From the moment of conception to the birth of a baby, this is a rather responsible and difficult period for both mother and child. Unfortunately, grief associated with loss is not uncommon at any stage of pregnancy, and even at birth. In recent years, cases of miscarriage have become more frequent:
- unsuccessful attachment of the embryo in the body of the uterus;
- missed pregnancy;
- miscarriage;
- artificial and natural interruption;
- baby death at birth;
- fatal preterm birth.
Every woman runs the risk of not becoming a mother for one of these reasons. Therefore, when planning a child or learning about pregnancy, many of the fairer sex begin to worry: will everything be fine?
And now let's think: who creates us, who created the whole world, the whole universe? God! It is to Him that one must turn with sincere prayer. For pregnant women, you can choose the most suitable texts, offer icons. In this article, we will discuss how to pray, what can be advised and what would be the answer.given by the priest on certain occasions. Some evidence is also given of how babies in the womb and during childbirth, thanks to prayers, miraculously survived. The article is written about Orthodox prayer, reveals Christian aspects on this issue. And everyone can ask the Lord for help.
Who can pray
If a pregnant woman has never prayed to God in her life, now is the time to do it, regardless of religion. After all, only in her hands, or rather in her womb, is a small life that risks breaking off at any second for various reasons.
On the other hand, anyone can ask, "If God is a creator, why does He allow death?" This question is quite complicated, each person has his own destiny - either for edification or punishment. It is better not to be interested in this topic, but to start praying that the baby will be born safely, be he althy spiritually and bodily.
So who can pray for pregnant women about the birth of a baby? Both the expectant mother herself and her loved ones:
- husband;
- parents;
- older children;
- close relatives;
- friends;
- confessor.
If a pregnant woman cannot often pray herself or feels that her appeals to God are not enough, then she can ask for help from the people closest to her heart. And if the surrounding people are atheists or non-believers? In this case, you can resort to the help of the saints.
Whose prayers reach God faster
Modern man, especially not leading a spiritual life, is practically unable to pray long and heartily. And someone even realizes his sinfulness, therefore he is afraid to turn to the Almighty. That is why the Lord gave His intercessors to all people - saints who lived for the salvation of the soul, union with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Orthodox Christians, according to tradition, in addition to turning to the Lord Jesus Christ himself, also turn to the Mother of God the Virgin Mary. She is the closest to Christ, she is also an intercessor before Him for all those who turn to Her sincerely and with good intentions.
Prayers for pregnant women for the birth of a he althy baby is the only thing that can calm a woman down, even if doctors predict her worst fears. It is imperative to ask for help from the Most Holy Theotokos, to believe that she will help. In addition, you can, and even need to, turn to your favorite saints.
For the request to be heard
Christians know that the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos hear prayers from every person, but resist those who do evil, who ask for something to harm. Of course, a pregnant woman praying for a baby in the womb to survive and be born safely is doing a good deed, but she can live a sinful life, for example, not signing with a young man, dating other men, or not giving up bad habits.
Prayer for pregnant women to save a child is a useful thing that will definitely bear fruit, but it all depends on the mother herself, as well as on the will of God. In any case, every woman who is going toto pray regularly throughout the entire period of gestation, it is recommended:
- attend worship services;
- pray in church and at home;
- to confess and take communion;
- avoid sinful acts as much as possible.
If a woman cleanses her soul, then her body is cleansed, the baby becomes comfortable in the womb, and he continues to live. No wonder they say that a woman should not worry during pregnancy and should avoid depression, as this will all affect the baby.
Appeal to the Blessed Virgin Mary
There is one special prayer for pregnant women that can be read every day from the moment you find out about the pregnancy until the day of delivery. It is recommended to take a blessing from the priest, as the priest may advise you to read additional prayers, or even an akathist, or advise you to contact specific saints.
You can turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary at any time of the day, and especially on anxious days when there is a risk of losing a baby. Often, expectant mothers ask which icon of the Mother of God to approach. In fact, the Blessed Virgin Mary is one, but there are a lot of icons in Her honor, all of them are associated with various miraculous events. That is why, for a long time, Christians have been praying at the icon, which, according to the situation, is more suitable for the one that occurred when this list of the holy image appeared.
