Ps 127:3 NLT Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.
All throughout the Bible, God tells us that children are a gift and a reward from Him. Never does it say that children are something we are to fear or dread. With this in mind it is easy then to understand that pregnancy is simply God’s designed way for us to bring the blessing of children into our world! It is meant to be a blessing! However, we live in a fallen world where there can be many complications that rob us from the joy of being pregnant and carrying a little life on the inside of us. For this reason many women needlessly accept the discomforts of pregnancy such as morning sickness, nausea, mood swings or blood pressure problems because they assume it’s all part of the package. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! Pregnancy is not meant to be a time of fear or fraught with sickness, disease or complications! God created us to be fruitful and also for the fruit of our wombs to be blessed.
Pregnancy is meant to be a time of blessing!
It is NOT God’s Plan for you to be sick, fearful, anxious, or stressed throughout your pregnancy.
Jas 1:17 NIV Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Only good and perfect gifts come from our Heavenly Father! Morning sickness, nausea, heartburn, reflux, blood pressure problems, blood sugar problems, aches and pains and mood swings are not good gifts – and they never will be!
The complete work that Jesus did on the cross was not in vain. It was for you to be free from all forms of sickness, pain and disease, including those that manifest in pregnancy. So make a decision to not put up with any of form of sickness or disease any longer.
We are Redeemed from Sickness in Pregnancy
Gal 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”
Praise God, what Jesus accomplished was a complete work and was not in vain. When Jesus died on the Cross He redeemed us from all the discomforts and side effects of pregnancy. He paid the price for you to be free from all forms of sickness, pain and disease, including those that manifest in pregnancy. Therefore, you don’t have to accept the discomforts of pregnancy such as morning sickness, nausea, mood swings, sleep or blood pressure problems because Jesus took it ALL in your place!
God sent Jesus to reverse the curse and to redeem us from all the effects of sin and the curse of the law of sin and death. Isaiah 53:4-5 also tells us that Jesus took ALL our sicknesses on the cross and by His stripes we are healed!
How to Experience a Healthy Pregnancy
Now that you know that you don’t have to have the diseases of the world and suffer in pregnancy (or even childbirth for that matter), renew your mind with God’s truth to transform your thinking. This is because sickness, disease, (or any adverse pregnancy symptom) may not go away all on its own. In fact it may become worse. This may cause you to want to give up or give in but let me encourage you continue to walk by the truth in God’s Word and not by what the natural circumstances are dictating to you.
I have provided 4 simple steps below to help you to grow in God’s truth and overcome any sickness, disease or complication in your journey. While I have included these steps to help you in your journey, I have not presented them as a formula for you to follow. If you apply these steps without any revelation or understanding then not only will this be lifeless and powerless but will also lead to frustration. I want to help you to enjoy the blessing of pregnancy and bringing forth a new life. I therefore, encourage you to spend time in God’s Word so that what I am sharing can encourage, strengthen and give you answers and hope!
1) Knowledge or Information
]Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
Discover the truth in God’s Word that you don’t have to suffer with any sickness, disease or complication in your pregnancy because pregnancy is meant to be a blessing! If you don’t know what is available then you may also not know how to apply this to your life.
2 Pet 1:3-4 (NIV) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
It is through knowledge of God and His precious promises (His word) where we partake of God’s kingdom and everything else that He has freely provided for us. Therefore dig into God’s Word to discover what Jesus did on the Cross and how to walk it out in your daily life.
2) Revelation
Make time to meditate on God’s truth so that the information can become revelation!
Ps 119:130 (Amp) The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.
Making a decision and being determined to overcome sickness is only the first step. God’s healing power is not released through human decision or by mere human will power. God’s power flows in and through us when our natural thinking has been renewed and is in agreement with the truth in His Word. If we are not transformed in our thinking then there will be no life or power flowing in that area of our lives. Remember that it is the truth that we KNOW that makes us free!
Revelation Knowledge is Important
The truth in God’s Word needs to come alive and become real and personal to you! Presumption is not faith and does not give assurance or enable you to become fully persuaded. So don’t take me at my word or read about someone else’s testimony and follow it without any understanding or revelation for yourself. You need to mediate on God’s truth until it becomes real and alive to you personally.
This doesn’t mean however that you wont be challenged. If you are challenged with adverse circumstances let the indwelling Spirit of truth continue to reveal Jesus to you in your situation and guide and lead you in your victory!
Don’t be Conformed but rather be Transformed!
The parable of the sower in Mark 4 tells us that God’s Word is His seed on the earth and is how His Kingdom comes and grows in our lives. I love this parable because Jesus shares a simple truth from something that most of us would easily understand. We discover how God’s Kingdom grows through understanding the planting and germination of seeds! We all know that seeds take time to grow, mature and develop into a fruit bearing plant. Likewise, once the seed of God’s Word is planted in your heart give it time to spring to life (germinate), develop roots, and grow into a mature plant that will bear much fruit!
I also encourage you to stop letting the cares and concerns of this world steal your peace and joy but continue to rest in who Jesus is and in what He has already freely provided for you.
Rom 12:2 (Amp) Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Meditate on God’s truth – not on the world’s way or on your Doctor’s prognosis. Let the truth transform your thinking and set you free!
3) Application
Now simply act on what you believe!
Now is the time to apply this truth to your life, by acting on what you believe and exercising authority over the natural circumstances.
