The Breath & Birth Co Podcast
Welcome to The Breath & Birth Co Podcast — a space for mindful preparation and grounded transformation through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
Hosted by Vanessa Bauman, Certified Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Prenatal Yoga, Breathwork, and Meditation Teacher, this podcast bridges evidence-based education with intuitive wisdom to help you feel informed, empowered, and at peace throughout your journey.
Each episode invites you to pause, breathe, and learn through guided meditations, expert interviews, and real birth stories that nurture your mind-body connection and strengthen your confidence.
Whether you’re preparing for your first birth, planning a VBAC, or seeking a calmer start to parenthood, you’ll find tools, stories, and support to help you cultivate calm, confidence, and connection every step of the way.
(Educational content only; not a substitute for medical advice. Visit breathandbirthco.com/disclaimer for full details.)
Keywords:
- pregnancy podcast
- prenatal education
- childbirth education
- evidence-based birth
- doula tips
- birth stories
- pregnancy meditation
- prenatal yoga
- mindfulness for pregnancy
- labor preparation
- birth plan support
- calm birth techniques
- cesarean birth preparation
- hospital birth advocacy
- breathing exercises for labor
- relaxation for pregnancy
- postpartum recovery tips
- mind-body connection
- birth confidence
- pregnancy affirmations
The Breath & Birth Co Podcast
33. Ocean Waves Visualization, Riding the Waves of Labor: Meditation for Pregnancy and Labor
In today’s guided meditation, we invite you to connect to the natural rhythm of labor through the soothing rise and fall of ocean waves. This practice is all about trusting your body, surrendering to each wave, and flowing through birth with confidence and calm.
What to Expect in This Meditation
This meditation takes you on an imaginative ride along the ocean’s currents—mirroring the waves of labor. Through deep breathing, visualization, and affirmations, you’ll practice surrendering to the natural build and release of each contraction. You’ll be guided to breathe with the waves, not against them, allowing you to trust the rhythm of your body during birth.
Ideal For:
- Preparing for labor, especially if you’re hoping for an unmedicated birth
- Anyone wanting to practice surrender and trust during pregnancy
- Reducing fear or anxiety around contractions or labor sensations
- Building a deeper mind-body connection before birth
- Visual learners who connect well to imagery and nature-based metaphors
Featured Affirmations:
🌊 I trust my body.
🌊 I surrender to the rhythm of labor.
🌊 Each wave brings me closer to my baby.
🌊 I ride these waves with ease and confidence.
Why This Meditation Is Beneficial
The fear-tension-pain cycle can make contractions feel more overwhelming. By practicing how to breathe with each “wave” (instead of bracing against it), you’re training your mind and body to work with labor, not against it. This meditation offers:
- A natural rhythm to anchor your breathing during contractions
- A mental framework to welcome sensations instead of fearing them
- Affirmations that build inner trust and strength
- A calming, sensory-rich visualization to ground you in the present moment
When to Use This Meditation
- During pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, as part of your labor prep routine
- As part of your daily mindfulness practice to build resilience
- In early labor to establish a calm and steady breathing pattern
- In active labor (with headphones or a birth partner guiding you) to ride each contraction like a wave
- Anytime you’re feeling anxious or disconnected and need to re-center
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As a reminder, the content discussed on this show is not medical advice. For more information, please see Disclaimer here.