Prayers for Pregnancy
St. Gerard Majella is the Church's patron of expectant mothers, and his novena is the classic pregnancy prayer. Psalm 138 — 'thou hast possessed my reins... I was made in secret' — is scripture's own meditation on the child being knit together.
Traditional prayers
Memorare
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
From Scripture
13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from my mother's womb.
14I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well.
— Psalm 138 (139), vv. 13-14, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
41And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.
42And she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
— Luke 1, vv. 41-42, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
Psalm numbers follow the Douay-Rheims (Vulgate) numbering; the common Hebrew numbering appears in parentheses.
Pray a novena
Patron saints for this intention
How to use these prayers
Many parishes offer a blessing for expectant mothers — ask after any Mass; no appointment needed.