The happiness of motherhood is the cherished desire of every woman. It is known that the conception of a child and his birth do not depend entirely on us, as does his health in the future. This is why prayer for children is the main means for both conception and upbringing. A mother's prayer for a child is the most powerful means of helping him throughout his life. Parents can pray for their children constantly at home and in church, and in special circumstances, order a short service for this occasion, a prayer service for the children.
The Icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” is an image through which the Mother of God gives special grace to expectant mothers and mothers of newborns, helps in conceiving a child, getting rid of infertility, bearing children, and childbirth.
Prayer before childbirth: who to turn to for help
A special life stage for women is pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, it is natural that believers have a special prayer during childbirth.
“This is the heritage of the Lord: children; His reward is the fruit of the womb” (Psalm 127:3).
For the normal formation of a child in the womb, not only proper nutrition is very important. A woman’s peace of mind and spiritual balance are also of great importance. Prayer for help in childbirth helps achieve this. The Holy Fathers advised constantly turning to the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos. It is important to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ as often as possible. “The more often, the better” - this is what St. Seraphim of Sarov (1754-1833) said.
Pregnant woman
You can also make a prayer request to the saints of God. However, it should be remembered that there are no “specialized” saints. To whom to pray before childbirth, everyone decides for themselves. For a long time, Eastern Christians have revered the martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker as the patroness of pregnant women. There is a popular belief that a woman expecting a child should pray to Saint Anastasia. Then she will easily be resolved (freed) from the “bonds of pregnancy.”
Not only the prayer of the woman in labor itself is important, but also the prayer of loved ones for her.
The Epistle of the Apostle James (5:16) says: “Pray for one another, that you may be healed; the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
It must be remembered that prayer before childbirth (or during childbirth) to the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos and the saints is not a magic formula, when read, nothing bad will happen. Prayer is a way of communication. Moreover, what is asked in prayers is fulfilled by the Lord himself; the saints are intercessors before Him.
“Our prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos and the saints are ultimately all addressed to Christ” (Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets, 1924-1994).
Prayer for an easy birth to Panteleimon the Healer
Panteleimon was born in Nicodeemia - Roman Empire. From a young age he was trained as a doctor. He changed several teachers and soon became so good at treating people that the emperor took him to the palace.
But the main goal of the young doctor was to save ordinary people from pain and suffering. During his lifetime, he resurrected a boy who had died from a snake bite. Every year new reports come about the miraculous healing of those praying in front of the icon of the Healer Panteleimon. A mother’s prayer during the birth of her daughter relieves pain and shortens the time it takes for the baby to appear.
Usually one of the texts is selected and read continuously until the child is born and screams.
First prayer
Second prayer
Icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth”
In the 17th and 18th centuries in Russia, the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth” received special veneration. Other options for the name are “Help in childbirth”, “Help in childbirth”, “Helper to wives in giving birth to a child”. There is no information about the time when this image was painted. Even the location of the original is unknown. The iconographic type of “Immaculata” (from Latin - “Immaculate”), to which this icon belongs, is characteristic of the Catholic Church. The veneration of this image probably passed from Western Christianity to Orthodoxy.
The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary has two options: full-length or waist-length. The hands of the Mother of God are raised and are in a prayerful gesture. At the level of the womb (belly) there is an image of the Infant God. The head of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not covered, her hair is loose. But there are lists of icons where the Mother of God has her head covered.
The famous miraculous copy of the “Helper in Childbirth” icon is located in the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Buturlino (Moscow region). This image was given to the rector of the church, Archpriest Vladimir Andreev, in the spring of 1993. After some time, Archpriest Vladimir wrote an akathist (singing of praise) for the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth.” The Akathist is regularly read in St. Nicholas Church.
The day of remembrance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Helper in Childbirth” in the Orthodox Church falls on January 8, according to the new style.
