Conscious Conception or Intentional Conception is an idea that involves spiritual, practical, and physical calling in of your baby. It is family planning at a deeper level that acknowledges practical, physical, relational, and spiritual preparation for parenthood. It is the practice of bringing awareness and intention to the pre-pregnancy time. Conscious conception is uniquely designed by you. It can happen in the days, weeks, months, or years before you start trying to conceive.
What does it look like?
The Practical: This is an assessment of the structures in your life, and an opportunity to shift anything that needs shifting. Are your finances are secure enough to welcome a new human to your family? Does the space you live in feel stable and like a true home. What is your work situation and that of your partner (if you have one)?
The Physical: During this time, you may want to start connecting with your body, noticing what health challenges and achievements you have. This would be a good time to start learning about the Fertility Awareness Method and getting a better understanding of your menstrual cycle and hormonal fluctuations. You may work toward healthy habits like a cleaner diet with more dark leafy greens and plenty of high quality fat, good hydration, and a regular movement practice. This is a fantastic time to incorporate nourishing herbs into your life and exploring womb-specific manual therapies like Visceral Manipulation, Mercier Therapy, and any self-massage.
The Relational: Pregnancy, birth, and parenthood are always smoother with a strong and connected support system of friends, family, and care providers. This is a wonderful time to connect with your partner on a new level, and having bravery to work through any relevant unresolved issues or disagreements. Begin to talk through the realities of what parenting a new or additional child may look like. This can also be an opportunity to look outward, find birth stories, images, and videos so you can begin to visualize yourself in your ideal birth. If you already have children, you might consider beginning to think about the family unit and how it will change with a new addition.
The spiritual: Spiritual connection to yourself, your baby, your partner, your family unit. This can look so many different ways. You can use meditation, breath, deep relaxation, or anything that encourages a turning inward. You may want to connect with your “spirit baby” to let them know you’re getting ready to welcome them. You may explore your internal landscape as you prepare to become a parent to a first or another child.
Why it’s important
As an advocate for bodily autonomy, autonomous and powerful pregnancy, birth, and reproductive experiences, I consider intentional conception to be an incredibly important first step in any parent’s journey. Of course it’s possible to have a wholly fulfilling pregnancy and transition to parenthood without conscious conception practices, and also..bringing thought and intention before pregnancy can often help make the transition smoother, and help you build confidence, self-efficacy, and a sense of autonomy and power in your body.
For families using assisted reproductive technologies like IUI or IVF, or for those who are adopting, there is already a high level of intention and effort in the planning to welcome their new child. Regardless of the route it takes to expand your family, intention and consciousness around conception, however it occurs, is important. For these families, it may be helpful to cultivate to the spiritual and relational aspects of conscious conception, to connect with your baby and bring some intuition and feeling to processes that can often feel logistics- and process-heavy.
Lastly, conscious conception practices can help support you through fertility challenges. Internal reflection and time spent in the spiritual realm can be important tools of resilience with difficulty achieving or maintaining pregnancy.
The “Calling in Your Pregnancy” package is uniquely designed for each person’s individual situation and fertility journey.
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