The prayer of a pregnant woman can be offered near the image of the "Helper in Childbirth". It is also worth buying a sample for the house, especially,if the husband and wife plan to have many children.
How to pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Before the beginning of the prayer, silence should be created so that nothing distracts. It is also advisable to turn off your home phone, mobile. Then you need to stand in front of the icon, light a candle or lamp. Next, we read the text of the prayer, but you need to read it not mechanically, but with sincerity, repeating in your soul the words that are written on a piece of paper or in a prayer book. It is very important to believe that the Most Holy Theotokos hears the prayer. If after prayer it becomes easier, that's great! That's the way it should be. In no case allow doubt - this is from the evil one.
Prayer for pregnant women about bearing and giving birth to a baby should first of all come from the mother's heart, and not from the mouth. Only in this case will it be beneficial for the mother herself. At the end of the prayer, you should not immediately take on such deeds that will distract from the memory of the holy act that has just taken place.
Does God love children, will he hear the request?
Perhaps one of the women, knowing about the many cases of unsuccessful pregnancies, will think that God does not like children. But it's not. There is one gospel story that says that once the adults did not let the children to Jesus. But the Lord scolded those who did not let the children near Him, saying something like this: “Do not forbid the children to come to me, for they represent the Kingdom of Heaven.” That is, children are innocent and sinless, like angels. God loves and protects them. But it also takes away from parents, which happens in some families, only not because of dislike for the child and the couple, but in order to protect the child fromfuture mistakes.
Therefore, it is also very important to pray for a pregnant woman to bear a fetus, which is already a living, small, but not yet born human being. You can offer your requests to God in your own words, read regularly “Our Father”. But about the prayer rule for every day, you should talk with an experienced priest in the church.
Appeal to Mother Matrona
You can and should pray to your favorite saints. If there are none, then those who are advised by a priest or Orthodox acquaintances. Just before asking for help, it is better to get to know the saint by reading the life (biography, in modern terms, “a biography with instructive and soulful stories, testimonies”).
Most often, women pray to the Blessed Matrona of Moscow for a successful pregnancy, easy childbirth, and a he althy baby.
There are several ways here: a Muscovite or a resident of the Moscow region can go to the relics of the old woman in the Intercession Convent on Taganka. Also, the prayer of a pregnant woman for a he althy child can be performed at home at any time of the day.
Home iconostasis for prayer
To always remember that you need to turn to God, it is better to make a small home iconostasis at home. For example, put next to the icon of the Savior and the Mother of God "Help in childbirth." And next to the icon of the Mother of God is an icon of the blessed Matrona.
If there are favorite saints, there are their icons, as well as the image of the saint whose name the pregnant woman was baptized, thenalso put side by side. It is important to tune in to prayer and proclaim your requests from a pure heart.
There are no separate and specific prayers for the preservation of pregnancy, you need to ask the Lord separately for this, despite the fact that He knows all our requests in advance. All we need is sincere faith and hope.
Blessed objects can be placed next to the iconostasis: water, oil from the relics of saints and miraculous icons, flowers from the relics of Matronushka, a zemlenko and so on.
Additional help from the saints
Not only in the event of bodily ailments, but at any time, with a prayer to the saint, you can anoint yourself with consecrated oil from his relics. It is necessary to apply crosswise, for example, on the stomach, mentally ask for help.
Don't forget to drink holy water. You can also find a special prayer for it “For the adoption of holy water and prosphora” (there is in every Orthodox prayer book). Prosphora is purchased in the temple behind a candle box, then consumed at home on an empty stomach with holy water.
The prayer of a pregnant woman for the preservation of the child is a fertile deed that will surely bear fruit. With God, no request goes unanswered.
Real Help Stories
There is one real story that happened to a woman in labor in the hospital. When her baby was just born, the doctors realized that he was dead. But the poor mother did not have time to despair, she hopefully prayed something like this: “The Most Holy Mother of God, Quick to Hearing, help, let the baby be alive!” And the baby immediately began to breathe. Even doctors believed that it was thanks to the mother’s prayer that the child was practically resurrected without the help of medical devices and manipulations. It was a modern case.
