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Book Review: The Gift of Giving LifeThis book review is a stop on the Virtual Book Tour for The Gift of Giving Life.

Book Synopsis(from the author’s web page):

The Gift of Giving Life: Rediscovering the Divine Nature of Pregnancy and Birth offers something that no other book has before–a spiritual look at pregnancy, birth and mothering by and for LDS women and other women of faith.

The Gift of Giving Life does not advocate for any one type of birth or approach to prenatal care, rather it intends to unify families and communities in regard to the sacredness of birth. We also aim to provide you with resources, information, and inspiration that you may not have had access to all in one place before.

We have been commanded to “multiply and replenish the earth,” but with this commandment we were also given a reason: that we might have joy. We hope that this book brings peace, joy, and comfort to families everywhere.

As a self proclaimed student of LDS birthing culture, I read this book with a sense of familiarity. Among the many discussions, interviews, and shared birth stories I have had with LDS women, the sense of a connection to a Heavenly Mother and the divine has always been apparent to me. No matter what choices these women have made, it is usually done in connection with the idea that birth and giving birth is sacred and often surrounded by rituals that provide LDS women with a sense of closeness to God. These include things such as prayer, song, meditation, blessings, and reverence for motherhood.

A few years ago, I recieved a question from one of my readers asking any advice in navagating the Mormon Mommy Culture when your plan is outside the mainstream, and how she could find common ground. I answered with some of the above thoughts of prayer or blessings, but this book answers this question far better than I could. It discusses common doctrine believed among the LDS faith that may unite them, as well as interesting intellectual discussions on the meaning of life, birth, death, and motherhood. With stories and essays, it provides an insiders look into some of the dilemmas and questions inherent in following a faith and working to find meaning in our birth experiences that is common to all women.

This book compiles and completes many of the concepts I have discussed and written in the past, and provides a framework from which both birth workers and birthing mothers can begin to understand the sacred event, regardless of the choices made, that birth is among many LDS women.

Earn 3 Free Bonus Gifts when you buy a copy of The Gift of Giving Life by May 15th. Just visit The Gift of Giving Life to find out the details!

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Rachel has worked as a register nurse (BSN from University of Utah) since 2004 with a work history in Labor and Delivery, NICU and Postpartum Care. She is also the founder of New Beginnings Doula Training which she organized in 2011. When she's not busy being a mother and grandmother, she can be found reading research papers related to some aspect of childbirth.

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