Tagalog Birth Affirmations for Pregnancy and Childbirth
Affirm yourself and speak into power the language of your ancestors. Old Tagalog (can be rooted back to the Laguna Copperplate Inscription in the tenth century) is the native tongue of my people. The word Tagalog is derived from the endonym taga-ilog ("river dweller"), composed of tagá- ("native of" or "from") and ílog ("river"). When we speak the language of our people and ancestors, we are immediately connected to our roots. As an ancestral birthworker, I encourage my clients to find power in learning their native tongue (if they don’t already speak it), even just a few words, to strengthen their connection to their roots.
Here’s the Tagalog to English translation of each affirmation:
Bukas, sumuko, magtiwala. / Open, surrender, trust.
Humihinga ako ng katahimikan, humihinga ako ng palabas ang takot. / I breathe in peace, I breathe out fear.
Mahal ko ang aking buntis na katawan. / I love my pregnant body.
Malakas ang loob ko at kaya ko ‘to. / I am strong and I am capable.
Ako ay ligtas at inaalagaan. / I am safe and cared for/protected.
Ang mga buntis sa buong mundo ay nanganganak ng kasabay ko ngayon. / Pregnant people all over the world are birthing at the same time as me right now.
Malaya akong lumayo kapag may negatibong usapan tungkol sa pagbubuntis at panganganak. / I am free to walk away when there is negative talk about pregnancy and childbirth.
Humihinga ako ng malalim para magpahingalay kami ng anak ko. / I breathe deeply so my baby and I may feel relaxed.
Sa bawat alon, mas malapit kong makilala ang anak ko. / With each wave (contraction), I am closer to meeting my baby.
Positive birth affirmations have many benefits during pregnancy and childbirth, such as creating neural pathways in your brain. Self-affirmation theory essentially states that we begin to believe it is true through the regular repetition of a message. So essentially, what happens is our brain is ‘rewired’ through a process called neuroplasticity.
Here are some ways you can use affirmations: writing them down on notecards/beautiful postcards and bring them with you to your birth location, reading them out loud each day, or listening to recorded affirmations.