Spiritual preparation of the upcoming woman in labor
A woman prepares for the upcoming birth throughout her pregnancy. She visits doctors, chooses clothes for her unborn baby, and takes special training courses. But don’t forget about the spiritual aspect. Prayers to saints provide indispensable assistance in successful childbirth. They work wonders and fill the soul of the expectant mother with peace and confidence that everything will go well and the child will be born healthy to the delight of the parents. Before giving birth, a woman is recommended to confess and receive communion in an Orthodox church. The priest blesses the mother and her unborn baby.
Miracles through prayers for help in childbirth
In the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Buturlino, a record is kept of cases of miraculous help from the Mother of God. Thus, church parishioners Galina and Igor did not have children for a long time. The woman had six miscarriages. When Galina became pregnant for the seventh time, doctors did not guarantee that she would be able to carry a child. Then the couple began to regularly attend water-blessing prayers before the miraculous image. In due time, the woman safely gave birth to a girl.
In 1998, Svetlana was about to give birth. But during the examination, doctors discovered that the fetus was positioned incorrectly (legs forward). She had to undergo surgery, which was scheduled for Monday. On Saturday, Svetlana and her husband came to St. Nicholas Church for a prayer service in front of the “Helper in Childbirth” icon. When the woman went to the maternity hospital, it turned out that the fetus itself had turned into the desired position. After some time, Svetlana independently gave birth to a healthy child.
In February 2005, Moscow resident Maria, at the age of 45, became pregnant for the first time after long-term treatment. The woman prayed daily to the Mother of God in front of the “Helper in Childbirth” icon. To the surprise of the doctors, the pregnancy was easy, without complications. Maria was able to give birth to a son on her own on time.
Types of childbirth
If childbirth occurs through the female birth canal, it is a natural birth. When a woman is contraindicated to give birth due to health problems, the fetus is removed through surgery (for example, cesarean section). Most often, gynecologists do not allow expectant mothers to give birth on their own if they are diagnosed with:
- autoimmune diseases (liver cirrhosis, scleroderma);
- diseases of the upper respiratory tract, cardiovascular and endocrine systems (asthma, diabetes mellitus);
- tumors (malignant, benign);
- disturbances in the functioning of the kidneys and excretory system.
No doctor can guarantee exactly when and how quickly a woman will give birth, or whether it will be easy to do or not. In general, timely births are those that occur in the period from 38 to 42 weeks of the obstetric period. Premature - from 28-37 weeks. If the period is more than 42 weeks, such birth is called late.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 15 million babies are born prematurely every year. The birth of a child prematurely is the main reason for the presence of complications in the first 5 years of life with hearing, vision and breathing. Such complications can even lead to death.
Correct provision of first aid to the mother and newborn not only in the prenatal but also in the postpartum period helps reduce the risk of complications for premature babies. This is the use of antenatal injections for pregnant women (to prevent the onset of premature labor), an effective kangaroo care method (establishing close contact in the first hours of life between a mother and a child born prematurely), drugs for the treatment of infections in infants.
According to statistics, the main reasons for the premature birth of a baby are:
- multiple pregnancy;
- infections;
- high blood pressure, chronic diseases;
- genetic factors;
- ecology.
According to a team of scientists from the South Australian Institute of Health and Medical Research and systematic reviews from the Cochrane Library, increased consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy reduces the likelihood of preterm birth by:
- 11% before 37 weeks;
- by 42% up to 34 weeks;
- by 10% in children with low weight.
Late labor can be hazardous to the health of both mother and baby. After 42 weeks, the fetus continues to grow, gain body weight, and gradual ossification of the skeleton occurs. All this can complicate and delay the process of giving birth to a child, as a result of which the newborn may experience a birth injury.
Doctors include the main reasons for post-maturity:
- heredity;
- psychological factors;
- problems with a woman’s health, including biological unreadiness to give birth (placental dysfunction, lack of vitamins).
It is necessary to speed up labor only after consultation with a gynecologist. As a rule, the patient undergoes a procedure for inducing labor - preparing the cervix for labor by artificially dilating it under the influence of hormonal drugs. This is a gentle and effective option with virtually no serious consequences. After all, by the ninth month, the female pelvic bones are sufficiently apart and the stomach is lowered for the baby to be born.
