Strangely enough, holding “The Gift of Giving Life” in my hands for the first time was not unlike holding a new baby.  As I read each of 20-some essays, I was able to experience what each mother experienced.  I held their babies in my arms and walked in their shoes, and I feel wiser for it. 

Covering topics such as pain, fear, patience, loss, faith, preparation, scriptural history of infertility, the importance of giving birth, the symbolism of Christ’s atonement in giving birth, the equality of men and women’s roles in this process, trust in God’s will for us–this book has really helped me to see many of the lessons that are “built-in” to the process of “giving life.” 

In just the first few essays, the book showed me how little I understood about the power that I held and then worked quickly to fill in the gaps and help me connect the spiritual dots.

Amazingly the lessons extend beyond giving birth and into the very way that we experience life.

… I would go on and share each insight from the book that rocked my world, but I found it so deeply personal that it’s difficult to articulate.  Each woman, whether you’ve given birth or not, will take something (many things) extremely personal and faith-building away from the essays in this book.

Cherylyn requested that I (Lani) write a guest post for her blog. Here’s an excerpt:

I believe God sometimes prepares “lands of promise” where significant events in our lives are to occur. Sometimes we are guided to those places without our seeking direction, but I feel confident that God delights when we seek divine guidance.  As The Book of Mormon teaches us:

Blessed art thou, . . . because of thy faith, for thou has sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart.  And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands. (1 Nephi 2:19-20)

While it may not matter in every case, sometimes God has a specific place in mind for a child’s birth.

Click HERE to read more.

Her words are beautiful,

“There was an underlying message throughout all of the pages of this book. And the message that spoke to me, was faith. Faith in our divinely designed bodies. Faith in the precious spirits that we help to nurture and bring to this earth. Faith in the deeply spiritual and symbolic process of childbirth itself. And most importantly, faith in our Heavenly Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ. And faith that when we are acting as a co-creator with God, we will never be alone.”

We hope you will check the rest of her review on her blog!

Look to the right sidebar and fill out your name and e-mail in the Free Meditation and Tips box.

The 5 of us: Felice, Lani, Robyn, Sheridan and Heather collaborated to create a book celebrating the amazing gift of giving life.

Our book celebrates the power we have as women and give support to help you through pregnancy and birth.

Look at what people are saying-

More relevant than ALL other pregnancy/birth books

“I am so glad this book was written. I have read lots and lots and LOTS of pregnancy/birth/early parenting books, but I have never read a book as pertinent to me as this one. I bought 4 copies; one for my doula buddy, and the other 2 for my pregnant sisters. I can’t wait to give them away! THANK YOU ladies for all that you put into this work. Your time and hard work are evident, and The Gift of Giving Life will have a prominent place on my bookshelf and in my soul. Also, my husband is annoyed because reading it makes me want another baby. ”  - Amber

Most Amazing Book I have Ever Read

“I preordered a book and it showed up late last week… I have NOT been able to put it down. I’m only half way through, but it’s already one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. It has touched my heart and spirit in amazing ways. It has helped me to see the recent birth of my daughter in a much more spiritual manner. I already ordered another copy for a friend who just found out she is expecting with her first… I just want to buy a copy for everyone! Thank you so much all the sacrifice and love that went into creating this book.”   – Michelle

It is for EVERY woman, regardless of age or parental status

I just spent two hours, outdoors, reading this incredibly beautiful book. I highly recommend it. It’s not just for women in the birthing years. It is for every woman, regardless of age or parental status. I’ll be reviewing in on WBMW, probably next week. That’s how much I think of this piece of work. ♥  - Kathryn

Click here to buy your copy!

Here is just a taste:

I found a beautiful book.  And I am not just saying that because they gave me a free copy- it really is an amazing piece of work.  I have read lots of birth books but never anything like this.  It is full of personal experiences, birth stories, intimate and personal understanding, scripture and practical information and knowledge.  The most striking thing about “The Gift of Giving Life” though was that they managed to be informative AND kind and non-judgmental.  That alone is a feat in itself.

She talked about how she is passionate about Natural Childbirth and how the book resonated with her because of that.  She also said,

But here is the truly amazing thing about this book.  It spoke to me as a natural birth advocate- it resonated with me.  Then it went farther- this isn’t just a book for women who home birth or women who skipped the epidural- it is a book for all women.  It honors all women in all the ways they give (or don’t) birth.

There are stories within about adoption, infertility, c-section, induction, unassisted birth, and everything within the spectrum of birth and motherhood.  “The Gift of Giving Life” covers all the bases.  It honors and embraces and respects all women as mothers no matter how they choose or must give birth.

I love Kathryn’s blog and her incredible insights. I was so excited when she told me that after getting her copy of the book she ordered 4 more copies for each of her daughters for Mother’s Day!

Here is a bit of what she says about the book in her review:

Page after page, of this lovely book, brought back so many beautiful feelings, and memories, about the sacredness of giving birth, that for this, now Nana, also brought some tears of joy. The gift of giving life is the crowning blessing of being a woman. Whether you’re just beginning this magical journey, or find yourself at the place where you can look back on the miraculous process that you’ve already passed, it is an experience that will forever change how a woman looks into, and toward eternity.

“My views on birth changed in some ways too, to being more compassionate for the variety of experiences women have in childbirth and the journey that brings them there. I felt like my Heavenly Parents were helping me see birth and womanhood through Their loving eyes.” -Robyn

Enjoy!

You will find a nice interview with Meleah, the woman behind the scenes that kept us organized.  Find out how she became a part of the Gift of Giving Life team.