I used to have so many fears about pregnancy that I had to work through, and fortunately was able to experience an amazing positive natural birth at a hospital with my first baby. I did a lot to prepare for labor that time, and now that I'm 40 weeks pregnant with my second, I figured I'd share some of the positive birth affirmations for labor I've written myself, birth affirmations for dads, and the hypnobirthing affirmations I've listened to on repeat to help you prepare for your labor!
I also shared some tips at the beginning of this post for writing your own birth mantras, including what to avoid with birth affirmations.
What are birth affirmations?
Birth affirmations are short, simple statements that you repeat over and over to yourself.
The idea is that everything is energy. Where focus goes, energy flows. So when you proclaim a certain statement over and over through birth mantras, you call it into your life.
It's similar to how professional athletes talk about envisioning their win, talking about it as if it happened, claiming it.
What to avoid with birth affirmations:
Rigidity
In creating your own birth affirmations, it's important to find a balance between supportive statements and statements that could hold stress if things change.
For instance, I'm planning a homebirth with my second, but I had to do a lot of emotional and mental softening about how I would handle a transfer if necessary. So instead of the affirmation being “I'm giving birth at home,” a positive affirmation could be, “I'm delivering my baby in the exact right place at the exact right time.”
Try to avoid birth affirmations that “plan” and could leave you disappointed, feeling like a failure, or stressed if things change.
Negative focus
Another thing to avoid in choosing positive birth affirmations is creating birth mantras that put the thing you're avoiding into the statement.
For instance, instead of saying “I won't experience any pain.” Focus on a positive birth affirmation of how you will feel instead like, “Labor and delivery feel blissful and pleasurable.”
When we include the word pain, our mind focuses on that, even though we are saying “no pain.” Particularly when we enter our lower brain waves (alpha and delta), the mind becomes very literal. The subconscious mind (delta waves) doesn't really use logic, so it hears pain and thinks pain.
How To Use Birth Affirmations Before Labor:
You can repeat them to yourself daily. Writing them and rewriting them by hand can be effective. You can also use them to write your birth story, as if you've already given birth to really help you visualizing and solidifying the experience you're manifesting into your psyche.
How To Use Birth Affirmations In Labor:
I suggest choosing 2-5 positive birth affirmations that will be your anchors during labor. Your partner or birth support team knows them and can remind you of them. It's also helpful to hang some of them around the room as visual reminders.
My positive birth affirmations:
I am excited, confident, and at ease for the birth of my baby.
I am ready to meet my baby.
My labor feels blissful and pleasurable.
I smile and release all tension from my birthing body.
My labor and delivery are smooth, easy, and unassisted.
I am fully supported in each moment of birth.
I allow myself to relax into a complete trance it appears I'm sleeping.
My body breathes the baby down smoothly and easily.
My body knows exactly what to do and I follow its lead.
I easily ask for what I need.
Each breath brings me closer to my baby.
My jaw is relaxed and open.
I feel blissful with each surge.
My perineum unfolds with ease.
I am confident in my body and my baby.
I feel safe, secure, and supported throughout my entire birth.
I'm delivering my baby in the exact right place at the exact right time.
I trust my body, baby, and intuition to call my support team at the right time.
I feel in control and at peace through labor and delivery.
Labor feels gentle.
I trust whoever is meant to be at my birth, will be.
I birth my baby quickly and easily.
I smile and feel happy during labor.
Each surge (aka contraction) feels like a gentle dropping, softening, and opening.
My body opens and softens gently + blissfully with ease.
I breathe my baby down with ease.
I am calm during labor and birth, as is everything around me.
Birthing Affirmations For Dads:
Dad's need affirmations too! My husband was very disconnected from our first birth. He had gone to all the hypnobirthing classes with me, we had talked about affirmations he'd say to me while in labor, but he was actually quite unprepared (as most first time dads are) for what he'd see and the emotional journey it'd be for him. While he trusted ME to get the baby our safely and naturally, he had no idea what to do with himself.
I am safe, secure, loved and supported.
