These prayers are written for expectant mothers who want to bring their pregnancy, their baby, and their own fears and hopes before God. You can pray the full prayer at a quiet moment in the day, such as before a doctor’s appointment or at bedtime, or read the shorter version when you only have a minute. Read them aloud as written, or use them as a starting point and put your own words in their place.
Prayers for Expectant Mothers
Lord, you knew me before I knew I was carrying this child, and you have been present in every day of this pregnancy. I bring you my body, which feels tired some mornings and unfamiliar on others. Please keep my body strong and my baby growing well. Guide the doctors and midwives who care for us, and give them wisdom and steady hands. Calm the worry that comes when I lie awake counting kicks or wondering whether everything is as it should be.
I also ask you for the things I am still learning to carry. Help me trust you with the questions about labor, delivery, and the first months at home that I cannot answer yet. Give my partner patience and tenderness, and give my family and friends the wisdom to support me without adding pressure. Where I feel afraid of losing this baby, or of not being ready to be a mother, meet me there and remind me that you are already at work in both of our lives. Thank you for this child. Keep us both in your care from now until the day we meet face to face. Amen.
A Shorter Version to Pray in a Moment
Father, I am carrying a child, and I feel the weight of that today. Hold the baby and hold me. Steady my heart when fear rises, and let my body rest in your strength. Thank you for this life and for every day that brings us closer to meeting. Amen.
Scriptures to Pray Alongside
Psalm 139:13-14
13 For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
(WEB)
Pray these words over the baby you are carrying, thanking God that the child was knit together with care and that every part of this life is known to him. Let the verse steady you when you feel unsure about your body or the pregnancy.
Isaiah 46:4
Even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear. Yes, I will carry, and will deliver.
(WEB)
Bring this promise to God when you feel the strain of the coming months. Ask him to carry you as he has promised to carry his people, from the early weeks to the years that follow.
Psalm 121:7-8
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.
(WEB)
Use this verse to ask God to guard your going out and your coming in, whether you are heading to a clinic, a store, or back home at night. Let it turn your ordinary errands into moments of trust.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
(WEB)
When anxiety about labor, money, or the future crowds in, pray this passage slowly. Name each worry to God with thanksgiving, and ask for the peace that guards the heart and mind.
Luke 1:46-47
46 Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. 47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior…
(WEB)
Mary spoke these words while she was expecting a child, and they can become your own praise as well. Let them shape a prayer of gratitude for God’s faithfulness in your pregnancy.
How to Pray This Prayer
Many women find it helpful to pray the full prayer in the morning, while still sitting on the edge of the bed or at the kitchen table with a cup of something warm. Keep a small notebook nearby and write down any fear or hope that comes up as you pray, so you can bring it back to God later. Resting a hand on your belly while you pray can make the words feel more personal and connect your body with your prayer.
You can also invite your partner, a close friend, or a pastor to pray this prayer with you, speaking it aloud in turns or saying the closing line together. Some women choose to pray it again before a scan, a delivery, or a day when they feel especially tired. However you use these words, let them be a regular, honest conversation with the God who knows this child already.
A Blessing to Close
May the Lord keep this mother close and watch over the child she carries. May he give her strength for each day, peace for each night, and the assurance that she does not walk this road alone. May the baby grow in health and be welcomed with joy when the time comes.
