A Catholic Mother's Companion to Pregnancy: Walking with Mary from Conception to Baptism

by Sarah A. Reinhard, Lisa M. Hendey (Foreword by), Danielle Bean (Afterword)

Overview

In A Catholic Mother's Companion to Pregnancy: Walking with Mary from Conception to Baptism popular Catholic blogger and speaker Sarah A. Reinhard presents the first book to accompany expectant mothers from conception to baptism. This book includes weekly reflections and prayers rooted in the mysteries of the Rosary and related to the baby’s physical development.

Designed to help expectant mothers embrace pregnancy as an opportunity for spiritual growth, A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy prepares mothers for the trials and joys of pregnancy, childbirth, baptism, and, ultimately, motherhood.

Each week of pregnancy is paired with a mystery of the Rosary, a personal, down-to-earth reflection from Reinhard, advice for living the sacramental life, and a prayer to help the reader grow in faith as she bonds with her unborn child.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594713514
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	09/24/2012
Series:	CatholicMom.com Book
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Sarah A. Reinhard is a Catholic author, blogger, speaker, and freelance writer who has a penchant for coffee and a love of chocolate. She writes at SnoringScholar.com and is the network content manager for Our Sunday Visitor.

Reinhard is the author of a number of books, including A Catholic Mother's Companion to Pregnancy. She earned a master's degree in marketing and communications from Franklin University and has worked for many years for corporate and nonprofit organizations. She lives in central Ohio with her husband and four children.

Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of the award-winning CatholicMom.com. She is the bestselling author of multiple books for adults and children, including The Handbook for Catholic Moms, A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms, The Grace of Yes, I’m a Saint in the Making, and the Chime Travelers fiction series.

Hendey has appeared on EWTN, CatholicTV, and as a part of the Momnipotent DVD series. Her work has appeared in Catholic Digest, National Catholic Register, and Our Sunday Visitor.

Hendey travels internationally, giving workshops for adults and children. She has spoken at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Catholic Marketing Network, the University of Dallas Ministry Conference, the National Catholic Youth Conference, the Midwest Catholic Family Conference, and the National Council of Catholic Women. Selected as an Egan Journalism Fellow with Catholic Relief Services, Hendey has traveled, written, and spoken on behalf of CRS, Unbound, and other non-profit organizations to support their humanitarian missions in Rwanda, the Philippines, India, Tanzania, Kenya, and Columbia.

She lives with her husband, Greg, in Los Angeles, California.

Danielle Bean is vice president of digital content at Trinity Road. She is the host of the Girlfriends podcast and cohost of The Gist on CatholicTV.

Bean is the author of several books, including Giving Thanks and Letting Go, Small Steps for Catholic Moms, Momnipotent, and You Are Enough. She is a retreat leader and a popular speaker on a variety of subjects related to Catholic family life, education, marriage, and motherhood.

She lives in New Hampshire with her family.

Table of Contents

Foreword Lisa M. Hendey xi

Preface xv

Part 1 Weekly Journey through Pregnancy 1

1 The First Five Weeks (Fetal Age: 1-3 Weeks) 3

2 Week 6 (Fetal Age: 4 Weeks): Feature: Surprise! The Unintended Pregnancy 7

3 Week 7 (Fetal Age: 5 Weeks): Feature: Eating Disorders during Pregnancy Kate Wicker 13

4 Week 8 (Fetal Age: 6 Weeks): Feature: When do You Tell? 21

5 Week 9 (Fetal Age: 7 Weeks): Feature: Miscarriage Mary De Turris Poust 27

6 Week 10 (Fetal Age: 8 Weeks) 33

7 Week 11 (Fetal Age: 9 Weeks) 39

8 Week 12 (Fetal Age: 10 Weeks): Feature: Depression during Pregnancy 45

9 Week 13 (Fetal Age: 11 Weeks) 51

10 Week 14 (Fetal Age: 12 Weeks) 57

11 Week 15 (Fetal Age: 13 Weeks): Feature: Boy, Girl, or Surprise? 61

12 Week 16 (Fetal Age: 14 Weeks): Feature: The Unexpected Child Leticia Velasquez 65

13 Week 17 (Fetal Age: 15 Weeks) 71

14 Week 18 (Fetal Age: 16 Weeks): Feature: Keeping Daddy Involved 77

15 Week 19 (Fetal Age: 17 Weeks) 81

16 Week 20 (Fetal Age: 18 Weeks) 85

17 Week 21 (Fetal Age: 19 Weeks): Feature: Coming to Terms with a Baby Who Might Not Live Jane Lebak 89

18 Week 22 (Fetal Age: 20 Weeks) 95

19 Week 23 (Fetal Age: 21 Weeks) 99

20 Week 24 (Fetal Age: 22 Weeks): Feature: The Joy of Mothering Many Jennifer Fitz 103

21 Week 25 (Fetal Age: 23 Weeks) 109

22 Week 26 (Fetal Age: 24 Weeks) 113

23 Week 27 (Fetal Age: 25 Weeks): Feature: How Much Stuff Do You Really Need? 117

24 Week 28 (Fetal Age: 26 Weeks) 123

25 Week 29 (Fetal Age: 27 Weeks) 127

26 Week 30 (Fetal Age: 28 Weeks): Feature: Naming Your Child 131

27 Week 31 (Fetal Age: 29 Weeks) 137

28 Week 32 (Fetal Age: 30 Weeks) 141

29 Week 33 (Fetal Age: 31 Weeks): Finding Peace in Stillbirth Karen Murphy Corr 145

30 Week 34 (Fetal Age: 32 Weeks) 151

31 Week 35 (Fetal Age: 33 Weeks) 155

32 Week 36 (Fetal Age: 34 Weeks) 159

33 Week 37 (Fetal Age: 35 Weeks): Feature: When Labor Doesn't Go as Expected Dorian Speed 163

34 Week 38 (Fetal Age: 36 Weeks) 167

35 Week 39 (Fetal Age: 37 Weeks) 171

36 Week 40 (Fetal Age: 38 Weeks) 175

Part 2 Labor and Birth 179

37 A Summary of Labor 181

38 Preparation for Labor 187

39 Spiritual Practices for Labor 195

40 Tips and Strategies for Birth 201

41 Spiritual Practices for Birth 209

Part 3 Baptism 215

42 Overview of Baptism 219

43 Preparation for Baptism 221

44 Reflecting on Your Child's Baptism 227

Conclusion 231

Afterword Danielle Bean 233

Acknowledgments 235

Notes 237

About the Contributors 238