Hello and welcome to this Pregnancy After Loss meditation track.
My name is Lucy and I'm here today to guide you through this meditation which has been designed specifically for anybody navigating pregnancy after loss.
This meditation is to help you nurture and invite a sense of hope which I know is so so very hard to do.
I too have walked this path before and I understand how incredibly difficult this can be.
But what really got me through my pregnancies was this sense of hope,
A sense of a possibility so I'd like to invite you to follow along with this meditation today and all I say is come with an open heart and open mind and be accepting of whatever shows up for you during today's practice.
If at any time the practice feels too much,
Too strong then maybe just leave the practice and try again another day.
There's no pressure,
Just see what you find and most of all show yourself some compassion and some kindness.
So finding somewhere then to rest comfortably,
Wherever you are,
Maybe using a cushion or a blanket to support the body,
Making sure that you won't be interrupted.
This is only a short practice but this is just time for you.
This is time for you and for your baby.
So getting yourself set up now comfortably,
Choosing a position that feels relaxed but dignified,
Resting back on the surface that supports the body and really allowing yourself to be held,
To be held in this moment now,
Here with me.
So just gently checking in with the physical body,
So maybe beginning at the very top of your head and gently scanning your awareness down your body,
Lightly touching with your awareness every little area,
Gently scanning down past your head,
Neck,
Shoulders,
Chest,
Front of the body,
Back of the body,
Hips,
Lower legs,
Ankles and feet.
Just becoming aware of the whole of your body in this moment now,
The sensations,
The points in your body that feel supported and held by the surface,
Beneath it and behind it.
So you're really just being aware of your body in this moment now and welcoming in all of the sensations,
Sensations that feel pleasant but there may also be sensations that feel unpleasant.
So as best as you can just trying to welcome them all in.
We're practicing here in this space a kind acceptance,
A loving attitude,
Focusing in on the present moment here and accepting whatever we find exactly as it is.
Noticing your body breathing now,
How the body breathes with the in-breath and the out-breath,
How the body moves and rocks very gently as you breathe in and breathe out.
And taking your attention to the back of your body,
So the back of your body as you breathe.
Focusing on any area in the back,
It may be the upper back,
The lower back,
The middle of your back.
Choosing to place your awareness on wherever in the back of your body you notice the movements the most as you breathe in and breathe out.
It can be really really soothing to focus on the breath in the back of the body.
Noticing how the back of your body expands with the in-breath and subsides with the out-breath.
That gentle natural rhythm.
And you don't have to do anything to interfere with this process of breathing.
The body is breathing all by itself.
So as you focus on your breath,
I'd like to invite you just to listen to my words.
Pregnancy after loss can be an extremely anxiety-provoking experience.
And it's absolutely normal to feel a mix of different emotions.
But I'd like to invite into your awareness today the possibility of hope.
Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly.
Connecting with this present moment now and this new life growing inside of you.
Listen to the following words.
And if it feels right you can even repeat them silently for yourself.
I honour my journey.
I acknowledge the loss I have experienced and the love I have carried and the strength I hold within me.
I connect with this new life growing inside of me and I welcome in the possibility of joy.
Even as I hold space for the love that I have known.
With each breath I nurture hope.
And imagining now a soft golden light surrounding your heart and your belly.
And imagine that this light represents hope and love.
Feeling it radiate warm through your entire body,
Reaching every corner,
Every space.
Allow these feelings to embrace all of you.
Continuing to breathe while connecting to your baby.
Allowing yourself to feel hope and continuing to breathe.
Resting here in this moment together now,
Just for a few moments longer.
In the safety of this space.
So as we bring this meditation practice to a close,
Know that you are seen.
I understand the complexities that this journey creates.
A fear of hoping just in case something goes wrong.
A fear that something goes wrong again.
But in this journey we are allowed to feel hope.
Because inside of you,
You have created life.
And today,
In this moment,
Your baby is healthy.
Your baby is safe.
So hold hope in the moment.
Maybe if hope feels too much for the future,
Maybe hold it now in this moment.
This moment that you know to be true.
Taking each day,
Moment by moment,
Breath by breath.
Showing yourself compassion where you need.
And allowing all of the feelings,
The heartache,
The joy,
The optimism,
The guilt,
Whatever shows up.
This is completely normal.
But making time to acknowledge and honour these feelings is all part of the process.
It's all part of helping to find some ease.
So show yourself some compassion today.
That you have carved out this small amount of time to complete this practice.
So gently relaxing your arms down if they are still connected to your body and your baby.
Gently opening the eyes if the eyes have been closed and taking a deep breath in and releasing that breath.
Thank you so much for joining me for this meditation practice today.
I'm sending you all my love wherever you are,
Whoever you are in the world.
You take care.
