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Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life-Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood
As expecting parents, you’re bombarded with more information—and opinions—than ever about the “right” approach to pregnancy and childbirth. How do you navigate this ocean of information—not only to find the best practical solutions for you personally, but also to embrace this incredible opportunity for emotional and spiritual transformation that comes from bringing a child into this world? With Transformed by Birth, Dr. Britta Bushnell has created the transformative, intelligent, and empowering pregnancy and childbirth guide you’ve been waiting for.
This book embraces birth as a metamorphic experience—a rite of passage in which you are initiated by opening to the unbidden, embodying your own wisdom, and gaining freedom from limiting beliefs.
Our culture has inundated us with limiting ideals that prevent us from fully engaging in the journey of pregnancy and childbirth—including a need for control and certainty, vilification of pain, and reverence for technology and intellectual knowledge, among others. Dr. Bushnell helps you clear away unwanted beliefs and behaviors so you can open to the meaning and power of this uniquely life-changing experience. Here she offers daily practices, rituals, exercises, and more to help you cultivate resilience, power, and connection during this transformative time.
Childbirth is more than just having a baby. Transformed by Birth invites you to discover childbirth as a transformational experience that alters your knowing of who you are and lasts long after pregnancy and birth are over.
This book embraces birth as a metamorphic experience—a rite of passage in which you are initiated by opening to the unbidden, embodying your own wisdom, and gaining freedom from limiting beliefs.
Our culture has inundated us with limiting ideals that prevent us from fully engaging in the journey of pregnancy and childbirth—including a need for control and certainty, vilification of pain, and reverence for technology and intellectual knowledge, among others. Dr. Bushnell helps you clear away unwanted beliefs and behaviors so you can open to the meaning and power of this uniquely life-changing experience. Here she offers daily practices, rituals, exercises, and more to help you cultivate resilience, power, and connection during this transformative time.
Childbirth is more than just having a baby. Transformed by Birth invites you to discover childbirth as a transformational experience that alters your knowing of who you are and lasts long after pregnancy and birth are over.
312 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 19, 2020
I found pregnancy really difficult, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Physically, my pregnancy was littered with the usual unpleasantness, from carpal tunnel to constant heartburn to nausea. And of course the twin pregnancy just ends with this insane huge phase from 31-38 weeks or so where I couldn't sit in normal chairs or walk for more than a few minutes at a time. Mentally, Shannon and I were dealing with trying to figure out how we were going to house and provide for twins without breaking our family finances, and doing constant financial planning, house/apartment hunting, space rearranging. I was finding a new OB and birth providers. And most especially, emotionally. It's hard to do justice to how daunting it feels to march toward the birth of your TWO children. To have them present with everything you do. To eat protein all day every day hoping to gain the appropriate amount of weight and maximize the chances the babies won't come prematurely. To contemplate the rigors of giving birth, to frankly try to wrap your brain around how a baby's freakin head is going to come out of you. And for me there was an additional layer: I was basically dealing with an identity crisis as pregnancy caused the world -- medical providers, written resources, colleagues, strangers -- to greet me over and over unequivocally as a woman. As someone who has always identified as genderqueer, transmasculine, trans, butch, and who is a dad and papa to my children, this chafed me in small and large ways day in and day out.
So all that is prelude to say that I was consumed by pregnancy. And part of the way I consoled myself and coped was by doing a lot of reading (as well as listening to podcasts) about pregnancy and birth. And this was, easily, my favorite and most well-worn resource.
I want to say so much more, and maybe I'll come back and write more later.
So all that is prelude to say that I was consumed by pregnancy. And part of the way I consoled myself and coped was by doing a lot of reading (as well as listening to podcasts) about pregnancy and birth. And this was, easily, my favorite and most well-worn resource.
I want to say so much more, and maybe I'll come back and write more later.
April 10, 2020
In my 5 years of work as a doula, I rarely come across a book that prepares people for the emotional and spiritual aspect of birth in such an in-depth and creative way. This inclusive book walks you through how to deal with the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. It is a must read for people who are planning for an unmedicated birth, a cesarean birth, a medicated birth, and even those who are unsure. I have worked with about half a dozen families who have either read this book or taken Britta's in person class, and they are by far the most prepared for the journey that lies ahead. You will not regret this one.
