Question:
Virtuous Sheikh, what is your advice for a woman during childbirth, and what should she read from the Quran?
Answer:
By Allah, I do not see any advice to offer a woman who has gone into labor except that she attach her heart to Allah, Almighty and Majestic, turn to Him, and ask Him for relief—especially when the labor pains intensify.
As for reading something specific, I do not know of anything specific that she should read. However, in the case of a difficult labor, a person may write verses in a vessel that indicate the relieving or bringing forth of things, such as: ‘When the earth is shaken with its (final) earthquake. And when the earth throws out its burdens.’ [Al-Zalzalah: 1-2]
And His saying, the Most High: ‘Allah knows what every female bears, and by how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) or exceed.’ [Ar-Ra’d :8]
And His saying, the Most High: ‘(The learned men) refer to Him (Alone) the knowledge of the Hour. No fruit comes out of its sheath, nor does a female conceive (within her womb), nor brings forth (young), except by His Knowledge.’ [Fussilat :47], and similar verses. Then, she is given this to drink, and her lower abdomen is wiped with it. This facilitates childbirth, yes.