What's your favorite mantra, verse, quote about birth?

[sarahlynne]

Just curious about what mantras or quotes other momma's like to think about for labor (either getting ready for it or for use during). I like quotes in general, but I don't know how many others get into that sort of thing. I would love to hear some new ones. Here are a few of my favorites:

"You're going to get HUGE." - Ina May Gaskin

Labor is hard work, it hurts alot and YOU CAN DO IT. - Birthing from within

John 16:21 - A woman giving birth has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.

Rain, after all is only rain; it is not bad weather. So also, pain is only pain, unless we resist it, when it becomes torment. - I Ching

The goats have no midwives. The sheep have no midwives. When the goat is pregnant she is safely delivered. When the sheep is pregnant she is safely delivered. You in this state of pregnancy will be safely delivered. - African Chant (Having a Baby, Naturally)

Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

[ajsgirl]

I just kept thinking "surrender". And I kept remembering that after it was all over there would be a beautiful baby for me to nurse. It sounds silly, but sometimes, especially while in so much pain, we lose track of the end goal... a baby!

[coloradoalice]

My favorite was "I can do anything for 90 seconds!!!"

Also, in labor, when it started to get really hard my DH kept saying "it's almost over, you have a break coming". He said that over and over, and it reminded me that the pain would end!!

[MamaTaraX]

All the time I tell women the "you can do anything for a minute" And I can do you one better: The peak of a contraction usually only lasts 10-15 seconds...you an really do anything for 10-15 seconds!

**"It takes a loving sexy vibe to get a baby in there and a loving sexy vibe to get a baby out!" -- Ina May Gaskin

**SURRENDER (every night before bed I chant "open" and "surrender" as I fall asleep)

**Babies come when they are ready, not when any doctor, midwife, or family member says

**I was made to give birth

**I will birth in peace

**My baby and body know what to do

**I am a powerful birthing woman like billions of women before me

I have more but I'll leave those for now

Namaste, Tara

[Lynnseedoil]

Months ago I read a thread here on MDC about a mother measuring large and fearing cesarean due to a large baby. A wise poster came along and said:

"Fat is squishy"

[MamaTaraX]

"fat is squishy" is another I love! I get the biggest smile everytime she posts that

Namaste, Tara

[because]

During DD's birth I moaned "oooooopen" with every contraction in low tones. It just worked at the time.

With DS, I didn't really have time to get in a groove like that but when I started to get a little panicky, I found myself saying things that I'm pretty sure came from the hypnobabies birthing affirmations CD: "My body is strong" and "My body is wise" mostly. Rather than give myself commands like "open" or "stretch" this time, I also use "I am" a few times. I really like that one because it applies to so many parts of birthing.

I am.
I aaaaaaaam.
I AM!

[MamaTaraX]

A few mornings ago I woke up saying aloud "I can do it!" I don' tknow why, but I did. My DH thought it must mean something. I think I'll be saying that during this birth for some reason. Oh, something else I do with moms: Women are constantly saying "No I can't!" and I try hard to get them to say "Yes I can" whenever they feel like they cannot. I keep thinking of more of these as the day goes on One of the best birth stories I know is that of a friend of mine. Throughout her 19 hours of Pit (and no pain meds! Rock on mama!!) she chanted her daughter's name. That has always struck me as really powerful and moving.

Namaste, Tara

[gsmom]

This is one that I heard in my prenatal yoga class and have used it there, I am hoping that it works during labor. . .

"relax everything you don't need right now and breathe"

I think it gives my mind and body something else to focus on

[VikingKvinna]

This isn't birth-specific, and it's probably pretty personal because it has a great deal of meaning to me, but I'll share my "mantra" anyway: It's a Swedish phrase which means "I am a Viking woman" ("Viking kvinna"=viking woman). When I lived in Sweden it was something that my friends and I would say, just a sort of empowering, feminist, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar kind of motto. I've used it ever since, especially during tough times in my life when I need that little reminder that I'm a strong, courageous, fearless woman who can do anything.

~Nick