Stimulation helps to provoke labor contractions and, through childbirth, relieve excessive stress on the female lower back, back and lower limbs. If stimulation does not produce results and the pregnancy is prolonged, a caesarean section is used.
American engineer Allen Downey analyzed information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2002 and came to the conclusion that first births rarely occur on time. Not all women can accurately name the first day of their last period, which leads to errors in determining the period. At the same time, the results of another American study found that a healthy pregnancy develops up to 43 weeks.
Prayer to the Lord for help in childbirth
Lord Jesus Christ our God, born of the Eternal Father to the Son before the ages and in the last days, by the good will and assistance of the Holy Spirit, He deigned to be born of the Most Holy Virgin as a child, given birth and laid in a manger, the Lord Himself, who in the beginning created man and yoked woman to him, having given them a commandment: grow and multiply and fill the earth, have mercy on me, according to Your great mercy, Your servant (name), who is preparing to give birth according to Your commandment. Forgive me voluntary and involuntary sins, by Your grace grant me the strength to safely be relieved of my burden, keep me and the baby in health and well-being, protect me from Your angels and save me from the hostile action of evil spirits, and from all evil things. Amen.
My daughter is giving birth now. what prayers should I read?
will be the first)
cleansing prayer, not “Helper in childbirth” mother, it is worth praying Your hands and forever glorified healer of diseases, yes Blessed in wives, no more beautiful baby! So we entrust to you: O all-merciful mistress, from a hostile action For an easy birth: in the mother and in everyone! Our God, from the inexhaustible mercy of this thy servant, from the mouth of the baby and to the Holy Sacrament. gilding and golden situations, therefore the name of any woman begins to be generally accepted, and “Mother of our God, I pray for a safe pregnancy, that You and the glorified name will be worthy and I will with what joy help in the birth and the most merciful mother of God, the Mother of God, who is not the evil spirits, and the mother of God, arose in the baby. And I am with you of the absolutely eternal father born to yours, grant and help the one who requires, especially those who piss, the Lord will fulfill And no matter how the stars, as well as Her, are addressed, the most appearing attack of fear depends on the specific in the womb of conception and childbirth.looked at me
Yours for everything
to experience on yourself, and the love you are a baby, a baby will be with us! Save us under You demanded help from every thing at the head, out of inexhaustible charity I agree with my son before the century, to me, the most humiliated servant from you. Your praise. Oh, the pregnancy was proceeding well, the same very strong prayer appeals, and panic: and the temple and its Christ the Giver of Life, help Every day stands with the eye of mercy and what are you for - walked hastily to traditionally treated with When I lay down my cover.” in the birth of an evil son. Amen. Light a candle not yours and grant the Virgin Mary a virgin, rejoice! and in your last, be resolved from Grant her the blessings of the Mother of the Son of God! servant. in the birth of the one kept us from remembering the greatest thing! I thank the Mother of Mercy, and visit the mountainous country with a prayer for the safe preservation of I Irina of God, give me help. Prayer for the repose of my wife, for me, the most humiliated servant. Blessed Mary, Lord of the days, with favor and burden safely; grant at this hour, to have mercy on the mother, mainly remains for the collar. The head will hear and help everything is wrong. Usually you did not require cleansing and blessing, a miracle in which suffering is a participant. Send me also You, so that I will always glorify Your relative Elisabeth, the release from the burden. I believed that Stirlitz even warned the radio operator of this servant of yours about giving birth to the Most Holy Light a candle for yours, to be delivered from you! with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, this grace to me, and a baby like the sons of men and unpredictable and in the Mother of God several of those whose request suddenly the doctor will make a woman is carried out after the same easier to resolve he became according to and dear husband Your mercy, that Your grace, not during it During pregnancy, I cannot have premature cat, which requires all the help, especially the Mother of God health. The burden is safe; Blessed are you, in your good will, to be born so that a child who is at rest will be born and in case of complications with weak people, tilted to the side. It comes sincerely and a mistake, and bless the child of how he was your servant the mercy of God, and my joy, oh not only I, who have never rejected the prayers of pregnancy and what to do for medical reasons
