Last weekend, I had the opportunity to reflect on the birth experience, that amazing and sometime’s shocking event that begins our journey into motherhood. I was invited to a friend’s birth blessing party – think baby shower but for the mother. It was a lovely way to shower the mother with love and strength as she prepares to welcome her baby into the world. We were asked to bring birth affirmations or prayers and as I searched for affirmations, I was inspired to write a few of my own.
Just as the sun delivers life and light to the world with it’s warmth and energy, so will you deliver life today.
I find nature inspiring and what could connect us more to the natural world than birth? The power of words and thoughts (or lack there of) can really help direct labor. A birthing mother is full of energy, warmth and love which lights up her world and the world of her unborn child. I’ve never drawn the connection between a birthing woman and the sun before but what a powerful way to imagine and align yourself during birth. To be radiant like the sun as you bring forth life into the world. Focusing on the strength, love, warmth and light emanating from your body could really help refocus your energy away from the pain of labor and more towards it’s joy.
I trust my body to birth my baby. We are both healthy and strong. We will dance together until one becomes two.
I found the first two affirmations and combined them, both powerful reminders when it seems American culture encourages women to doubt their bodies and fear for the worst during pregnancy and childbirth. Bringing trust, confidence and optimism into the birthing room is a must. I added the last sentence because I love the image of birth as a dance. Naturally laboring women are encouraged to dance and sway and circle their hips to help the baby make the journey from the womb into the world. The literal and figurative power of labor and delivery as a dance promotes connection between mother and child as their bodies work together.
Even past the point of birth, these affirmations can be powerful meditations on motherhood. Mother with the endless energy, light and warmth of the sun. Something we probably all live up to even when we feel exhausted and crabby at the end of the day. Perhaps the more exhausted we are, the more light we’ve poured out onto our children and partners and jobs. Trust yourself as a mother, believe that you and your children are healthy and strong and savor the unique and beautiful dance of the relationship between mother and child. If we focus our energy on these powerful positive words, our lives will reflect that. Just as in birth, our thoughts (or lack there of) can direct the journey.
