The Power of Birth Affirmations: How to create a better birth with your words

Original Photo by Sophia Cook

The power of words is known on an instinctual level and has been taught by many wise teachers.  Despite this knowledge we unconsciously begin to align ourselves with them, even if they are negative. Words carry a weight of their own and they can be used to lift someone up or tear them down, the same is true for the words you use about yourself and your birth.

A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing.
She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination, prepared to be herself and only herself.
~ Maya Angelou

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. ~ Buddha

'Tis a strange mystery, the power of words!
Life is in them, and death. A word can send
The crimson colour hurrying to the cheek.
Hurrying with many meanings; or can turn
The current cold and deadly to the heart.
Anger and fear are in them; grief and joy
Are on their sound; yet slight, impalpable:—
A word is but a breath of passing air

~ Letitia Elizabeth Landon

        Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. ~ Proverbs 16:24 ESV


Choose to surround yourself with words, poems, and songs that lift your heart and fill you with joy when you visualize your birth. 

The Rose

My cervix is like a rosebud
Ready to Open
I am nurtured by those around me as the rose is nurtured by the soil
The rosebud gradually, ever so softly, opens and blossoms.
I open and blossom.
My cervix is soft and ripe like a rosebud.
I see the outer petals of the rose falling away
I see my cervix yielding like the outer petals of the rose.
Every contraction opens another petal of my rosebud cervix.
I welcome each contraction, which helps me open my rosebud cervix.
I welcome and receive all the nurturing around me, which helps me open.
Just like the warm sun opens the rose, the warmth I receive opens my cervix.

I yield and open.
The rose does not resist.
I open and blossom.

~ Barbara Harper“Gentle Birth Choices”

Making a list of positive birth affirmations is a technique used in Hypnobirthing and has become more common practice in women wanting to create a positive birth experience.  Birth affirmations should be short, positive, and based in the present.  Write them on pretty paper and hang them around your house or paint them into a picture to hang in your birthing space.  One mother that I was doulaing for made a book of birth affirmations using a ring of index cards that she read during her birth.  A banner is another creative way to display your birth affirmations, they can be hand made by you or bought from various crafters.  Some women include this in their blessing-way or baby shower and ask each guest to make an affirmation to add to their banner. 

This is a list of Birth Affirmations to choose from or take a few minutes to sit down in a quiet space and let them come to you. When creating your list remember that your birth journey is unique and will unfold on its own. Trust your intuition, love yourself and enjoy your birth, you were created to do this!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My body was created to birth

I am relaxed and open to each sensation

Each contraction is a wave, I let it wash through me and then I release it

I can do this, I am doing this

Birth is a safe and wonderful experience

I am aware and in control of my breathing

I am grounded, I am strong

I allow the rhythm of birth to flow through me

My body and baby know what to do, I surrender fully and completely

I am doing this exactly right

The pain is my power.  It opens me up like a flower in bloom, making room for my baby's entry into the world

My pelvis releases and opens as have those of countless women before me

I accept myself completely here and now

I now feel inner peace and serenity

I accept this labor as my labor and believe it is the right one for me and for my baby

I love and accept my body completely

I accept all my feelings as part of myself     

I feel the love of others around me

My baby knows all is well

The strength of my contractions are a sign of my feminine strength

Preparing for Peace - Ways to Create A Sacred Birth Space

Humans are naturally intuitive beings, we can walk into a room or situation and automatically feel the vibes and emotional content. Women are particularly sensitive in this aspect, that is why it is crucial to prepare yourself and your environment for the birth of your child.
The last couple of weeks of your pregnancy are the most tasking. The anticipation of meeting your baby coupled with the feelings of being overloaded and obtuse can be unbearable. It is during these final weeks that you should channel your energy into preparing for your labor. This means more than just packing a hospital bag! It is time to start visualizing your labor and the atmosphere that you would like to create in order to have a smooth and peaceful journey.

Start With The Basics
You do not have to be in any particular place to create a sacred space for your birth journey! Make what ever situation you are in suited to your needs regardless of the location.

Make a Playlist!
Music is a great way to stay calm and centered during your contractions. It offers a distraction away from your body and allows your mind to fixate on the pulsing beat. Have your Doula or partner set up the speakers or have earphones ready. Relaxing music such as chants or yoga/spa soundtracks will help you release tension from your hardworking muscles.

Dim The Lights
Florescent lighting is unnatural and can inhibit your ability to relax. Soften the light and maybe light a candle or two. Remember that your labor does not have to be a clinical experience! Low light will help ease you into feeling one with your body, creating peace.



Time is an Illusion
One thing that helped me the most during my labor was removing all of the clocks. When you are in labor for hours you are tempted to look at the clock constantly. This creates anxiety. Remember that your baby and your body have things under control and labor is not on a schedule. If you are not able to remove the clocks from the wall simply hang a poster or paper over them. I printed out a photo of a lotus flower blooming, looking at the blooming flower reminded me of how I am too opening up to give life.

The VIP List
Knowing ahead of time who you want present in the room while you are laboring is very important. Having a mother-in-law who is not supportive or a creepy uncle walking in and out will throw you off balance. Hang a sign on the door asking that all visitors to kindly wait outside.

Aromatherapy
Did you know that certain smells can directly effect how you feel & your emotional well being? Using an oil diffuser in the room where you are laboring can radically alter your state of mind.

"Lavender Essential Oil-Lavender is a very versatile essential oil you can use all throughout your labor to promote relaxation and ease muscle tension. It's great to use in massage during labor or fantastic in the diffuser for birth!
Frankincense Essential Oil-Frankincense is an amazing essential oil for labor. Use it to calm your emotions by inhaling the aroma. You can rub frankincense on your lower back or tummy to ease labor discomfort. Also, if you tear “down there” you can apply frankincense directly to the area to help with discomfort and to aid the skin in recovering more quickly.
Rose Essential Oil-Rose essential oil for labor is relaxing and helps soften ligaments. Your ligaments have to soften up to allow your pelvis to expand for baby to pass through. You can put a few drops in a bath or use it with a massage for the lower back or abdomen.

Jasmine Essential Oil-Jasmine evokes feelings of joy, peace, and self-confidence. It can soothe discomfort and contribute to normal labor. Use with massage on lower back or abdomen."                                                                                

 -Stephanie Mitchell, Aromatherapist

Note- Essential Oils should be used with caution. They can be very potent. Read more about EO here: https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/essential-oil-safety

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Inner Peace is the Ultimate Power

Lastly, the most important thing of all is having inner peace. This peace is created by spending time mentally preparing for your labor. Think about it everyday, meditate and visualize yourself birthing the baby you have spent 9 months growing. Make a birth plan!!! Sit down and write out a birth plan. This is so beneficial to you and to your care providers. When you are in labor and your body is taking over your mind, you can not think clearly. This is the most vulnerable time for a woman. Knowing & sharing your birth plan with those around you will help you have a successful birth because everyone will be familiar with your personal needs. Don't know how to write a birth plan? Follow this template! http://www.thebump.com/a/tool-birth-plan

It Gets REAL, real fast

Just remember that the reality of giving birth is messy & unpredictable. You will undoubtedly be uncomfortable. Prepare ahead of time on how you choose to manage your pain. A great way to do this is by trusting your body. Birth is a rite of passage, the sensations you feel are natural and are spiritual. I suggest printing your Birth Affirmations asap to become familiar with them so they will be second nature when you go into labor. 

May you have a safe & peaceful journey!

-Hope