Childbirth is something that’s always frightened me, as I don’t have a very good tolerance for pain. However, as your beautiful article reminded me, childbirth is only the beginning of the sacrifice of motherhood. Such a daunting prospect but also a beautiful vocation.
Ooooooh girl I could talk about birth for literal days 😂 I’ve got some great book recommendations on the pain // pain management side of things, so if you ever want to read about that, I’ll be happy to share!
But yes - much like marriage prep and weddings, we tend to focus a disproportionate amount on the one-day event and less on the lifelong commitment that follows, much to the chagrin of many wives and mothers I know 🙃
Made for This Birth is a great one, as is Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. There’s one called “Husband Coached Childbirth” or “Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way” that have some helpful pain management reccs but they haven’t been updated since the 70s lol so everything else is a bit dated. And then there’s one called Brave New Birth that’s SUPER woo-woo and hippie because it’s about free birth (no midwife or doctor involved) - not my cuppa tea but the book had a TON of helpful info if you don’t mind sifting through some new agey mess.
You’ve painted such a compelling picture. I’ve often wondered what St. Paul meant when he wrote to St. Timothy that women “will be saved through childbearing” (1 Tim. 2:15) -- my non-denom Protestant brain would always squeal with frustration: doesn’t Paul know it’s Jesus that saves?! -- but what you’ve written is a helpful way of understanding it. The self-gift of mother’s body to hungry baby (and all the various mental, emotional, and physical stripes mother endures for baby’s healing/health/wholeness) require of her “faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” Saved, indeed!
Also so interesting that you bring up fatherhood. From the womb of womanhood are born both children and men, one in body and the other in virtue, it seems.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! There is certainly no other time in my life in which I’ve so keenly recognized the Lord’s presence and work in my heart. There’s a lot in Philippians 2 that’s also relevant, at least in my reading. This is the little way in which the Lord is allowing me to “work out [my] own salvation with fear and trembling”... although goodness knows I could use a reminder about the grumbling every now and then 😅
Beautiful.
Thank you!
Childbirth is something that’s always frightened me, as I don’t have a very good tolerance for pain. However, as your beautiful article reminded me, childbirth is only the beginning of the sacrifice of motherhood. Such a daunting prospect but also a beautiful vocation.
Ooooooh girl I could talk about birth for literal days 😂 I’ve got some great book recommendations on the pain // pain management side of things, so if you ever want to read about that, I’ll be happy to share!
But yes - much like marriage prep and weddings, we tend to focus a disproportionate amount on the one-day event and less on the lifelong commitment that follows, much to the chagrin of many wives and mothers I know 🙃
Please do, I’d love to check them out!
Made for This Birth is a great one, as is Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. There’s one called “Husband Coached Childbirth” or “Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way” that have some helpful pain management reccs but they haven’t been updated since the 70s lol so everything else is a bit dated. And then there’s one called Brave New Birth that’s SUPER woo-woo and hippie because it’s about free birth (no midwife or doctor involved) - not my cuppa tea but the book had a TON of helpful info if you don’t mind sifting through some new agey mess.
Thank you so much! I’m definitely going to check these out. From what I’ve heard, the Bradley Method sounds really good.
You’ve painted such a compelling picture. I’ve often wondered what St. Paul meant when he wrote to St. Timothy that women “will be saved through childbearing” (1 Tim. 2:15) -- my non-denom Protestant brain would always squeal with frustration: doesn’t Paul know it’s Jesus that saves?! -- but what you’ve written is a helpful way of understanding it. The self-gift of mother’s body to hungry baby (and all the various mental, emotional, and physical stripes mother endures for baby’s healing/health/wholeness) require of her “faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” Saved, indeed!
Also so interesting that you bring up fatherhood. From the womb of womanhood are born both children and men, one in body and the other in virtue, it seems.
Such a beautiful mystery! So much to ponder.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! There is certainly no other time in my life in which I’ve so keenly recognized the Lord’s presence and work in my heart. There’s a lot in Philippians 2 that’s also relevant, at least in my reading. This is the little way in which the Lord is allowing me to “work out [my] own salvation with fear and trembling”... although goodness knows I could use a reminder about the grumbling every now and then 😅