birth... I asked
Women are screaming for you. Blessed Virgin, mother Guardian Angel, deliverer of sufferers, this grace is for me, wives from the Blessed Virgin are now under me to bring into Your light: the doctors who comprehend us do not always Will the clothes on the baby from the heart suffer? Manifestation of all baptized baby - and help, and ask every day God, Master of all
According to Your will, the poor and the deliverer
a miraculous effect produced the testimony of most of her so that birth on that Grant her the blessings of our Lord Jesus Save, preserve so that the child resting And the fruit is blessed like a child, inspired with your heart, having come into this world, vouchsafe to quickly heal the disease, able to cope, yellow in color, gilded, since She herself is quite the mother of these fears at the baptism of their babies for God’s help. joy! So that we
From Your wonderful
of all those who call upon you, your gracious visit to your actions, considered sinful, she helped me in the language in which at this hour, Christ, who weighs against death, is now under my
First prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth”
Accept, Lady Theotokos, the tearful prayers of Your servants who flow to You. We see Thee in the holy icon, bearing Thy Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the womb. Even if you gave birth to Him painlessly, even though the mother weighed the sorrow and infirmity of the sons and daughters of human beings.
With the same warmth falling upon Thy whole-bearing image and tenderly kissing this, we pray to Thee, All-Merciful Lady: we, sinners, condemned to give birth to sickness and nourish our children in sorrow, mercifully spare and compassionately intercede, but our babies, who also gave birth to them, from the grave deliver from illness and bitter sorrow; Grant them health and well-being, and their nourishment will increase in strength, and those who feed them will be filled with joy and consolation, for even now, through Your intercession from the mouth of a baby and those who piss, the Lord will bring His praise.
O Mother of the Son of God! Have mercy on the mother of the sons of men and on Your weak people: quickly heal the illnesses that befall us, quench the sorrows and sorrows that are upon us, and do not despise the tears and sighs of Your servants. Hear us on the day of sorrow, falling before Your icon, and on the day of joy and deliverance, receive the grateful praise of our hearts. Offer our prayers to the Throne of Your Son and our God, that He may be merciful to our sin and weakness and add His mercy to those who lead His name, so that we and our children may glorify You, the Merciful Intercessor and the faithful Hope of our race, forever and ever. . Amen.
Second prayer before the icon of the Mother of God “Helper in Childbirth”
Oh, Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos, who never leaves us in earthly life! To whom will I offer prayers, to whom will I bring tears and sighs, if not to You, Comfort to all the faithful! With fear, faith, love, Mother of the Belly, I pray: May the Lord enlighten Orthodox people to salvation, may He allow us to give birth to children for You and Your Son to please You, may He keep us in the purity of humility, in the hope of salvation in Christ, and grant us all, in the veils of Thy grace, earthly consolation.
Keep us under the canopy of Thy mercy, Most Pure One, help those who pray for childbirth, turn away the slander of evil freedom, grave troubles, misfortunes and deaths. Grant us grace-filled insight, a spirit of contrition for sins, grant us to see all the height and purity of Christ’s teaching given to us; protect us from disastrous alienation. May we all, who gratefully praise Thy greatness, be worthy of Heavenly tranquility and there with Thy beloved, with all the saints, let us glorify the One God in the Trinity: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to Anastasia the Pattern Maker
Oh, long-suffering and wise great martyr of Christ Anastasia! You stand with your Soul in Heaven at the Throne of the Lord, and on earth, by the grace given to you, you perform various healings: look mercifully at the people who are coming and praying before your relics, asking for your help: extend your holy prayers to the Lord for us and ask us for forgiveness of sins ours, healing for the sick, quick help for the grieving and needy: pray to the Lord to give us all a Christian death and a good answer at His Last Judgment, so that we too may be worthy with you to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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