June 27, 2022
My favorite birth prep resource so far. Very balanced between natural and medical birth, practical, and involves emotional, physical, and mental prep. Also a great overview of postpartum tips and strategies. I wish I hadn't gotten it from the library so I could have underlined and bookmarked.
April 20, 2020
Hands down the best birth, postpartum, and parenting preparation I've ever read!
January 20, 2024
This is one of the best resources I’ve found so far on the mental, spiritual, and physical preparation for birth, labor, pregnancy, relationship navigation, and early parenthood in addition to building confidence in finding parts of the self again after all of the above. It was written in a captivating and non biased way in comparison to some
Of the other “natural” resources I’ve read up until this point. the author had a calm, helpful and loving demeanor in her writing style and didn’t come off as trying to change your view point or convince you
Of anything. Just gooey good stuff
Of the other “natural” resources I’ve read up until this point. the author had a calm, helpful and loving demeanor in her writing style and didn’t come off as trying to change your view point or convince you
Of anything. Just gooey good stuff
January 31, 2020
Excellent read. Very practical and down to earth book.
It’s my second pregnancy, I wish I had read this book before. It helps you grasp the childbirth journey (and postpartum) in terms of making meaning through metaphors or ancient stories (Artemis/Apollo or the goddess Inanna‘s story)). It also helps you put things into perspective, when things don’t go as you expect them.
It’s my second pregnancy, I wish I had read this book before. It helps you grasp the childbirth journey (and postpartum) in terms of making meaning through metaphors or ancient stories (Artemis/Apollo or the goddess Inanna‘s story)). It also helps you put things into perspective, when things don’t go as you expect them.
February 8, 2020
My husband and I flew to California to have a private childbirth class with Britta when we were pregnant with our daughter. It was one of the best decisions we made, and now you can have a similar experience reading her book! This is a must read if you are pregnant!
February 3, 2022
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It was recommended by the doula teaching our birthing class series and I am so grateful. Britta does an amazing job of leaning into the naturalistic complexity of pregnancy, birth and parenting. I particularly appreciated how several points were presented from an anthropologist perspective and emphasized the uniqueness of each pregnancy experience. I HIGHLY recommend this for any expecting parents.
February 14, 2021
Parts of this book were really helpful in putting words to my current experience but I was disappointed to see a lot of her advice taken from other sources I’ve read through this journey and those sources not be credited.
January 7, 2023
I think I would give this closer to a 4.5, rounded up.
I am birthing a baby next month and I really enjoyed the practical parts of this book. Bushnell did not shy away from telling you that birth is painful. It is also beautiful.
The tips and tricks for getting through labor and beyond was really helpful, and I even liked the sections that supporting partners can utilize.
Only thing that irked me was the audio when you could hear very prominent sniffs or inhales. It would break me out of the concentration I had. Other than that, it was very good.
I am birthing a baby next month and I really enjoyed the practical parts of this book. Bushnell did not shy away from telling you that birth is painful. It is also beautiful.
The tips and tricks for getting through labor and beyond was really helpful, and I even liked the sections that supporting partners can utilize.
Only thing that irked me was the audio when you could hear very prominent sniffs or inhales. It would break me out of the concentration I had. Other than that, it was very good.
September 11, 2024
One thousand stars. Helped me understand and process parts of pregnancy, labor, delivery and parenthood better than I ever could have imagined.
January 22, 2023
This is the one. This is the best one! If you want to get a sense of all that you are likely to experience as a pregnant person and new parent, with compassionate honesty and thoughtful perspective--and who doesn't want these things?--then this is for you. My wife and I went through several books, and none weaved together all that we were feeling and wanting to know more effectively than this one. Don't hesitative on giving this a read!
