Prayer of Women in Time of Pregnancy

O all-glorious Mother of God, have mercy on me, thy handmaid, and come to my help in the time of my pains and trials, in which the wretched daughters of Eve bring forth their children. Remember, O blessed among women, with what joy and love thou didst go in haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, to visit thy kinswoman Elizabeth in the time of her pregnancy, and what a wonder thy gracious visit wrought upon mother and babe; and by thine inexhaustible mercy grant to me, thy most lowly handmaid, to be delivered of my burden in peace. Grant me this mercy, that the babe now in my womb, coming to understanding, may with joyful leaping, like the holy babe John, worship the divine Saviour, our Lord, who for love of us sinners did not disdain to become a babe Himself. By the ineffable joy with which thy virgin heart was filled when thou didst behold thy newborn Son and Lord, sweeten the sorrows that await me in the pains of childbirth. May the Life of the world, born of thee, my Saviour, deliver me from the death by which many mothers are cut off in the hour of birth, and may He number the fruit of my womb among the elect of God. O most holy Queen of heaven, hear this lowly prayer of mine, and look down upon me, poor and sinful, with thy gracious eye; put not my hope to shame for thy great mercy’s sake, and shelter me. O Helper of Christians, Healer of sicknesses, make me worthy now also to know thy motherly mercy upon me, that I may ever glorify thy grace, which never rejecteth the prayer of the poor and delivereth all who fall down before thee in the time of affliction and sickness. Amen.