And now we should talk about our ancestors. After all, once there was no such medicine as there is now. Women have always taken risks. And faith in God was strong. Therefore, almost each of them prayed to the pregnant woman for the preservation and safe delivery.
At present, Orthodox Christian women also constantly turn to God and His saints, to the Mother of God for help, and also participate in divine services, confess and take communion more often than usual. Almost all women in this case give birth safely, and their children are he althy.
A clean body and a clean soul - a he althy baby
It is very important that the mother-to-be prepares herself before conception:
- changed her lifestyle to a useful one;
- began to move more;
- took care of her he alth;
- cleared the body of toxins;
- left behind all grievances;
- stopped sinning.
It is not for nothing that they say that the child comes when the mother is ready, and her body will become a cozy and safe house for the entire development. Prayers for pregnant women about the birth of a he althy baby, which can be said at any time, will also help here.
In Orthodoxy there is a practice - fasting, which is aimed at ensuring that a person is cleansed both spiritually and bodily. But in no case should a pregnant woman limit herself in food,but it is even useful to limit oneself spiritually:
- turn off the TV;
- stop playing games;
- don't chat with girlfriends;
- do not swear with loved ones, and indeed with anyone;
- don't get annoyed.
On the contrary, with a prayerful attitude you need to:
- do good deeds;
- help those who ask for help (but do not take on physically difficult and harmful things, such as household chemicals);
- communicate with the baby and pray.
Usually, it is calm and peaceful women who also read prayers for pregnant women who give birth to he althy and calm children.
How often to ask for help from God and saints
As you remember that you can turn to the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary and your favorite saints, so you can start even if you are traveling by public transport. It is enough just to close your eyes and ask for help mentally, without imagining anything or anyone.
Also, when cooking or cleaning the house, but also when doing needlework, it will not be superfluous to remember this. You will see - even just like that, the day will go well, and the baby will be fine.
A pregnant woman's prayer for the birth of a he althy baby is no different from everyday prayers. It can be included in the morning and evening rule.
The best and quietest time is at bedtime, when the process of falling asleep occurs. You can use the rosary to mentally say "Virgin Mother of God, rejoice …" 12 or more times.
Should I involve my spouse?
The husband mustto support a pregnant wife not only morally and physically, but also spiritually. God will surely hear the prayers of the father. In the Gospel the Lord says: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Therefore, if both spouses and older children ask for help, then everything will be fine. Prayer for pregnant women about bearing a child is read not only by pregnant women, but also by loved ones. Only mention the woman's baptismal name.
Men no less than women should strive for the Christian life, goodness and tranquility. Often, the moral and physical condition of a woman in a position depends on them.
Church help
If you wish, you can order a magpie for he alth in the temple, submit a note for a proskomedia or a prayer service for he alth. Only participation in the services can be taken when you feel good. You should not go on a feat if you don’t have the strength to stand.
The prayer of a pregnant woman will be surely heard, even if it was not possible to visit the temple. But still, worship services should not be missed, only in this way can one be spiritually strengthened.
And if all else fails?
Don't be skeptical. Even a desperate woman hopes for a miracle. Miracles happen daily in the Orthodox world. Even the seriously ill and the dead are resurrected if they sincerely pray to God for them. Therefore, one should not leave a prayer for pregnant women for the birth of a he althy baby, even if the doctors' forecasts are disappointing.
But if trouble does happen, then know: it should have happened. But you don’t have to suffer remorse and consider yourself guilty of something. Everything a woman could do, she did.
Be sure to make requests to the Almighty, the Mother of God, the guardian angel and your favorite saints. You will definitely be heard. Prayer for pregnant women is both medicine and comfort, especially in troubled times. How many women were in a hopeless situation: they despaired, but found strength and prayed earnestly. Miracles have always happened and are still happening. Ask you too, then everything will definitely go well: the baby will be born safely, and the mother will be in perfect order and recover quickly.