September 16, 2023
cheesy but informative
February 25, 2021
This book was refreshing to read. I saw this book recommended by someone on Instagram and I’m really thankful to have come across it. It covers everything from one’s support team during birth to what to expect after birth. The part of the book which resonated with me most was how to think of birth and to ultimately realize how not in control we are about the process. While we may have preferences or “birth plans” there is so much that we cannot control. It was a harsh reality to read at first but I am grateful for her sharing this wisdom because it has definitely shifted my perception and not be so anxious.
The writing was written in a tone that was calm and comforting and exactly what I am needing as I navigate my first pregnancy. Highly recommend to anyone who is either pregnant or knows someone who is.
The writing was written in a tone that was calm and comforting and exactly what I am needing as I navigate my first pregnancy. Highly recommend to anyone who is either pregnant or knows someone who is.
January 29, 2024
This book really focuses on the mindset for managing the labor & delivery process. It goes into physical details as well, but the mental strategies provided in this book really helped me in my own journey. I read the passages I had highlighted in this book during labor and it really helped me focus mentally. Highly recommend to applicable audiences :)
January 13, 2022
As someone with an interest in supporting birth (doula), this book was a comprehensive look at childbirth. I've never seen such a wholistic overview in a book about birth from the physical to the spiritual. This book has an incredible focus on the 4th trimester that is unlike other birth preparation books I've read. The author's focus on myth also makes for an engaging read about a transformational life experience.
March 13, 2022
Definitely going to be recommending this book to my doula clients. This book walks the tight rope between the unmedicated and medicated birth world while using archetypes and metaphor to engage the reader.
March 15, 2020
A breath of fresh air! I think every expecting person and their partner, if they have one, would benefit from reading this book.
January 8, 2022
Suggested by my Doula, this is an Amazing read about pregnancy, labour, and postpartum. I found it extremely useful to prepare for labour and childbirth. It has some good suggestions on how to cope with contractions and prepare mentally for labour.
March 12, 2024
One of the most helpful books I’ve read so far during this pregnancy. While there is some medical / factual knowledge covered also, the majority of the book is geared toward the mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges and changes that pregnancy, birth and parenthood brings with it, and how to prepare for something that really can’t be prepared for by adjusting your mindset. Much of the time is spent on building resilience, preparing to meet change with optimism, strength, and a focus on growth. Also a lot of reminders that this is all a lifelong process, it will take time, you will find things that work and that don’t, but persevering, being patient, and having grace with yourself will bring the pieces together with time. Very helpful.
February 5, 2020
This is the birth book modern parents need! Transformed By Birth dodges the trap of flowery mantras and rigid birth preparation philosophies, and instead offers couples a transparent, practical, and heartfelt guide for giving birth. It goes in deep and honest where other birth books won’t. You want to know what birth is REALLY like and what it will REALLY ask of you (and also how to prepare mentally and physically for the unique challenge it will be)? Then read this book! So much wisdom, and so much good stuff that other birth books completely miss.
May 22, 2020
A comprehensive and insightful book about the realities of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I wish I’d read it before my older sister gave birth as I would have been able to support her so much more!
September 1, 2020
Great book for mothers/pregnancy/fathers to plan and also to know what to expect. I particularly enjoyed her chapters about going from coupledom to parenthood and the importance of still nourishing your relationship as well as techniques for self care post partum.
July 29, 2021
So amazing!!! Feeling ready to take on birth and parenthood by releasing expectations and self judgment, tools to help me cope as well as be curious, and remember it’s all part of a journey. Absolutely loved this book, the life lessons, moving metaphors, and encouragement.
October 16, 2021
I don't think I'll be able to tell until reflecting on it down the road in parenthood whether it was truly helpful. For now, though, I did really like the tone of her words and found it thought-provoking, something that you could return to and revisit.
September 25, 2020
I wish I read it earlier
March 29, 2021
I cannot recommend this book enough to expecting (especially first time) women! Plus, it had pictures!
March 7, 2023
Best book on birth, yet!
May 24, 2021
Truly a beautiful and encouraging book for this FTM.
September 22, 2021
Good book for someone not knowing what to expect for birth.
Walks you through literal steps and how you can practice and prepare.
