Fertile Ground: A Pilgrimage Through Pregnancy

By: Laura S. Jansson

Narrated by: Laura S. Jansson

Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2019 Laura S. Jansson (P)2020 Laura S. Jansson

Deeply moving.

I began this book as a postpartum mom of three, the youngest being just a few months old. I love children and God-willing will have several more. I always felt the beauty and mystery of motherhood but never so much as I do now after listening to this book. It brings out the awe, the rawness, the pure joy and pain of it all wrapped up as it is in this fallen world that is sustained and directed by and held in His hand. What a tremendous blessing and honor it is to be a mother and to feel and experience all that comes with it- both the immense soaring highs and the lowest of lows.
I appreciate so much the overarching theme that motherhood is our sanctification, our salvation. As mothers we may feel like we are so caught up caring for our littles that we loose ourselves, and yet in doing so we rather loose sight of the freeing truth that a mother IS who we are now. This realization is lovingly drawn out by this book. Motherhood by it's very nature, from the moment of that first discomforting wave of nausea to the end of our lives, is sacrifice. It is sanctifying. It is breathtaking. It is difficult. It is beautiful. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I can't wait to re-listen to this book. It's one of those that has more strength, wisdom, purpose, and encouragement to give time and again.

Most Relevant Spiritual Book for Pregnant Moms

I'm about to have my fifth child and how I wish I'd read this with my first! This pregnancy I've listened to it repeatedly, because the ideas have such depth, to assimilate them bears ongoing effort. They have cast pregnancy, birth, and motherhood in a new and very positive light. I have never felt such strength of purpose in what I'm doing as a mom, as I feel when I'm listening to this book. And the reader is a delight to listen to!

A MUST read for all Orthodox mothers

I started this 5th pregnancy of mine with difficulty and dread as it was not planned. I was grateful that Laura offered me the chance to listen to this wonderful book because even though I have been through 4 Orthodox pregnancies already she has helped guide me on this journey. She helped me embrace every emotion that I have had even the ones that I felt ashamed of feeling. She has given me thoughts and prayers to help me prepare for labor which will be anytime in the next few weeks. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is pregnant or has been pregnant. Beautifully written!

Encouraging for All Mothers

Wow, the amount of spiritual wisdom and encouragement in this book is almost overwhelming. Not only does Laura capture pregnancy, birth, and motherhood so accurately and intimately, but she connects what is happening in our bodies and in our lives as mothers to scripture and the life of the church so beautifully. I will most certainly be listening to this again in subsequent pregnancies to be reminded of the important and meaningful (down to every last detail) work of creating life alongside God.

Fantastic for anyone Pregnant or already a parent!

Wow. After listening to the audiobook of Fertile Ground, it has been AMAZING!! When I heard about it when it first came out, I was skeptical of how impactful and needful yet another pregnancy book would be. But now, having listened and loved it, I can definitely say that I think *every woman who is pregnant, or is a mom, or is considering becoming pregnant* should read this book!!! It has opened my eyes to SO many different aspects of pregnancy, childbearing/rearing, and motherhood that I had never considered, and continually points things back to Christ, His Mother, Prayer, Church, and so many other positive things. It is refreshing and inspiring. Each week focuses on a different topic, such as weakness, strength, light, water, pain, prayer, village, and each week had me attentively listening, and wanting more! The author writes with wit and is quite engaging, and she's entertaining to listen to. I have the audiobook, but I'm definitely going to buy a physical copy, because I know this is a book I will come back to again and again! (Also this would make a fantastic gift!)

Wonderfully thought-provoking & encouraging book

I absolutely loved Fertile Ground, it was exactly what I needed in this season. It's both sober and playful, joyful and contemplative. It acknowledges the very real mental, spiritual and physical struggles of pregnancy and draws upon many many different sources (the author's personal experiences as a mama & doula, scientific findings, the Holy Fathers and the the saints. We need much more work in this vein but this is an excellent addition.

This Changed my Whole View

If you are a pregnant mom, or even newly postpartum, you NEED this book. I came across this in my final weeks of pregnancy with my daughter (who was my baby after two losses) and I wish I had had it sooner. Laura has clearly done an exponential amount of research in theology to make the connections between pregnancy and the Orthodox Faith. Her writing is like no other. I recommend this book to all of my pregnant friends - it is a MUST HAVE. What a beautiful, beautiful book that completely transformed everything I thought I knew or understood at pregnancy, postpartum, and raising children.