Birth Affirmations and Mantras
While planning for your labor and birth, you may come across the idea of using positive affirmations or birth mantras to help you on the big day. The key to using mantras successfully in birth will be practice — familiarizing yourself with the ideas that speak to you (maybe it’s, “I am strong” or “My body knows what to do”) so that those ideas are ready to call upon in the midst of your powerful birth flow. Using these can help remind you of your abilities, ground you in the moment, and even reduce the defensive response you might naturally have to, say, strong contractions or an unexpected change in birth plans.
Below you’ll find some examples of mantras or positive affirmations for download. Practice the ones that speak to you and print them out (maybe even laminate them!) to bring with you to your place of birth. Even better—write your own! When they come from the heart, they’ll be even more effective. Your birth team can tape them up on the walls around you for much needed reminders of your strength and ability as you flow through your labor.
