According to some of the ecclesiastical writers, the spiritual state of the child is in great measure determined by the parent’s state in the moment of conception. The spouses whose love is sacred need to take care of the purity of their heart.

It is very important to ask for the help of the priest before giving birth. Either it is your spiritual father or just an ordinary priest, ask him to read a prayer for you to have an easy delivery. (Archpriest Artemie Vladimirov)

(Translation from: Cum să educăm ortodox copilul: 300 de sfaturi înțelepte pentru părinți de la sfinți și mari duhovnici, traducere de Adrian Tănăsescu-Vlas, Editura Sophia, București, 2011, pp. 30-31)