Explains:
-Contractions
-Epidurals
-Effacement
-Dilation
-Rupturing Membranes
-Placenta Previa
-Caeseran Birth
-Postpartum
-Parental Advice
Lot of Mythological stories. Relates births to stories and mythological figures you could relate or learn from. (Not my style but if it helps someone else by relating to these stories, go for it)
-Labrith metaphor
__________
Rather than ahear to the idea that your baby will arrive on a certain date, try expanding your expectations, translating your due date into a due range.
Think of a birth plan as an incentive to ask questions.
Try going beyond a birth plan, by writing out your birth intentions instead.
Intentions are very different from goals.
Goals are measurable and therefore can either succeed or fail.
Whereas intentions address how you would like to be with yourself and others.
Rupturing your membranes = Breaking your water
If you're having contractions:
--Drink a big glass of water.
Dehydration can stimulate practice contractions.
--Change positions:
If you're lying down- get up
If you're up- lie down
If the contractions stop, you're likely not in labor, if they intensify it could be the start of Labor.
Keep going on with your life until you can't so otherwise. When you can't do anything except focus on your contractions. You're likely in labor
In the simplest of terms,
Labor is the process of opening the body enough for the baby to exit.
Opening is the main activity of birth.
Effacement:
In addition to opening, the cervix also has to thin. The process of thinning is called effacement.
Effacement is measure in percentages:
From 0% effaced (completely think & bulged)
to 100% effaced (completely thinned out)
It is common for effacement to happen almost completely before dilation makes much progress.
Ours is a Dilation-based focused culture.
(Dilation however is not the only measurement of progress)
Position of baby:
Commonly medical providers tell parents 2 things
-whethwr baby is positioned head up or down
-whether baby is floating or engaged in pelvis
(Sometimes they say high or low)
Floating or high: is when the baby's head is not yet locked into the pelvic bowl and can be moved around
Engaged or low; is when the baby's head is locked into the pelvis and the baby is more settled into position.
Station of baby/scale of medical terms:
-5 to +5 or -3 to +3
Refers to where the baby is in relation to the spin of the pelvis.
All have 0 at the base
Babies are usually born at +4 or +5
3 Favourite labor Scents:
-Lavender
-Peppermint
-Camomile
Brittabushnell.com/labor/positions
Informed decision making:
BRAIN
Benifits- How might the proposed course of action be helpful?
Risks- when what you proposed doesn't work, what will happen? Expected side-effects?
Alternatives- is there anything else we could try?
Intuition- As yourself "how do I think or feel about this?"
Not yet- what is we wait an hour. You will find out how detrimental action is needed or not.
Books:
-Healing Through Dark Emotions -Mariam Greenspan
-The 4th Trimester- Kimberly Anne Johnson
Placenta Previa:
A condition where the placenta covers or partially covers the opening of the cervix.
Listen to the request as a call for help.
(Hearing no epidurals all pregnancy and sudden change of mind during labor. See that they are in a spot of crying out for help.)
The blood flow during postpartum can be like a heavy period. It's heaviest the first week after birth, then gradually slows.
You can use it as an indicator of when you're doing too much.
If your blood has slowed overall, and then picked up again after some activities, chances are you're doing too much.
COWS mentality when looking back:
Could have...
Ought to have...
Would have....
Should have.....
Often Cows are full of bullshit.
A parent is only as old as their baby.
Your baby is an hour old, you're only an hour old parent. Your baby is two, you're only a two year old parent.
For some reason when babies are born, parents expect that they should be able to know and have perfected parenthood before they become parents.
Wisdom is born from making mistakes and learning from them.
You can't know what you didn't know before you knew it.
Relationships benefit from mutual sharing about your independent lives:
-Can you describe how you slend your time when we're not together
-Whats the best part of how you spend your time
-What the hardest part of how you spend your time
-What was new or different for you this week
-What current challenges are you working through and how are you working through them?
What kids get they come to expect
What kids expect they come to need
Make decisions that work for you and your kids will not only adjust but expect and need it that way also.
Walks you through literal steps and how you can practice and prepare.
