Letters to the Expecting Mama: Your 9-month Christian companion through the good, the bad, and the "Oops, I peed my pants!"

by Kristen Emily Behl

Overview

Dear Expecting Mama,

Praise Jesus! Hallelujah! You and your husband made a baby! It's your turn to experience the beautiful chaos that is pregnancy and motherhood.

I've written you a separate letter for each month of your pregnancy-each full of candid truths, love and encouragement, comic relief, and helpful advice. They're designed to be read slowly; to progress with you one exciting month at a time on your journey to mama-hood.

We'll chat about important things that don't always get covered:

• Staying in love with your husband
• Dwelling in God's love and protection
• Stifling self-doubt
• Labor and delivery strategies
• Loving your body
• Maximizing time and energy
• Sex, pushing out a baby, and other awkward things
• Postpartum expectations
• Dealing with pregnancy symptoms

Let's have the heart-to-heart you're craving and celebrate this wild adventure together!

Love, Kristen

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781954809017
Publisher:	Goose Water Press
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Series:	Letters
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Kristen Emily Behl is a physical therapist, wife, and mom of two daughters. She started her publishing company, Goose Water Press, in 2021 to produce books to build up families.

Table of Contents

A Note from Me to You

Month One-Happy Unpleasantries

Nausea

Vomiting

Bloating and Constipation

Sore Boobs

Bathroom Surprises

Month Two-Body Image

Cherish the Bump

Tiger Stripes

Boobs... Just... WOW

Weight Gain

The Voices Around You

The Voice Within You

Month Three-Energy

Insomnia and Fatigue

Travel

Socialize with Friends

Date Your Husband

Plan...But Not Too Much

Do What YOU Want To Do

Month Four-Labor and Delivery

Vaginal Delivery Basics

Cesarean Sections

General Tips to Prepare for Labor and Delivery

Pain Control Options

Tips for Dealing with Pain

The Stuff You Don't Want Your Table Mate at the Coffee Shop to See You Reading

What to Expect From Your Husband

Maternity Bag

Bringing It Home (The letter, not the baby!)

Month Five-Relationship Maintenance

Sex

Mood Swings

Nesting

Communication

Sleep

As Always, You Got This!

Month Six-Self-Doubt

Flaws Turn Us to Christ

Self-Doubt #1: I'm not ready.

Self-Doubt #2: I don't know what I'm doing.

Self-Doubt #3: I'm not good enough.

Self-Doubt #4: I don't think I can balance work and motherhood and still feel good about both.

Self-Doubt #5: I will really struggle to adjust to this coming change.

Month Seven-Postpartum Preparation

Caring for a Newborn

Breastfeeding

Hormones and Emotions

Healing

Postpartum Exercise

Relationship Maintenance After Baby Arrives

Finding New Depths of Selfless Love

Month Eight-Final Encouragement

Truth #1: You can do this.

Truth #2: You are beautiful.

Truth #3: You are loved.

Truth #4: God chose YOU.

Truth #5: You chose life.

Truth #6: You are not alone.

Month Nine-Congratulations!-DO NOT READ until you are in the hospital with your new baby!

A Letter to Yourself-A place to write your thoughts

Hello from Me to You!

Acknowledgments