Hypnobirthing Affirmations: How They Work and How to Use Them in Labour.
What do you know about affirmations?
I like to think of them as totems, held by the speaker to ward off all fear and darkness.
The comforting sounds of a mantra repeated again and again.
They can be memorised and said. Drawn and placed onto walls. Written as small notes to be found when needed.
Affirmations need to be personal to the individual that uses them. When they are personal their meaning and power can grow.
I have often quoted Muhammad Ali to my clients, he was the master of affirmations and described them like this:
“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
Ali understood that repetition led to belief. If you say something often enough then both your mind and your body will believe it to be true.
‘I am powerful’, ‘I am strong’, ‘I am built to birth my baby’, ‘I am enough’. Or my very favourite - ‘I can do anything for a minute’.
Now, interestingly there was a study done for sportspeople not so long ago that said if we switch from using ‘I’ in self-speak to using ‘you’ the affirmation or message becomes more powerful and effective. You have perhaps become your own birth supporter, calling encouragement from the sidelines.
So this would then be:
“‘You are powerful’, ‘You are strong’, ‘You are built to birth your baby’, ‘You are enough’, ‘You can do anything for a minute!’.”
Try it now, roll it over your tongue. You have become your own cheerleader. You have self-belief, skin in the game, you can be your own guiding-light.
As each powerful surge rolls through your body you simply repeat these words or phrases again and again until the surge rolls out again.
How does it feel for you?
Photo courtesy of one of my wonderful clients 💗