...Pretty sure you share that sentiment with about every other female in the U.S., so you're not alone. But, take heart! There's really very little reason to be! Today I want to share with you something very personal that I hope will be encouraging.
I'll start by saying that in the old days, a girl would have learned everything she knew about birth from firsthand experience. She would have witnessed her mother or sister or aunt or cousin giving birth. She probably would have seen farm animals giving birth to their babies. Today, we've removed ourselves from all of this. Few things irritate me more than how the media has portrayed labor in movies and TV...and basically ruined childbirth for us. I promise you it is not like how they show it on TV! (Well, at least not for most of the moms I've heard from). If that's the only videos you ever watch of a woman giving birth, then of course you will be terrified! It's not all screaming and flailing around on your back. Watch some REAL videos of women giving birth. And there are things you can do to try to make it an empowering, spiritual experience.
I have been meaning to do this for some time, but I realized some of my friends are due to have their babies very soon and might benefit from this, so I have to stop procrastinating. Below, I have scanned and posted the little documents that I created during my pregnancy with my daughter. I meditated on them daily through the last few months of that pregnancy. I had learned about the "sphincter law" and began to think up ways to allay my fears so that I could have a better chance at the birth experience I hoped for. I prayed, read books, talked to friends, and scoured the internet: every time I came across encouraging words and images, I collected them.
These are my personal words of encouragement and images that I needed to meditate on each day to psych myself up to give birth. I included images of things from the happy moments in my life, my husband, my son, a blooming flower, and art by Amy Swagman (among others). There are scriptures and song lyrics. This is one small part of what made me feel totally at peace about the whole process (you can read about the rest here). I encourage future mommies to make a list of everything you're afraid of about giving birth, and to pray about those things. Then, you can make your very own collection of encouraging words to meditate on throughout your pregnancy.
(I have transcribed everything at the bottom of this post for you)
To everything a season
A time for every purpose under Heaven...
...A time to be born
- Ecclesiastes 3.1
I prayed for this child and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD. - 1Samuel 1:27 & 28
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour; for if they fall, one will lift up his companion. ...again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm...Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. A threefold cord cannot be broken. Ecclesiastes 4.9-12
...you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. - Isaiah 58.11
Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." - Matthew 11.28-30
...perfect love drives out fear... 1John 4.18
Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Fix your gaze directly before you.
- Proverbs 4.25
...And the Lord God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And the man became a living person....And the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him..." "At last!" Adam exclaimed. "She is part of my own flesh and bone!"....This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife and the two are united into one."
Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble. - Psalm 119.165
And Eve said, "With the Lord's help, I have brought forth a man!" - Genesis 4.1
Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of Grace, that way we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4.16
But when we ask, we must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by the wind. - James 1.6
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen, it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. - Hebrews 11.1
They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed. I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking, I will go ahead and answer their needs. Isaiah 65.23-24
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Psalm 119.37
I tell you the Truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. - Mark 11.23-24
You will keep her in peace, perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You; because she trusts in You. - Isaiah 26.3 (modified)
for God did not give us a Spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, of love, and of self-control. - 2Timothy 1.7
Stand still and consider all the wondrous works of God. - Job 37.14
I sought the LORD and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. - Psalm 34.4
The Lord is my deliverer!
Be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead! - 1Peter 1.16
Be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion!... - Philippians 1.6
Children are a blessing from the Lord; the fruit of the womb, a reward. - Psalm 127.3
Cast all your cares upon him, for he cares for you. - 1Peter 5.7
...I will sustain you and I will rescue you. - Isaiah 46.4
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!...Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" - Luke 1.42-45
My Grace is sufficient for you. My power works best in your weakness. - 2Corinthians 12.9
I am your God; I will strengthen and help you!
I will uphold you with my righteous hand. - Isaiah 41.10
For you formed my inward parts; You covered my in my mother's womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and [that] my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, [And] skillfully wrought in the lowest parts...Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when [as yet they were] none of them. - Psalm 139.13-16
Seek his path in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. - Proverbs 3.6
No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. - Psalm 16.9
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. - Romans 8.37
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. - 2Samual 22.33
By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise [shall be] continually of you. - Psalm 71.6
The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women (God-fearing women) are not like Egyptian women, they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." - Exodus 1.19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. - 1Corinthians 6.19-20
...[Jesus said] whoever receives one such child in my name receives me... - Matthew 18.1-5
...How joyful are those who fear the Lord--all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home...That is the Lord's reward for those who fear Him. - Psalm 128.1-6
Surrender, wait Patiently on the Lord
It is well with my soul
May the hope of God fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15.13
For you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. - Revelation 4.11
...Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth. Genesis 9.1
"May I always see, Lord, in every waking hour, your majesty and grace in this delicate flower."
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further write ups thanks once again.
Stop Frustration During Pregnancy
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