Book Review: “Transformed by Birth”
A note: This review was originally written as part of my doula certification process through BADT. I’m sharing it here because I truly believe books and resources shape the way we understand birth, parenting, and reproductive experiences. And I love highlighting resources that align with inclusive, full spectrum care!
In Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life-Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood, Britta Bushnell explores a very overlooked aspect of birth preparation: doing the deep, emotional work of preparing for the unknown, while navigating a culture that prioritizes control, order, and independence. This book delves into the very vulnerable, very human side of birth: the fear of losing control, the need for human connection, and the struggle to let go of perfectionism. It’s the most impactful birth book I’ve read so far.
Equally as important for both parents and birthworkers, Transformed by Birth reads more as a philosophy of birth than a traditional educational guide. It invites us to explore the deeper questions along the perinatal journey: How can I let go of expectations and surrender to what will come? How can I reconnect with wonder? How can I learn to ask for help? How can I expand my ability to cope with pain and discomfort?
“To view birth as an initiatory process is to understand the unpredictability and uncontrollability of even the best plans.”
I really resonated with the author’s framing of birth as a transformative right of passage, rather than a medical event. This reminds me of the concept of matrescence- the transformative shift to parenthood that encompasses neurobiological, psychological, and social changes. I’ve also read Matrescence by Lucy Jones, and there are so many parallels here. While I don’t love this gendered language, I do love its concept: that we must recognize the profound transformation that is becoming a parent, and this begins with birth.
“When we enter the world of birth, we step across the threshold from the mundane to the sacred. Pregnancy and birth are a space between worlds- a liminal space- a place where you are no longer not a parent and not yet one either.”
The book’s labyrinth metaphor, adapted from Birthing from Within, also really clicked with me. I loved the visual concept of journeying into the unknown to meet your baby (the center of the labyrinth), getting twisted and turned around along the way. And while postpartum doesn’t often get the attention it deserves, the labyrinth reminds us that birth isn’t the end; there is still a journey ahead that leads you back to yourself and the new person you have become (the exit of the labyrinth).
My biggest takeaway from this book was the theme of acceptance. Whether supporting clients in creating birth intentions, embracing the wild and unpredictable nature of birth, or surrendering to the many “deaths” associated with birth, acceptance and surrender belong at the center of every birth experience.
Accessibility note: Transformed by Birth is available in print and audiobook at the New Orleans Public Library, and as an audiobook at the Jefferson Parish Public Library.
