A Belly Blessing For Every Mama-to-Be

At 36 weeks pregnant I was suddenly tossing and turning over my decision not to have a baby shower. I felt like I was missing out on something important but at the same time a Baby Shower didn’t seem to be the answer. This was my second pregnancy and I knew that it took more than faux champagne to bring a baby into the world. In fact, after my first child was born I couldn’t look at Baby Showers the same way again. I loved balloons and cake, but how could that be the only tradition we have to mark the transformation to motherhood?

I grew more and more restless and felt less and less prepared for childbirth as the days passed. I craved spiritual acknowledgment of my transition to becoming a mother-of-two. I was drawn to honor and connect with my unborn child; to anchor my body and bolster my soul.

So I created my own Belly Blessing.

I chose a date, put it in the calendar and began preparations. My daughter and I coloured in mandalas, which I would later use for bunting. Together with my husband we made up a gift basket, a collection of old and new items to make the day special; bath salts and chocolates, a keepsake candle, baby journal, affirmation cards and the growing collection of mandalas.

I loosely planned the day and divided it into three parts; relaxation, ceremony and celebration. 

MY BELLY BLESSING DAY
My husband gifted me an empty house while he took our daughter out for a few hours. I was left with a cup of tea and a crumpet in bed. It was a heavenly start.

RELAXING
I lit candles in the bathroom and massaged oil into my belly. A beautiful birthwork meditation was playing in the background as I soaked amongst rose petals and bath salts. I painted my fingernails (definitely couldn’t reach my toes), put on a new bathrobe and cracked open the chocolates to welcome myself and baby to our Belly Blessing Day.  

CEREMONY
I lit the keepsake candle and walked around with it, much the way that you might sage a house. It felt right to bless each room, ‘this room is ready and welcomes our baby’. As I was planning a homebirth I chose to sit the candle down on the floor where I imagined the birthing pool would eventually be set up and here I settled into a nest of cushions. In my journal I wrote baby a welcome letter and drew pictures of my pregnant body swirled around his. I played with my affirmation cards and wrote a list of all my fears. Then a gratitude list twice the length of the first. 

Once my mind was settled, it felt right to declare my intentions aloud:

“I make these prayers to my Sacred Self, my Motherline and Mother Earth. 

Please be present and guide my body, my baby, my little girl, my partner and my support team through this birth and postpartum transformation. 

Please remind me always that I am enough and all that I need.

May my heart be sweet, my mind focused, my hands soft and my legs strong.

May I be blessed with a timely birth

May I be blessed with a healthy baby

May I be blessed with a full recovery.”

I closed my eyes and sat in the stillness. I couldn’t help myself from smiling as I imagined holding my baby. By then my hips were aching and I was ready to move, so turning up my birthing playlist I danced around the room, belly in my hands.

Just as I heard my husband’s car pull up, I closed my eyes and blew out the keepsake candle. I decided not to light it again until I went into labour. 

CELEBRATION
When my little girl burst through the door I couldn’t stop hugging her. Then it was my husband’s turn with our little one squished happily between us.

After a wonderful lunch together it was time for the final formality, decorating my belly! I had chosen colourful safe and easily removable markers for the three of us to gently write and scribble all over my round belly. Our little girl told her brother-to-be all about it via his tummy telephone (my belly button) and I will always remember her coaxing him sweetly, ‘I drew a butterfly for you! Come out now baby!’ 

Soon my skin was covered in colour and kisses. I looked like a kindergarten project but I felt like a mama-goddess.

My Belly Blessing was complete. I felt better than ready for childbirth, I felt excited.

Tricia-Rose is loving life and raising kids with her partner on Wurundjeri land outside of Melbourne. @yogawithtriciarose