Pregnancy Relationships

The intersection of motherhood and creative life is explored in these writings on mothering that turn the spotlight from the child to the mother herself. Here, in memoirs, testimonials, diaries, essays, and fiction, mothers describe firsthand the changes brought to their lives by pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering.

Pregnancy is not just a trek from one medical appointment to another but a journey of the heart. Here at last is a guidebook through its sacred terrain. For each week, Orthodox doula Laura Jansson provides a new reflection on a theme specific to the ground covered at that stage. From one milestone to the next, she helps us unearth the spiritual treasures buried within the physical experiences of childbearing. These are gifts of love from a merciful God who reaches out to us, making a perilous expedition into a path of salvation.

After a trauma at age one, Jay J. Jackson experienced parallel memories that revealed he'd been in two separate hospital settings as an infant, and his distress over these conflicting memories caused his lifelong struggle. As an adult, Jay sought treatment only to be chased out of multiple doctors' offices, doctors who branded him immoral for suggesting circumcision is harmful. Jay passionately details his experiences with circumcision sexual trauma and exposes the history behind how it became common in America. Listen to this blistering exposé into history's most loathed body part.

Your guide to the emotions of pregnancy and early motherhood, from two of America’s top reproductive psychiatrists. With a combined 30 years of counseling new and expectant mothers, Dr. Sacks and Dr. Birndorf have seen firsthand how the pressure to be perfect, and perfectly happy, leaves women feeling confused and even ashamed of the emotions that can bubble up during pregnancy. Now, in What No One Tells You, the two psychiatrists show why it’s natural for “matrescence” - the birth of a mother - to be as stressful and transformative a period as adolescence.

Pregnancy isn't just about creating a baby. It's also about the powerful transformation we go through on the journey to becoming "mama". We created The Motherly Guide to Becoming Mama to coach and inspire you each step of the way. This is the pregnancy book we wish we'd had - a mama-centered guide that doesn't just focus on your baby's needs, but honors and coaches you through this profound life change.

Discover your roadmap to a positive birth! A positive birth comes in many forms - for some it’s an early effective epidural; for another it’s a serene water birth or a calm planned cesarean. What I know for sure is that a positive birth is defined by you - not your best friend, mom, or even your OB or midwife. The award-winning GentleBirth program combines brain science, birth science, and technology so you can feel inspired, excited, and uplifted every day of your pregnancy - and beyond.

This modern hypnobirthing book shows you how you can incorporate hypnobirthing techniques into every stage of your pregnancy, creating a safe space for you and your baby to return to time and again.

In this updated and expanded version of Isa Gucciardi’s acclaimed Return to the Great Mother, the listener is invited to rediscover the transformative feminine power at the heart of childbirth. Mothers, their partners, and birth professionals will learn how to tap into this ancient wellspring of power to create a birthing experience that is deeply intuitive and empowering.

A book sharing common, honest experiences of pregnancy, labour and the months after that aren't commonly shared! So many aspects of these phases aren't talked about despite most women experiencing them, so the author shares these details through her own personal stories, alongside a bit of "medicalish" reasoning behind why these things happen. The hope is to better prepare those embarking on this journey with a little entertainment and a laugh along the way.

Pregnancy is no walk in the park, and being the rock your partner and future child need is an enormous undertaking. While the thought of embarking on this unchartered path can be overwhelming, you’re more than capable of overcoming your fears. Start with this comprehensive guide filled with practical advice and information on how to up your dad game and become a confident and fearless father.

Juniper French was born four months early, at 23 weeks' gestation. She weighed one pound, four ounces, and her twiggy body was the length of a Barbie doll. Her head was smaller than a tennis ball, her skin was nearly translucent, and through her chest you could see her flickering heart. Babies like Juniper, born at the edge of viability, trigger the question: Which is the greater act of love - to save her or to let her go? Kelley and Thomas French chose to fight for Juniper's life, and this is their incredible tale.

Are you finding it hard to tell whether you’re excited or just scared pants-less? Of course you’re excited, but still, what the heck are you supposed to do now? Relax, and take a deep breath - all dads have been in your same shoes once before. Finding out that you’re going to be a dad is one of the most rewarding moments in life, but yes, it certainly comes with a lot of questions and concerns.

Camille couldn't be having a better summer - she kills it as Ophelia in her community theater's production of Hamlet, catches the eye of the cutest boy in the play, and nabs a spot in a prestigious theater program. But on the very night she learns she got into the program, she also finds out she's pregnant. She definitely can't tell her parents. And her best friend Bea doesn't agree with the decision Camille has made. Camille is forced to try to solve her problem alone - and the system is very much working against her.

Why, despite our state-of-the-art medical technology, does the United States have among the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the industrialized world? Why do pregnant women who are planning to breastfeed receive "free" samples of infant formula from American obstetricians? Why are American newborns given a vaccine at birth against hepatitis B, a sexually transmitted disease? The Business of Baby arms parents with the information they need to make informed decisions about their own health and the health of their infants.

The ultimate guide for developing and maintaining a safe and secure relationship as you learn how to navigate life after having children. Learn to improve your communication, strengthen your connection, and manage common postpartum challenges as a team.

One in three births is traumatic. It doesn’t have to be that way. Rebecca planned to give birth at the hospital affiliated with her university. But hospital practices and policies that were more than 20 years out of date left her with complications that seemed preventable. Embark on a journey with Rebecca as she exposes the stark realities of institutional care during childbirth and reveals inspirational solutions for parents and professionals alike.

We are so, so sorry that you’ve found yourself here. It’s the gang you’d never chose to join but it is also a community chock-a-block full of kind, supportive warrior women just like you. We are here to tell you that you are entitled to grieve and that your grief is not disproportionate to your loss. We are here to open up the dialogue around miscarriage, so we don’t perpetuate the shame, judgement and isolation so many of us feel following pregnancy loss. We are here to equip you with knowledge, tools and guidance to support and help you in whatever way you need.

Are you interested in a natural birth? Are you looking for a guide to help you prepare and understand the process? Are you worried about managing pain, building a birthing team, and planning for the delivery, but don't know where to start? If so, you're not alone.

Raise self-confident, self-reliant children using the RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) approach. Your baby knows more than you think. That's the heart of the principles and teachings of Magda Gerber, founder of RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers), and Educaring. Baby Knows Best is based on Gerber's belief in babies' natural abilities to develop at their own pace, without coaxing from helicoptering or hovering parents. The Educaring Approach helps parents see their infants as competent people with a growing ability to communicate, problem-solve, and self-soothe.

Pregnancy is undoubtedly a beautiful and exciting time for any woman - while simultaneously stressful, worrying, and bewildering! What if I told you that just by listening to this book, you are significantly more likely to have a fun, safe, calm, healthy, and stress-free pregnancy experience? Perhaps this is your first pregnancy. Or maybe you have experienced a particularly tough pregnancy in the past, and you are keen to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Or maybe you aren’t actually pregnant right now, but you are planning for the future.