“How gracious will you be when pangs come upon you, like the pain of a woman in labor?” Jeremiah 22:23b
“For when they say “Peace and safety” then sudden destruction come upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” I Thessalonians 5:3
“Anguish has taken hold of him, pangs as of a woman in childbirth.” Jeremiah 50:43b
How do you cope with delivery? . . . . How do you deal with the afterbirth pains that get worse with the birth of each child . . . and the nursing pains those first few days? After four children does it keep getting worse? . . .I though last time was terrible. I have been dreading the labor and delivery until this week I suddenly remembered the after pains and nursing contractions . . . Needless to say fears have taken hold of me.
My first birth I can defiantly say was the worst during labor, not having been done this road before . . . but I didn’t know what to expect, thus my fears weren’t too deep. (
The others seemed easier . . . I love using the pool, relaxing as best as one can in the hot water. . . .But now the after pains are awful! It makes me want to push the baby away. And I wonder . . . I know God has a plan and purpose for everything . . . But why does childbirth have to be so painful? . . .
I remember Krystal saying that you have to embrace the pain to feel the full extent of the joy . . . I guess there is truth in that. I had been praying for an “easy and fast delivery” and then I resigned it all into God’s hands. If it was easy and fast would I even feel that the child was mine? It just wouldn’t seem right.
All I know is that is is a time to CLING to the Word of God. Japheth put these verses on a cd for me with soft music playing in the background. I used to listen to them by the hour. Now with this pregnancy hardly ever . . . with all the noise of children around here I just long for quiet, so when it is quiet I relish the quiet!
Verses for Pregnancy and Childbirth
Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
THE LORD CREATES LIFE AND BRINGS IT FORTH
Gen 33:5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
Ex 23:26 There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill.
Ps 22:9-10 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
Ps 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
Ps 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Ps 139:14-16 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Eccl 11:5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isa 46:3-4 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
Isa 66:9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
THE LORD SHALL BLESS THY SEED AND THY CHILDREN
Gen 49:25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
Deut 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Deut 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Deut 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Ps 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Isa 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isa 61:9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
GOD WILL BE WITH YOU
Ex 33:14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
Deut 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
2 Chron 15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
Matt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
GOD WILL KEEP YOU
Ps 121:4-5 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
Prov 3:26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Prov 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
2 Thess 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
GOD WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH AND PEACE
Deut 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
Neh 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Psalms 18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
Psalms 20:6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
Psalms 28:7-8 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
Psalms 29:11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalms 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalms 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
2 Cor 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Cor 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
TRUST IN THE LORD FOR HE IS FAITHFUL
Deut 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalms 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
1 Thess 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
EXPECT ANSWERS TO YOUR PRAYERS, FOR GOD DESIRES TO GIVE YOU YOUR DESIRES
Job 22:27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psalms 37:4-5 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalms 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Isaiah 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Isaiah 58:9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Luke 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
1 Thess 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
VERSES TO ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR FAITH
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
2 Cor 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
My midwife had given the above ones to me and I added these to the list. This paper of verses I have taped by my kitchen sink.
Crying Out To God
Psalm 56:9 - When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back:
This I know; for God is for me.
Psalm 57:2 - I cry unto God most High;
Unto God that performeth all things for me.
Psalm 86:8 - Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord;
Neither are there any works like unto Thy works.
Psalm106:44 - Nevertheless He regarded their affliction,
when He heard their cry.
Psalm 119:69 - Let my cry come near before Thee, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Thy Word.
Isaiah 12:6 - Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
God Gives Me Strength!
Psalm 68:28 - Thy God hath commandeth thy strength;
Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us!
Psalm 73:26 & 28 - My flesh and my heart faileth:
But God is the strenght of my heart, and my portion forever.
But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works.
Psalm 71:9b . . . Forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Psalm 71:18b . . . O God, forsake me not;
Until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation
And thy power to every one that is to come!
Knowing God
Psalm 9:10 - And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee:
For thou, Lord, hast not forsake them that seek Thee!
Life and Death Are In God’s Hands And In God’s Time
Job 1: 21&22 - Naked came I out of my mother’s womb,
and naked shall I return thither:
The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job 5:26 - You will come to the grave in full vigor,
like sheaves gathered in season.
Job 2:10 Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that are called according to His purpose.
Psalm 30:5 - Weeping may endure for the night; but joy cometh in the morning!
Isaiah 61:3 He giveth beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
I am a tree of righteousness the planting of the Lord,
That He might be glorified.
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7
I pray for this spirit of power of love and of a sound mind . . . that as God’s thoughts and ways are higher than my own I would cling to Him and not fear, but embrace the Lord’s work in me, in my life and in the life of this baby!!!
