Traditionally, the Orthodox Church has appointed forty days of rest and seclusion after childbirth for mothers to recover from the rigors of birth and get to know their new babies. In the modern world, it can be difficult to understand how to use this time to the fullest in the way it was intended. The authors of A Sacred Beginning - a therapist and a family physician who are both mothers themselves - come to the rescue with a resource that addresses the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of a mother's recovery from birth and embarkation on her new life. Whether you are preparing to birth your first baby or your tenth, you will find in this book a wealth of spiritual food, comfort, encouragement, and sound advice to guide you, one postpartum day at a time. A Sacred Beginning is the comforting and experienced friend I wish I’d had as a brand-new mom. Both honest and insightful, this beautiful book will help you find profound meaning in those 40 sacred days after your baby is born --Molly Sabourin, author and podcaster for Ancient Faith Ministries This sensitive, practical book answers a great pastoral need within the Church, and it will be not only a comfort but a lifeline for many Christian women during the tender days of early motherhood. --Laura S. Jansson, mother, doula and author of Fertile Ground: A Pilgrimage Through Pregnancy A Sacred Beginning is the book I wish I had as a new mother. Those first 40 days are truly sacred - and exhausting - and this book feels like a friend that keeps vigil with you in the wee morning hours and guides you in the right direction when you’re not sure which way is up. A mother pours so much of herself into nourishing her babe during those early days and this book is the spiritual nourishment she needs to refill the well. --Sylvia Leontaritis, author of the blog Adventures of an Orthodox Mom Sarah Brangwynne is an Orthodox Christian and a wife, mother, and therapist who knows how wonderful and trying motherhood can be. Through the love of her family and relying on God, she takes it one day and one breath at a time. In addition to caring for her three children, who teach her every day, she enjoys finding the exquisite in small moments and capturing the glory of nature in her heart and through her camera lens. She is a licensed professional counselor and board-certified dance/movement therapist specializing in reproductive mental health. Sarah lives with her husband and children, along with their dog and five hens, in the Northeastern US. This is her first book. Sasha Rose Oxnard is an Orthodox Christian and a mom. She also happens to be a family doctor practicing prenatal care and pediatrics, as well as a wife, friend, daughter, amateur gardener, blogger, and lover of music, dance, art, animals, nature, and all things playful. With this book she adds writer to the list. Sasha writes a blog for AFM on trying to raise children to love God and their Faith (Shepherding Our Little Flock). She has lived and worked in the US, UK, Brazil, and Mozambique. She currently lives, works, and prays in New England with her husband, four small children, a dog, two cats, and five chickens.