Explains:
-Contractions
-Epidurals
-Effacement
-Dilation
-Rupturing Membranes
-Placenta Previa
-Caeseran Birth
-Postpartum
-Parental Advice
Lot of Mythological stories. Relates births to stories and mythological figures you could relate or learn from. (Not my style but if it helps someone else by relating to these stories, go for it)
-Labrith metaphor
__________
Rather than ahear to the idea that your baby will arrive on a certain date, try expanding your expectations, translating your due date into a due range.
Think of a birth plan as an incentive to ask questions.
Try going beyond a birth plan, by writing out your birth intentions instead.
Intentions are very different from goals.
Goals are measurable and therefore can either succeed or fail.
Whereas intentions address how you would like to be with yourself and others.
Rupturing your membranes = Breaking your water
If you're having contractions:
--Drink a big glass of water.
Dehydration can stimulate practice contractions.
--Change positions:
If you're lying down- get up
If you're up- lie down
If the contractions stop, you're likely not in labor, if they intensify it could be the start of Labor.
Keep going on with your life until you can't so otherwise. When you can't do anything except focus on your contractions. You're likely in labor
In the simplest of terms,
Labor is the process of opening the body enough for the baby to exit.
Opening is the main activity of birth.
Effacement:
In addition to opening, the cervix also has to thin. The process of thinning is called effacement.
Effacement is measure in percentages:
From 0% effaced (completely think & bulged)
to 100% effaced (completely thinned out)
It is common for effacement to happen almost completely before dilation makes much progress.
Ours is a Dilation-based focused culture.
(Dilation however is not the only measurement of progress)
Position of baby:
Commonly medical providers tell parents 2 things
-whethwr baby is positioned head up or down
-whether baby is floating or engaged in pelvis
(Sometimes they say high or low)
Floating or high: is when the baby's head is not yet locked into the pelvic bowl and can be moved around
Engaged or low; is when the baby's head is locked into the pelvis and the baby is more settled into position.
Station of baby/scale of medical terms:
-5 to +5 or -3 to +3
Refers to where the baby is in relation to the spin of the pelvis.
All have 0 at the base
Babies are usually born at +4 or +5
3 Favourite labor Scents:
-Lavender
-Peppermint
-Camomile
Brittabushnell.com/labor/positions
Informed decision making:
BRAIN
Benifits- How might the proposed course of action be helpful?
Risks- when what you proposed doesn't work, what will happen? Expected side-effects?
Alternatives- is there anything else we could try?
Intuition- As yourself "how do I think or feel about this?"
Not yet- what is we wait an hour. You will find out how detrimental action is needed or not.
Books:
-Healing Through Dark Emotions -Mariam Greenspan
-The 4th Trimester- Kimberly Anne Johnson
Placenta Previa:
A condition where the placenta covers or partially covers the opening of the cervix.
Listen to the request as a call for help.
(Hearing no epidurals all pregnancy and sudden change of mind during labor. See that they are in a spot of crying out for help.)
The blood flow during postpartum can be like a heavy period. It's heaviest the first week after birth, then gradually slows.
You can use it as an indicator of when you're doing too much.
If your blood has slowed overall, and then picked up again after some activities, chances are you're doing too much.
COWS mentality when looking back:
Could have...
Ought to have...
Would have....
Should have.....
Often Cows are full of bullshit.
A parent is only as old as their baby.
Your baby is an hour old, you're only an hour old parent. Your baby is two, you're only a two year old parent.
For some reason when babies are born, parents expect that they should be able to know and have perfected parenthood before they become parents.
Wisdom is born from making mistakes and learning from them.
You can't know what you didn't know before you knew it.
Relationships benefit from mutual sharing about your independent lives:
-Can you describe how you slend your time when we're not together
-Whats the best part of how you spend your time
-What the hardest part of how you spend your time
-What was new or different for you this week
-What current challenges are you working through and how are you working through them?
What kids get they come to expect
What kids expect they come to need
Make decisions that work for you and your kids will not only adjust but expect and need it that way also.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews