In this post, we’ll take a look at some pwerful hypnobirthing affirmations that you can use throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
You’ll discover what affirmations are, why they are so powerful and and I’ll share my favourite ones with you.
Let’s get started!
What are Hypnobirthing Affirmations?
Quite simply, affirmations are positive phrases or statements that you can repeat to yourself in order to change your state of mind and overcome negative thoughts.
When it comes to childbirth, we’ve all heard so many negative birth stories and seen so many traumatic childbirths in films and television shows that is it very easy for us to view childbirth in a negative way. Sometimes these negative beliefs can be completely subconscious.
This negativity can have a big impact on our childbirth experience.
If we go into labour expecting our births to be traumatic and difficult then we will naturally be fearful and anxious about giving birth.
We know that when we are fearful and anxious, our bodies are not in the best state to give birth.
The hormone oxytocin will be suppressed and adrenaline will be produced. This causes tension and redirects blood away from the uterus and to our arms and legs due to the fight or flight response. Not exactly ideal when we are trying to give birth!
So, all of this can happen purely because we have been conditioned to think that giving birth will be a painful, difficult experience.
And that’s where affirmations come in. You’ve learned to accept the negative thoughts that are associated with childbirth and you can unlearn them too. With some practice and focus, you can replace these negative thoughts with positive ones.
How to Use Hypnobirthing Affirmations
Using affirmations for hypnobirthing is very simple.
To start off with, have a think about what aspects of childbirth you feel anxious about. Writing a list of things you are worried about can help.
This will help you to pick affirmation that specifically addresses these issues.
Once you know what issues you would like to address, you’ll pick some affirmations to practice. I’d suggest picking no more than 4 to start off with so that you can give each one plenty of attention.
Once you’ve picked your affirmations, you could print them off or simply write them down and commit to reading them out loud, at least 5 times for each affirmation, each day.
I’d recommend placing your hypnobirthing affirmations in places that prompt you to read them. For example – on the bathroom mirror, on your bedside table etc.
My Favourite Hypnobirthing Affirmations
I’ve included a list of hypnobirthing affirmations in my hypnobirthing online course and here are some of my favourites:
‘I will accept all sensations’
This one works well because it reminds us to work with our bodies and not fight against it. Our bodies are perfectly designed to give birth and all the sensations you will feel are perfectly normal.
‘Each surge brings me closer to my baby’
I love this one because this phrase reminds you that you are getting closer to meeting your baby, even if you are finding the surges (contractions) difficult. This affirmation helps you keep focussed and reminds you of the amazing prize you’ll get once you give birth to your baby.
‘I am prepared for whatever turn my birthing takes’
This one is great because one of the most common fears that pregnant women have is the fear of not being prepared. Once you’ve prepared properly using a hypnobirthing course you can remind yourself that you are ready and able to give birth.
‘Thousands of women all over the world are giving birth today’
When it is your turn to give birth and you’re in a hospital room, a birth pool, or maybe your own house, it can feel like you’re going through this big event and nobody quite understands how you feel. Reminding yourself that there are women all over the world going through the same things reminds you that you are not alone and this is a normal, healthy process.
Do Affirmations Work
In a word – yes. Affirmations are very useful tools that can help to focus the mind and get rid of negative beliefs.
Keep in mind though that affirmations are not designed to deny things that are truly negative. This is referred to as ‘toxic positivity.
Affirmations should work the other way around. Many of us walk around with negative beliefs that simply are not true and these beliefs can really hold us back.
Things like:
‘I’m not good enough
‘I’ll never get that pay rise’
‘It’s bound to hurt’
‘Something is going to go wrong’
You get the idea here. We’ve all experienced thoughts like this from time to time. The negative ones related to childbirth that do nothing to help us to prepare for birth can be banished and replaced with useful, positive and encouraging thoughts instead.
Wrapping Up
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to hypnobirthing affirmations. They really can be a powerful tool to help rid you of negativity during childbirth and labour. Please let me know if any of these affirmations have worked for you. If you would like to learn more hypnobirthing tips and tricks, please remember to check out my online hypnobirthing course.