I can catch my baby.
I hold my baby safely and securely through birth and in life.
Our baby is safe, secure, loved, and supported.
I am fully present to support myself and the needs of my family.
I am already the father my baby needs.
Birth is beautiful, safe, and natural.
I am supported through labor, delivery, and fatherhood.
I know exactly what to do and when.
She is strong and safe.
I trust my intuition to do and say exactly what is needed for my family in birth and beyond.
What are the hypnobirthing affirmations?
You can get the hypnobirthing book and audios here. I HIGHLY recommend them! They do a good job of talking about the history of birth, how our bodies are designed for birthing, labor positions, and more. I've read it for both pregnancies now and feel it's helped me a lot!
I put all fear aside as I prepare for the birth of my baby
I am relaxed and happy that my baby is finally coming to me.
My mind is relaxed. My body is relaxed.
I am focused on a smooth, easy birth.
I trust my body to know what to do and to follow its lead.
I feel confident, I feel safe. I feel secure.
My body and my baby know how to work in harmony.
My muscles work in complete harmony to make birthing easier.
I feel a natural tranquility flowing through my body.
I relax as we move smoothly and easily through labor and birth.
My cervix opens and allows my baby to ease downwards.
I breathe correctly and eliminate tension.
I fully relax and turn my birthing over to nature.
I see my baby coming smoothly and easily from my womb.
I feel my body gently sway with relaxation.
My baby's birth will be easy because I am so relaxed and confident.
I turn my birthing over to my baby and my body.
I see my breath filling a magnificent balloon.
My baby gently moves through the birth path on its journey.
I am prepared to calmly meet whatever turn my birthing may take.
I deepen my relaxation as I move further into labor.
Each surge of my body brings my baby closer to me.
I release my birth over to my body and my baby.
My body remains still and limp.
I meet each surge only with my breath, my body is at ease.
I bring myself into deeper relaxation as my birthing advances.
As my labor advances, I go deeper within to my baby.
I breath up slowly with each surge of my body.
I work with my body.
My baby is correctly positioned for an easy birth.
I turn my birthing over to my baby and my body.
I see my baby descending through tissues that are pink and healthy.
My baby emerges and my blood vessels close to the appropriate degree.
I put all fear aside and welcome my baby with happiness and joy.
I eat right and take care of my body and my baby.
My baby's size is perfect for my body. We birth easily.
I am teaching myself to go into instant relaxation when I choose to.
I look forward to birthing with joy and ecstasy.
You got this!
My last birth plan I wrote: A safe, easy, healthy birthing experience where the baby's transition into this world is calm, loving, and nurturing and our bodies work together in harmony and love.
And I still hold that to be true. But this time not only will the baby's transition be calm, loving, and nurturing, but I'll feel all of that too.
Related Reads
Maternity Pajamas | What To Wear After Giving Birth In Hospital | Maternity Tights | Maternity Yoga Pants + Leggings | Best Maternity Bras + Nursing Bras | Maternity Pants
Preparing for Labor: First Time Mom Simple Birth Plan: Our Vision | How To Prepare For Labor | Positive Natural Birth Story At Hospital With First Baby | Are Placenta Pills Good For You? Why I Won’t Eat My Placenta Again
Pregnancy Through The Trimesters: Pregnancy Checklist: 21 Things To Do In The Third Trimester | Pregnancy Checklist: 15 Things To Do In The Second Trimester | How To Deal With The Second Trimester of Pregnancy Symptoms | 8 First Trimester Symptoms [+ How To Work Through Them]
Pregnancy Diet: How To Eat Healthy During Pregnancy [+ What I Eat In A Day While Pregnant] | Trouble Drinking Water During Pregnancy? 5 Tips To Stay Hydrated While Pregnant! | What I Eat In A Day While Pregnant + Chasing A Toddler
17 Old Wives Tales Baby Predictions: Gender Reveal! | Surprise! Pregnancy Announcement To My Husband | Winter Pregnancy Announcement Photos: Baby Number 2
