Question 1

So many people are giving me advice. How do I know who to listen to?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 16:21The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.Colossians 2:8Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.The best advice usually comes from those who have already experienced the joy and pain of childbearing and from those who have qualified medical knowledge and experience. It helps if they are believers because they share the same value for life that you do.

Question 2

I’m anxious about the thought of labor and delivery. How can I find peace?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 29:11The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.While labor brings pain, it can also draw your eyes heavenward and bring you closer to God. When you openly declare your fears and weaknesses, God promises to draw near to you.

Question 3

Does God already know and have a plan for my baby?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 139:13-15You [God] made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! . . . You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.Psalm 139:16You [God] saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.Jeremiah 1:5“I [the Lord] knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”The shaping of a child’s life begins long before he or she was born, even before conception.

Question 4

I’m so afraid sometimes. What if something goes wrong?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 22:9You brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.Philippians 4:6-7Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.Trusting God takes prayerful effort. Walk with him each day, learning about his character and his promises. Only then will you experience firsthand God’s unlimited ability to care for your needs and give you peace.

Question 5

Will my child grow up to love the Lord?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 22:10I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.Psalm 71:6Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!2 Timothy 1:5-7I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.God’s love and salvation are available for even the smallest of his children. Part of your job as a parent is to help your children discover and receive God’s love. But no, you cannot ultimately do anything to guarantee their love for the Lord. There is much, however, that you can do to make it difficult for them to turn away. Concentrate on seeking God’s help throughout your parenting experience, apply God’s wisdom from Scripture into all areas of your life, and do the best you can with God’s help.

Pregnancy