Fertile Ground - by Laura S Jansson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Pregnancy is not just a trek from one medical appointment to another but a journey of the heart. Here at last is a guidebook through its sacred terrain. For each week, Orthodox doula Laura Jansson provides a new reflection on a theme specific to the ground covered at that stage. From one milestone to the next, she helps us unearth the spiritual treasures buried within the physical experiences of childbearing. These are gifts of love from a merciful God who reaches out to us, making a perilous expedition into a path of salvation.

Cover and interior illustrations by Clare Freeman.

Review Quotes

This eloquent book leads us week by week through the deepening journey to birth, accompanied by the insights the Orthodox faith uniquely can provide. Fertile Ground is an able companion and a wise guide to the deeply transformative experience of pregnancy and birth.

-Frederica Mathewes-Green, author, mother, grandmother, and former childbirth educator

Laura's incredible ability to hone in on the feelings of women in pregnancy and immediate postpartum stages gives her work an astonishing depth. As the mother of eleven children, I had many opportunities to reflect and pray while pregnant but never found an appropriate resource. This book was long needed. I will buy it for every pregnant mother I know.

-Melissa Naasko, mother of 11, clergy wife, and author