, in the name of Jesus Christ, remain as relaxed as possible. I give myself permission to open up and let my baby out Lord. Guard my heart and my mind from the darts of the enemy, and keep me holy. Lord, enlarge the territory of my flesh and allow my baby to come out with the least amount of pain possible. Let the labor be quick, Lord, but not too quick that it would hurt my child. Let all things happen in your perfect timing and according to your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In the name of Jesus Christ, who I love and serve, I ask that my body would remain calm & completely relaxed. I pray for a quick birth but not too quick to hurt my baby. I ask for You and Your perfect timing, Lord. I give my body permission to open up and stretch to let my baby out in Your perfect timing. Amen.

Prayer for Pain:
Body, I speak to you to be at peace, relax, rest. Muscles, nerves, be at peace. I rest in faith in God’s word and thank you Father, for total and complete peace in confidence, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer- Belt of Truth:
We have learned all that we can about the pros and cons of all the decisions that we have to make. We ask that for your perfect will, Lord. Help us to be discerning and wise in all of these areas, and Holy Spirit, impart truth in all areas of this birth. Amen.

Prayer- Breastplate of Righteousness:
We will not act in a way that is unbecoming or rude. We will be a great witness for our Lord, Jesus Christ. Bring others to us, Lord that will need to see you through us. Help us to have a gentle and quiet spirit, yet firm and confident in birth. Amen.

Meditations:
• Meditate on things that are true and beautiful. Turn negative thoughts into prayers for others.
• Pray for your baby’s salvation
• After the next negative thought pray for your baby’s future spouse and their salvation
• Teach Satan that each time that he attacks you with negative/fearful thoughts; it will generate prayer of salvation for someone else.
• Pray over your birth, how you want it to go-perfectly, just as God’s perfect will is. Get excited about what God is going to do!

Helpful Positions:
• anything upright- the weight of the baby’s head to shift and place pressure on the cervix. It helps the cervix to dilate faster. If you are in bed, lift the head of the bed so that you are in a semi-sitting position.
• Birth ball- a nice way to remain upright while still being able to sit. Practice hip rotations in this position. Helpful if having back labor. The semi-squat position helps open the pelvis so that the bay can turn in the correct position.
• Slow dancing- arms dangling loose without needing to hold on. Rotate hips in a circle or a figure 8 during a contraction. Have your partner remind you to move in this way. It will help the baby get into position.

Body Control:
Birth partners keep watch for signs of tension in your face, hands, shoulders, back, jaw, & bottom. The goal is to try & keep as many muscles relaxed as possible during a contraction. Remain upright as much as possible. Keep arms loose.

Transition:
• Breathe in for the count of 2-3
• Hold on long enough to grab any tension and let it go
• Exhale for the count of 4
• Hold for 1 count before repeating
• Slow controlled breathing is key but hard to do during transition
• AVOID HYPERVENTILATION!

Early and Active Labor:
• Get into a comfortable position
• Rest your hands on stomach
• Take a slow deep breath in for the count of 4, making your hands rise
• Hold breath for count of 2
• Feel the toxins and tension releasing from your lungs and into your exhaled breath
• Very slowly breathe out for the count of 8-10
• Hold for 1-2 counts
• Every time you breath in say “In with the Lord”
• Every time you breathe out say “Out with tension”

C.A.L.M
• C – Christ/ Christ above all else/ Jesus Christ the Comforter and the One who takes away our fear
• A - Attitude/ say “I’ve made it this far”/ no bad thoughts just prayerful thoughts/each contraction brings me closer/enter a sleeplike state of mind
• L - Lungs/slow, deep abdominal breathing/ slow down that racing heart
• M – Muscles/keep tension out of muscles during a contraction/ the automatic response to a building contraction is resistance. Letting every muscle loosen at the onset of a contraction takes practice discipline, and determination.

Fear is not of the Lord!

It was helpful to have all of these little notes written down so that I could easily read over them. The best thing would be to memorize it but it was even more effective and powerful that Phil was reading these aloud to me and I was affirming them. I can't explain in words how powerful this was and it connected my husband and I and God on a more intimate level.

I hope that this testimony can be an encouragement to others.

Even after the birth I still reference my little book when I need a Word.