Affirmations - what did you use?

[aumismommy]

Hey mama's! Just wondering if you used any affirmations for your birth if you would share! I'm making my birth day list and want to put some on there to have with us.

[S.Elise]

These may be a bit controversial, but the ones that ended up helping me the most were:

"I don't have to like it, I just have to do it"

and

"I can do it. It is going to hurt, but I can do it."


I am sure other's have more inspirational ones, but the realism of these (in the context of my personal experience of birth) really helped.

Good luck!

[kcparker]

This birth brought to you by the letter O (and the number 10?)

This sounds like I stole it from Sesame Street, but I used the letter O.
O, a big round letter. So nice to visualize when you have a contraction. It's what you want your cervix to look like - round and open.
O is for Open.
O is OOOOOOOOOO, the sound of the universe bringing itself into existence.
Say O, and you can't have a clenched jaw or tight throat, and we all know about the Spincter Law - open mouth, open bottom.

[laughymama]

[47chromosomes]

Love it! The letter O.

[billikengirl]

Honestly? I kept telling myself (and had my friend who had unmedicated births in and out of the hospital tell me too) that soooo many people do this more than once on purpose, it can't be that bad.

[bluebirdiemama]

For me it really helped to think about my body opening up. The pp about "O", great stuff. Let your body oooopen up, open your mouth and let audibly express yourself. Use your vocal chords, not to scream, but in a low, deep "O". Rock your hips back and forth and envision your body opening, and your precious baby sliding out.
Hearing about my progress from those around me really helped me through too. To know the baby was getting closer and closer. Almost there. Almost in my arms. Just a few more pushes. "It's the last thing you have to do before you hold your baby in your arms."

[RubyOrganique]

I compiled a list of affirmations from this board and had it within reach of my birth pool. Not only did it remind me of those that were just right for that moment, but reminded me of all the other women who stood with me in spirit as I and my babe made our way.

[witchypants]

subbing!

[thebeljur]

Something that helps me during labor and birth is connecting with the baby. Focusing that we're laboring together. I always say with each contraction, "That's good, baby." Reminding myself that he or she is doing her work at getting down the birth canal and finding his/her way out. Saying something along the lines that the baby and I are working together in labor.

[femalephish]

In early labor I said/thought "open" and sometimes just silently let my jaw drop open. Later I had to switch to "I AM doing this" it was sortof my answer to the "I can't do this!" panic thoughts I would have when it got really intense. My DH helped me remeber that one, too.

[aumismommy]

LOVING THIS!

[isras1]

I too love the letter O....


From my list of affirmations I've collected from various places:


~ My baby and I are working together

~ My body will open to birth my baby

~ "The power and intensity of your contractions cannot be stronger than you, because it is you." by Author Unknown

~ "Pregnancy is the only time in a woman’s life she can help God work a miracle." by Erma Bombeck

~ "Everything in nature bespeaks the Mother." by Author Unknown

~ Faith, Acceptance, Surrender

~ "We have a secret in our culture, it's not that birth is painful, but that women are strong." by Laura Stavoe Harm

You are a woman, a daughter of daughters.

Within you is the strength, courage, and love of a woman, of a mother.

You have been given the gift because you can do this, it has always been in you to do this.

Do not fear what is to be, rather, go forth in knowledge and confidence.

Follow your heart, your instincts, they will not lie to you.

[honeybee]

With #2, I just kept thinking "Open." That worked a little too well, and his birth was lightning fast and a bit too intense.

With #3, I used "Gentle." Very simple, and while my birth was only 3 hours long, it was a much more gentle progression.

[paintedfire]

Love this thread. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas, girls!

[billikengirl]

From the book Having a Baby Naturally, one that really helped me in late pregnancy was
My body has everything my baby needs
My body knows how to give birth
My baby knows when to be born

I would stand in the shower and chant this when I was feeling tired and huge and nervous about when labor was going to start.

[SilverFish]

i kept telling myself that every contraction i got through was one less i'd ever have to deal with again. seemed to help!

i also liked that my husband would remind me "breathe" whenever my vocalizations got too shrill and panicky.

maybe i'll have some more inspiring ones for the next birth... concidering that this was a preterm birth, i think we did pretty darn well.

[tracymom1]

With every serious contraction I let out a low growl and repeated "temporary" over and over to myself. I closed my eyes and pictured a big, beautiful, open blue sky with a few bright clouds here and there.

I didn't practice any affirmations before labor - I just went with what felt right at the time

[goldenwillow]

I was sure to let my body lead the way, no fear. I moved as I was lead by each contraction and had a mental picture of my baby working his way out. Moaning "O" is fantastic advice. While in labor, I looked up at my partner and midwife and said "Is there anything I can say besides f**k and this hurts? I know this hurts!" She, my partner and I started "O'ing" and that really helped.

[cristeen]

This is the one my DH gave me to use:
The pain is a wave. It'll wash over me and then it'll pass.

Or something like that. My MW said she'd never heard anyone talk throughout contractions before, but I chanted that from about 5 cm right up until I hit transition.