10 comments:
How well I remember that feeling of those last few weeks and knowing I would soon have to go through labor and delivery...somehow it always made me think of Jesus in the Garden, facing the cross ahead of him. Childbirth is so inevitable, inescapable, enormous. And it's a valley you have to walk alone. Of course God is with you, and your husband, and the midwife. But you will be the one suffering and laboring. You can't give it to anyone else. No one else can bear any of it for you.
May no one minimize it to you.
"Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross..." May you sense the prize and joy that's set before you and may it give you strength for your cross as well.
You're scaring me! I'm still getting used to the whole idea of being pregnant. So far I haven't thought too much about the whole labor and delivery thing. I'm blessed, though, in that our small hospital has a jaccuzzi and I can yell for an epidural if I get desparate! My mom always said she'd take the labor and delivery any day over the 9 months before it. I don't think I'll be that way as I don't think I'll be sick the whole way through like she was with some of us. So, I'll be praying for you especially in the next little while and hope you do the same for me in October!
Aimee, I will pray for the peace of God to reign over your heart and mind. I don't know what they emphasize in childbirth training these days. When I was having babies in the 70's, there was a strong emphasis on relaxing to the point of being like a limp dishrag. I remember how Dick and I would practice - he would pinch the back of my foot really hard, just above the heel while I practiced breathing and relaxing. I got really good at it! I have always used those same techniques to endure pain (or the fear of pain) ever since - for childbirth contractions, those dreadful after birth pains when nursing, injections, dental visits, etc. I like to think that it really does make a difference. I've been a birth coach quite a few times and I have seen it work. I also remember that as I was in labor with Jeremy I had a paper with "Thank you, Jesus" written on it right at my eye level. With every breath I whispered, "Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus." I really felt like it gave me something to focus on and it helped me to stay on top.
And by the way, don't worry - if you should happen to have a short labor, you'll still be bonded to your child. My labor with Anthony was only two hours long, and I was very bonded to him. In fact, I still am - 29 years later!!
Aunt Jeanie
whats that funny white thing on ur head in all the pics?
You, Dorcas, sound so much like my neighbor, Hope. You both have such a way of putting thoughts in words that I feel like a blundering teenager. I often like to be in the same prayer group as Hope because she voices almost everygthing that I want to be it just doesn't come.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Sorry, Elaine . . . but such is life. As for the epidural don't you have to ask for that pretty soon or they won't give it to you saying you are too far along. Kendra asked for pain relief, but it was too late. I don't have that option haveing a home birth and I'm glad I don't or I would give in. Yeah, some say they'ed rather have the delivery than the other months of discomfort . . . Maybe it will be that way with you. God grant you peace instead of fears.
Thanks, Cretora, too for the advice and comfort. I did have the afterease herbs . . . I couldn't tell much difference and finally quit taking it. I have taken calcium during labor though this time I will continue during the other pains too.
Yeah, I don't think if you're about ready to push that they'll give it to you, because they usually take it off before you push. But it is really helpful for people who have really long labors. I hope I won't need one!
I am really challenged by your trust, although I know you go through anxieties like everyone else. Just know that in your struggles you are a blessing to others!
Aimee,
I have been a silent reader of your blog for quite some time. I was introduced to your site by Truthseeker who is a wonderful Christian man.
Since you plan to have the birth at home do you have contingency plans just in case? Have you seen an obstetrician or are you doing the entire thing the old way? I noticed you said you were taking calcium so that made me wonder if you were getting pre-natal care from a doctor or midwife.
I know you have said you are going to have a midwife deliver (or catch) the baby.
I didn't have your courage when I had my children who are now 37 and 33 years old. I had a spinal tap but it wasn't done until I was in the delivery room ready to deliver so I got to experience most of the labor and none of the pain of delivery of the baby or the placenta. And, btw, just as I'm sure you feel, I loved my babies as soon as I knew I was going to have them.
May God richly bless you and your entire family as you get ready for this wonderful experience of giving life to a new human being. We always have enough love to go around. That's one thing we don't run out of and neither does our Father in Heaven.
Again, God bless you, Japheth, your children already on the outside and the one on the inside.
I had been going to see a doctor with my first one then we decided on a home birth. Yeah, we have a midwife.
If we do need to have a c-section we plan to call ahead and go in. They told us that even when you are in the hospital it takes 20-30 minutes to prepare for an emergency c-cection and we could be there by then.
But I do firmly believe that life and death are in the hands of the Lord! And I am not afraid to have my babies here at home.
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses: but we will remember the name of our God." Psalm 20:7
Actually, though we have a midwife my husband likes to catch the baby.
And I love haveing a water birth . . . not too many hospitals are set up for that. My last three were born that way.
Wow! Thank you for such an organized list of Scripture to help during this time! I tell everyone that my nursing pains have been so much worse than my labors, and when I think about this next delivery and the afterbirth/nursing pains, I get so scared!! So I could really relate to you, and it's so nice to hear you giving the rest of us encouragement! Thank you, and I will continue to lift up your name as you get through this "newborn" time and take care of your other precious children!
Post a Comment