If the word prenatal means “before birth,” then prenatal wounds refer to those that develop or have developed before delivery, while the fetus is or was still in the mother’s womb.

These wounds result from the blows a pregnant woman gives or receives during her pregnancy. These “blows” can include words, events, or actions. Thus, some people today suffer from inner wounds whose origins date back to when they were still in the womb.

Indeed, the emotional state of a pregnant woman can positively or negatively influence the development of the child she carries. Psychologists affirm that pregnancy is a period of psychic transmission. During the fetal period, the environment has a significant impact on the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development of the unborn child. Moreover, the attitudes and habits of a woman during pregnancy can have long-term effects on her child’s neurological development. This is why, for example, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, which in turn causes developmental delays in the fetus.

Generally speaking, pregnancy is a time of emotional vulnerability, but a pregnant woman should not forget the impact of her actions during this period. On this principle, the teaching of the Bible aligns with what scientists have discovered. In Luke 1:38–41:

“Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

As soon as Mary met Elizabeth, the joy produced by their encounter also affected the child in her womb, causing him to leap. While Mary’s unborn child was positively impacted, it is equally possible for a fetus to be negatively affected. The sadness felt by the mother—or even the parents—during the child’s conception can have harmful consequences for the future baby.

This sadness may sometimes result from the pregnancy being rejected, or because the child was conceived through an illicit union, such as rape, fornication, adultery, or incest. In other cases, it may be because the child was conceived during a time when the parents, even in the context of a legal union, had agreed not to have any more children—or simply because the pregnancy was unplanned. It may also stem from gender preference, or from the parents’ discovery via ultrasound that the baby would be born with a physical malformation, leading them—often for the sake of their image or without necessity—to opt for abortion.

I once watched a documentary that dealt with the stigma faced by people living with disabilities, and I was shocked to see a woman in the USA who decided to abort her child just days before birth because the ultrasound showed the baby would have a sixth finger on one hand.

Unfortunately for her, three abortion attempts failed, and the child was born. Do you really think that will have no consequences for the child? Or what about a child whose arrival caused strife and disrupted the harmony between parents, compared to one whose announcement brought joy—will their emotional states be the same?

This is why an infant may sometimes react with suspicion when in contact with their mother—something that may not occur in the arms of a third party. In such cases, the infant’s behavior can severely impact breastfeeding.

From the moment of conception, the child needs an environment of peace, love, and security—through which they can feel loved, welcomed, or accepted. If these are lacking, wounds begin to be activated by the parents or parental figures. These wounds may also involve the extended family.

Many who suffer from such wounds grow to harbor hatred, anger, and rebellion toward God, doubting His love or goodness. They may even begin to believe that God is powerless—or doubt His existence—leading to deep despair.

Besides a distorted relationship with God, people with such wounds may also develop a poor relationship with themselves, resulting in self-hatred and an inability to love themselves. Yet, in Matthew 22:39, we read: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Clearly, love for others is modeled on and sourced from self-love. If self-love is broken, love for others will also be flawed. This leads to low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness, which can negatively affect how one relates to others.

Let us be clear: self-love in this biblical context does not refer to self-glorification, arrogance, snobbery, egocentrism, or stubbornness. Rather, it means honoring God through the person He created us to be. These kinds of wounds can also damage relationships between children and parents, generating hatred and resentment. In some cases, wounded children become unable to give or receive love, or they may crave affection from others in exaggerated or unhealthy ways.

PERINATAL INNER WOUNDS

The word perinatal is an adjective derived from perinatality, which according to the Larousse Dictionary, refers to the period of life between the 22nd week of amenorrhea and the 7th completed day after birth, in terms of the fetus’s or newborn’s health and survival.

In simpler terms, it refers to the circumstances surrounding birth. Returning to the topic, perinatal wounds are those that develop or were developed during the birth process. Negative events during delivery can profoundly affect the newborn.

For example, birth-related accidents or complications such as hypoxia—a lack of oxygen to the brain—can result in both physical and mental disabilities. Among those living with various disabilities today, some have causes that go back to the day they were born.

This can also be true on a soul level when it comes to inner wounds. One example is Benjamin, whose original name at birth was Ben-Oni. The Bible describes the situation surrounding his birth as follows:

“Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, ‘Don’t despair, for you have another son.’ As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.” Genesis 35:16–18

Rachel had desperately wanted children, even once saying to her husband, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” (Genesis 30:1)

Is it not surprising that the one who cried out for children died while giving birth to one? As she lay dying from the pain of childbirth, she named the child Ben-Oni, which means Son of my sorrow! Read that again.

Imagine a child having to carry a name like that—a name that memorializes his mother’s suffering. Thankfully, Jacob, realizing the negative implications, hurried to rename him Benjamin, meaning Son of my right hand.

There are many “Ben-Onis” today (if you’ll forgive the grammar) who remained so because they never encountered someone wise like Jacob. As a result, they languish under the weight of a name that reminds them—or others—of the pain their birth caused their mothers or, in some cases, their families.

These inner wounds are exacerbated when people face stigma, humiliation, and mockery from siblings, family members, or others—constantly reminded that their birth was associated with pain or misfortune.

For many, such wounds produce self-hatred, feelings of worthlessness, and anger toward God for not stopping what happened to them. They may resent their parents and anyone else involved in what caused the wound. Others become delinquent, rebellious toward God, their parents, or guardians. In still other cases, those who suffer these wounds may develop sadistic tendencies—a perverse desire to cause suffering.

A pastor friend once told me the story of Liz (a pseudonym), a woman with a physical disability caused by an accident at birth due to a midwife’s negligence.

At age 16, when her mother told her what had happened, Liz developed a deep hatred for the midwife—whom she didn’t even know. From that day on, she resolved to one day work in a hospital as a midwife so she could inflict the same suffering on other newborns. Thankfully, through teachings on inner healing, she was freed from her desire for revenge and never acted on that plan.

Just imagine how many innocent lives could have suffered because someone thought they could heal their pain through retaliation. How cruel! That’s how serious a soul wound can be…

This text is an excerpt from the book “Healing of Inner Wounds“ written by Rémy BISAGA.

We invite you to read the next article: “The Renewal of the Mind.”

PRENATAL. PRENATAL. PRENATAL. PRENATAL.

PRENATAL. PRENATAL. PRENATAL. PRENATAL.