Childbirth is not only a physiological process, but also a spiritual one. The miracle of the birth of a new person into the world is an event that affects all areas of life. After all, future parents for nine months not only take care of the physical form of the young mother and her he alth. They prepare the room to which they will bring their baby - they make repairs, think over the interior design, acquire new furniture. Expectant mothers often spend their evenings sorting through children's things and toys that they have already stocked up on. Many go even further, spending time reading pedagogical and psychological literature.
Thus, childbirth is not limited to physiology alone. And, of course, in the pleasant everyday bustle, indulging in the exciting chores that accompany the preparation for the birth of a child in the family, one should not forget about the spiritual side of the upcoming joyful event. Prayer for a woman in labor is not only a request forhelp her in this difficult process, and even more so not a “magic remedy” that can completely anesthetize or otherwise affect the physiology of the upcoming event. Prayer is a spiritual support that sets a woman in a positive way, giving her emotional stability, strength and confidence. In other words, prayer is an integral part of the preparation for childbirth, which should not be forgotten.
When and where to pray before childbirth?
A woman who has to go to the hospital, as a rule, adheres to a certain daily routine. Of course, what is included in the regimen directly depends on age, he alth, occupation and other similar nuances. However, in the daily routine of every expectant mother there are walks, feasible physical activity and much more. It is in this list of daily activities that one should include an appeal to the Lord, the Mother of God, and the saints. Prayer for a woman in labor preparing for an upcoming event is similar to exercise, with the only difference being that she trains not the body, but the spirit.
Of course, there are no restrictions on the place and time for saying prayers. You can turn to higher powers both at home and in the temple. If a woman feels well and the church is nearby, then, without a doubt, you need to include a visit to her in your itinerary. If it takes a long time and is difficult to get to the temple, then it would be better to pray at home.
Who is prayed to?
Traditionally, the Mother of God is asked for help in carrying a baby and, of course, in the process of childbirth. However, thisdoes not mean at all that a prayer for a woman in labor cannot be addressed to the saints or to the Lord himself.
Almost every family has traditions regarding who they turn to with prayer in difficult moments of life. In some families, generations pray to Nicholas the Wonderworker, in others it is customary to put a candle in the temple to other patron saints. If there is such a tradition, it cannot be neglected. No less often they pray to their Guardian Angel.
It is also customary to ask for help in carrying a baby and giving birth to:
- Great Martyr Catherine;
- Xenia of Petersburg;
- Blessed Matronushka of Moscow;
- Anastasia the pattern solver.
In Mediterranean countries, it is customary to pray for the well-being of women in childbirth to the parents of the Virgin Mary, the holy righteous Joachim and Anna.
How to pray to Our Lady?
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, like all others, can be pronounced in your own words. But if it is difficult for the expectant mother to choose the necessary phrases on her own, then ready-made texts should be used. However, when choosing a ready-made version of the text, you need to pay attention to what words and phrases it consists of.
Old prayers are full of all sorts of turns of speech, which are rather difficult to pronounce and completely incomprehensible to modern man. Often their use leads to the fact that all the prayer's thoughts are focused on whether he remembered the words correctly and pronounces them correctly. Of course, the benefits of suchno prayer.
Example of prayer text:
“Theotokos, the Most Holy Virgin, our intercessor before the Lord and helper in earthly affairs and aspirations! To whom to turn in joy for support, if not to you? From whom to ask for help and peace, if not from you? With whom to share your happiness and worries, if not with you? I beg you, Most Holy Mother of God, do not leave me in an hour of joy and full of difficulties, just as you did not leave in adversity and sorrow. Help me (proper name) to cope, to bear the baby and give birth easily, without severe pain, to be relieved from the burden. Do not leave your attention, Blessed Mother of God. Amen.”
How to pray directly at the onset of labor?
Prayer during childbirth and for help in childbirth is needed at the moment when a woman's water breaks. As a rule, even the most prepared woman at this moment begins to get nervous, worry, panic. Prayer helps to cope with this condition.
Example of prayer text:
Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God! Save me and have mercy. Do not leave me alone in the hour of trial. Fill my heart with joy and humility. Give strength to my body and peace to my soul. Help me (proper name) to give birth easily and quickly, do not let me experience torment, do not let despair reach my heart in the bright moment of my life. Blessed Mother of God, helper and comforter, patroness of small children! Help my baby be born he althy and strong, do not allow difficulties for him, do not let the doctors make mistakes andnurses. Help me, Mother of God, do not let fear overshadow my joy. Facilitate childbirth, prevent complications, fill the body with strength and bless my child, Blessed Mother. Amen.”
How to pray to Jesus?
As a rule, a prayer is addressed to the Lord for a woman in labor and a child from relatives and friends of a woman. However, often women in childbirth themselves, especially those who were not brought up in Christian traditions and do not attend church services, pray for the help of the Lord. This is natural, because in the most difficult moments of life, people do not remember anyone but God, and it is to him that they turn for help.
An example of the text of a prayer from a woman in labor:
“Lord Jesus, help and have mercy on me, your servant (proper name). Have mercy on me, do not leave me in your mercy. Take away, Lord, my pain and fears, do not allow doubts in my soul, do not let panic cloud my mind. Help, Lord, ease my torment and grant a he althy and strong baby. Direct the hand of doctors, Lord, do not let them inflict unintentional evil on a child. Save from unbearable torment, give birth quick and easy. Amen.”
Prayer during childbirth, with which close women turn to the Lord, can be like this: “Lord, All-Merciful, Jesus Christ! We pray to you for (name of the woman in labor). Do not leave her, Lord, with your mercy, do not let her go through the torment and let her easily be relieved from the burden. Lord, forgive her sins, for she did not know what she was doing, and do not allow me to remain without your mercy. God do not leave the baby, save him from injury, help him be born easily and in goodin good he alth. Amen.”
How to pray for the daughter of Nicholas the Wonderworker?
Of course, the mother worries the most about a woman about to give birth. To cope with internal anxiety, with excitement and fears, the prayer “Help in the birth of a daughter” is called upon. They treat her both to the Mother of God, and to the holy intercessors, and, of course, to the Lord himself.
An example of the text of a prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker:
“Glory to you, Saint Nicholas, who works miracles according to the will of the Lord! I beg you, intercessor before the throne of the Lord, to help my daughter (name of the woman in labor). Do not leave her, help her go through the torment, save her from suffering and fill difficult moments with joy. Grant good he alth to the child, do not allow self-mutilation. Help me, the servant of God (proper name), to cope with weakness and doubt, relieve anxiety and fill my soul with many joys. Amen.”
How to pray to the Matrona of Moscow?
Prayer for easy childbirth can be said by both the pregnant woman herself and her loved ones. Of course, the Mother of God is asked first of all for help in resolving the burden. But no less often do they turn to saints, including the blessed Moscow old woman Matrona.
Example text:
“Matronushka, mother! Help in a difficult hour, do not consider it a hassle, do not leave with your mercy. Intercede before the Lord, beg Him to send down a he althy child, and an easy birth. Amen.”
How to pray to Great Martyr Catherine?
Prayer during childbirth addressed to this saint has helped women for centuries. Catherineassisted not only in childbirth, but also in the treatment of specific female diseases, relieved infertility and helped to find personal happiness.
A prayer for a woman in labor addressed to this saint might sound like this:
“The most merciful Martyr, who suffered for the true faith, who suffered unimaginable torments! Our intercessor before the throne of the Lord, knowing about all the aspirations and worries, earthly joys and sorrows! Help, Saint Catherine, to pass the test of women, do not let me survive the fierce pains, save and reward with a he althy baby and easy childbirth. Amen.”
