Giving Birth to Motherhood (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9783982046860)

On the other side of pregnancy and birth lies the journey of motherhood. But when you enter that phase of life burdened by a traumatic birth experience, you might find it harder to bond with your baby, connect with your new identity, and move forward in your relationships.

Sometimes having a healthy baby and having survived the birth is not enough. And yet it's not always obvious that a birth was problematic, or that it could be holding you back from healing. Giving Birth to Motherhood will help you explore what you envisioned for your birth, understand what actually happened, and write throughout the process to find catharsis. With easy journal prompts and short chapters, you will:

• Make sense of what made the experience challenging
• Know how to balance emotions with the logical events that occurred
• Feel supported with tools on how to navigate what emerges as you write
• Bring clarity to what you remember and what you want to remember
• Have a story that you feel comfortable sharing
• Understand how your story can change the system
• And step into motherhood as a whole being

Amie and Katie are both mothers with a passion for helping people heal. Amie is an editor and author who believes in the incredible power of the written word. Katie is a transformative grief guide and licensed counselor who is on a mission to help others face the hidden grief in their lives.

"Our birth experience is the crux of womanhood for many and is often met with complicated emotions. As a therapist who primarily works with new moms (and a mother of two myself) this book is the perfect companion to heal, laugh and connect with the inner part of us that was awakened at birth. I will be recommending this book to my postpartum clients and will keep a copy on my own bookshelf for years to come." - Kelly Houseman MS, LPC, NCC

"A must-read after any birth, but especially if you had anything go wrong or experienced any trauma. This book can help you sort through all those feelings and shed some baggage so you can become the mother you were always meant to be." - Melissa Gersin, BSN, RN

"I absolutely enjoyed reading this book and participating in the interactive self exploration it evokes. I loved how simple it was to follow, but deep enough to make you stop and think about how your own experiences throughout life have set you up for the experiences of motherhood. This book would be fantastic for any person looking to gain self-awareness from their own journey, and apply it to the creation of their own 'ideal' family structure." - Danielle Cauley, LPC, PMH-C, CSA C Canary Counseling