A Sacred Beginning - by Sarah Brangwynne & Sarah Rose Oxnard (Paperback)

About the Book

"A daily devotional that addresses the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of a mother's recovery from birth and embarkation on her new life in the context of the Orthodox Christian faith"--

Book Synopsis

Traditionally, the Orthodox Church has appointed forty days of rest and seclusion after childbirth for mothers to recover from the rigors of birth and get to know their new babies. In the modern world, it can be difficult to understand how to use this time to the fullest in the way it was intended. The authors of A Sacred Beginning-a therapist and a pediatrician who are both mothers themselves-come to the rescue with a resource that addresses the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of a mother's recovery from birth and embarkation on her new life. Whether you are preparing to birth your first baby or your tenth, you will find in this book a wealth of spiritual food, comfort, encouragement, and sound advice to guide you, one postpartum day at a time.

Review Quotes

A Sacred Beginning is the comforting and experienced friend I wish I'd had as a brand new mom. Both honest and insightful, this beautiful book will help you find profound meaning in those 40 sacred days after your baby is born.

-Molly Sabourin, author and podcaster for Ancient Faith Ministries

"This sensitive, practical book provides the vital sense of community and companionship many of us crave during the tender days of early motherhood. The personal experience of the authors harmonizes with the voices of other faithful mothers, along with the Mothers and Fathers of the Church, providing a taste of the proverbial village amid the loneliness of the postmodern postpartum. The book's manageable sections, loosely based on the rungs of St. John's Ladder of Divine Ascent, provide a structure within which we can learn to see the holy purpose of these hazy, sweet and anguished days: to bring us closer to God through prayer. This work, clearly a labor of love, answers a great pastoral need within the Church, and it will be not only a comfort but a lifeline for many Christian women entering parenthood."

-Laura S. Jansson, mother, doula and author of Fertile Ground: A Pilgrimage Through Pregnancy

Sacred Beginning is the book I wish I had as a new mother. Those first 40 days are truly sacred-and exhausting-and this book feels like a friend that keeps vigil with you in the wee morning hours and guides you in the right direction when you're not sure which way is up. A mother pours so much of herself into nourishing her babe during those early days and this book is the spiritual nourishment she needs to refill the well.

-Sylvia Leontaritis, author of the blog Adventures of an Orthodox Mom