Remember your authority and position in Christ! Jesus now lives in you and He has given you the authority to use His power here on this earth. It is also important to remind yourself that you have 100{986488c0930dd05a490dee74a82cae35a322667352f0a9ef8fd8fc1c1bc018bc} authority over your own body. We are meant to be wise stewards of our bodies so it is up to us to look after them. This means that you don’t have to let sickness or disease dictate to you how you are going to experience your pregnancy. Instead through Jesus you can dictate to any sickness and disease commanding it all to bow its knee and be removed from your body. Then in the wonderful name (authority, power and presence) of Jesus command healing to manifest and for your body to line up with how God created it to function during pregnancy – to be healthy and whole in every way!
If symptoms return or persist, then simply continue until you have matured in the Word and are experiencing lasting victory. Take one day at a time and learn how to walk in victory over one symptom at a time and soon the rest will be history.
4) Rest
REST in Jesus ability and not your own!
Always remember that it is not by your might or by your power but by God’s Spirit that you can experience your victory!
When revelation and understanding comes and you believe God’s Word above all else, it positions you into a place of rest. You will find that any striving, hoping, begging or pleading and desperation will fade and disappear, because you will have come to a place where you know that God’s Word is His will for you personally.
The truth of what the Word says will then not be easily lost when you are challenged in that area. Nor will Satan be able to lie to or deceive you anymore because you will know the truth for your situation. God’s Word will have become the substance of what you are hoping for and the evidence of what you do not see – yet.
Therefore, make every effort to labour to enter into resting in who Jesus is and in what He has already freely purchased for you through the finished work of the Cross. Then when you come to a place where you believe this truth and you put it into practice, His healing power will begin to flow and transform every area of your life!
Hormones
For a woman, most of our well being depends on hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that dictate how our body behaves. Hormones control every function of our reproductive system and their levels constantly change throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postnatal period. Once pregnant, your placenta and unborn baby constantly produce hormones and the physical and emotional changes are the result of this. Some of the emotional changes that hormones can cause are: depression, anxiety, irritability, crying spells, exhaustion, behavioral changes and the inability to concentrate and so forth. Both my estrogen and progesterone levels were off balance during my pregnancy and after the birth of my first child, Kaitlin (I had blood tests that diagnosed this). I had mood swings and was extremely sensitive. What would have been a ‘mole hill’ in my life, became like a giant mountain. This change in behavior almost damaged relationships with close friends and family. Even though some of my concerns were valid, my irrational behavior was out of line. I would constantly worry about things that were said to me and I would dwell on what could happen in the future. I had to meditate and confess Scriptures on the renewal of my mind for me to be at peace and to regain control of my emotions.
Hormones, like any other part of your body, have to bow down to the name of Jesus. Command them to function properly at every stage from conception, the maintenance of the pregnancy to childbirth and then to return to normal after the birth, decreasing the risk of problems in the postnatal period such as postnatal depression. Listed below are some of the most commonly known hormones and their function throughout childbearing. This is a basic outline only and you will need to refer to childbirth books for more detail.
ESTROGEN (Made in the ovaries). This hormone helps with regulating the menstrual cycle, ovulation, implantation of the fertilized egg, childbirth and lactation. It helps with the development of the muscle in the uterus and the endometrial lining. Estrogen levels rise during pregnancy and drop dramatically after the birth. This is responsible for what is commonly known as the ‘third day or baby blues’.
PROGESTERONE (Made in the ovaries). This hormone maintains the pregnancy by decreasing uterine contractions (relaxant). The progesterone level rises in early pregnancy and is responsible for the ‘discomforts’ in pregnancy, such as edema (swelling), nausea, constipation, headaches, heartburn, reduced blood pressure, mood swings and so forth. Progesterone levels also drop dramatically after the birth.
HCG – Human chronic gonadotrophin This hormone ‘tells’ your body you’re pregnant. It also helps to implant the embryo in the uterine lining. HCG levels drop at 12 weeks because the placenta takes over production of progesterone at this time. HCG is also linked to morning sickness.
RELAXIN (Is secreted by the placenta). This hormone relaxes ligaments, the spine, pelvis, muscles and tissues in preparation for the birth. It also allows the uterus to expand. Relaxin can cause aches and pains in the joints.
ADRENALINE (produced in the adrenal gland and is commonly known as the “Fight or Flight” response). This hormone reacts to stress of various kinds. It alters our heart rate, breathing and activity of the uterus towards the end of labor. Stress increases the levels of adrenaline and too much can inhibit the labor. Adrenaline can also cross the placenta and agitate your baby.
ENDORPHINS (Produced in the brain and released during exercise, hard work or labor). This hormone can give us a ‘natural high’. They are natural tranquilizers and painkillers.. Endorphin levels rise during pregnancy and peak during childbirth.
OXYTOCIN This hormone stimulates the uterus to contract. In an induced birth, a synthetic hormone (Syntocin) is used to help trigger the contractions. Oxytocin also helps with expelling the placenta and assists with breast feeding.
PROSTAGLANDIN (This is a chemical, and is made by the lining of the womb just before labor). This helps the uterus to contract. It also ‘ripens’ the cervix, preparing it to dilate. Prostaglandin has also been found in male sperm.
PROLACTIN (Essential for ovulation and breast feeding). The release of this hormone stimulates milk production.