Your Beliefs Around Birth Can Make Labor Easier or Harder ⋆ Earth and Water

The words and thoughts we choose to have matter in manipulating our reality. Like spells cast into our daily lives, how we believe the world works is how it will present itself to us. Our beliefs around birth and labor can influence how it unfolds in that time.

Each word carries it’s own vibration. Without realizing it, the words we use to describe things is subconsciously effecting how we feel about the things we describe.

Thoughts => Words => Beliefs => Actions => Reality

By choosing how we word our thoughts and sentences, we can reform our beliefs into something more useful and beneficial. Something that eases our minds rather than puts them on alert.

Although this is true in all areas of life, it can be particularly important during pregnancy. How we believe things will go during our labors and births highly influence how they will actually unfold. It’s the law of attraction at work in our rawest, most primal moment.

If we go into our labor fearful, it can slow down progress. This can make for a longer, more painful labor. Whereas if we go into our labors calm, peaceful, confident and trusting, we can relax into the process, allowing our bodies to do what they need to do to bring baby into this physical world.

Becoming Aware of Our Beliefs Around Birth

To pinpoint your beliefs around birth and understand what needs reworking, take a moment to do this journaling exercise.

Take out some paper and a pen.
Answer the following questions

What words come to mind when you think of labor and birth?
What images?
How do you think your birth will go?
What fears do you have around labor and birth?
Where do these fears stem from?
Are they absolute truths? Meaning they happen every time, no matter what, without variation (probably not).

Becoming aware of our beliefs around birth is the first step in transforming them into something positive. You want to do this work before hand so that you’re fully prepared when the time comes to face whatever your birth will hold.

If you’re using words like “Contractions”, “Pain” or “Tearing”, notice what emotions come up with them. What feelings do these words evoke?

Now think of softer words than can be used in the place of these such as “Waves”, “Power” or “Opening”.

Reworking Your Beliefs Around Birth

How can you rework your beliefs into something more beneficial? Look at each answer on your page and coordinate a different, more positive belief to replace it.

For example, “I am afraid of the pain” may turn into

“I am strong enough to handle pain.”
“Orgasmic births are a thing.”
“I will do everything I can to be fully prepared for coping with the pain”

A better belief for “I’m afraid of an episotomy” may turn into affirmations that look like:

“I’ll make my wishes on not to have one clear”
“I’ll listen to how my body wants to push to lessen chances of tearing”
“I’ll do all of the research on episotomies so that I can do everything in my power to avoid it”
“If it’s needed for safe delivery, it is only a moment in time and I’ll be okay”

Whatever feels right to you. Whatever jives with your wishes and correlates to what you wish for your birth is correct. There is no absolute “right” or “wrong” way to rework your beliefs.

Pick alternative and positive beliefs that you can believe. If you don’t believe it to be true, it won’t work. Falsehoods are like red alerts to our minds but you can always find a truth that’s better than the false belief you carry.

Affirmations for Labor and Birth

Affirmations are a powerful way to rework our belief systems. They help us reprogram our minds and with it, how we respond to situations. Finding your most helpful birth affirmations during pregnancy and then taking them with you into labor and delivery can help you to stay grounded in what you wish to accomplish and flexible enough in your mindset to meet whatever you do with less resistance.

I know sometimes people have a hard time coming up with their own affirmations. That’s why my friend Rebecca Nina of SheDigsDeeper.com has some great (and beautifully stunning) examples of pregnancy affirmations on her Etsy page!

Print them out and tape them up where you plan to labor. Especially in early active labor. They’ll add a sense of beauty and calm to the space while reminding you where to keep your focus.

If you’re laboring in the hospital, assign your partner or doula to be in charge of taking them with you, taping them up and reminding you of them accordingly as you ride the waves of life creation.

Manifesting a Positive Birth

I don’t want to leave you on so many negatives. So to counter-set the above exercises with something more positive and uplifting, I’m going to ask you to get out another piece of paper.

Write down your ideal birth story.

What’s labor like?
Where are you?
How are you coping?
What kind of coping tools are you using?
What emotions are you feeling?
Who’s there?
What are they doing?
How is the atmosphere?
What are you wearing?
How do you push?
What are your first moments with baby like?

Detail out everything you would like for it to be. Let the emotion of love and satisfaction feel your heart and radiate out through your aura. Smile to yourself and relax all of the muscles in your body. Think about how nice it would be to have the birth of your dreams.

Now set it aside and know that it probably won’t happen exactly like that and that’s okay. What’s truly important is that baby and you are healthy and together at the end of this journey.

Could this image happen? Absolutely! It COULD possibly unfold EXACTLY how you imagine it. There’s no way to know what cards will be dealt until the time comes but trust that as long as you’re in the right mind-state, everything will unfold exactly how it’s suppose to. Whatever that will look like.

Tell me in the comments how you feel about these exercises. Were they helpful? Do you have any insights to share?

You can read about my 4 hour, beautiful and natural HOSPITAL birth here.