Pregnancy can be a time of mixed emotions as fear, excitement, thankfulness and uncertainty all mingle together. It can seem like everyone has advice to share, whether it’s a comment from a stranger at the shops, or wisdom from a valued friend. How do we sift through the ocean of information out there without becoming overwhelmed? How do we process the huge variety of experiences that women face when it comes to childbearing? Times of great joy for some and great suffering for others. Then there’s the haze of new parenthood and adjusting to all the changes to our body, time and identity. What does the Bible have to say and how should that shape our perspective?

The complexity of those questions is why I’m so thankful this book has been written. In Bringing Forth Life, McIver has produced a pastorally sensitive, thoughtful book taking the reader through the ups and downs of pregnancy, birth and new parenthood from a Christian perspective. Current research is presented alongside her own experience as a midwife and mum and other women’s personal stories that cover the wide spectrum of human experience. I particularly appreciated her handling of tricky topics and the chance to reflect on my own two high risk pregnancies.

Being reminded that all our experiences as completely in God’s control and used by him to make us more like Jesus reshapes our perspective. It helps us see our story within the bigger story of our God who brings forth life. There are many people who would benefit from this book – pregnant women being the most obvious, but it’s a resource that many in our churches would benefit from reading so that we encourage each other to think theologically about all aspects of life.

To coincide with our annual conference, EQUIP Picks are 10 great reads, chosen and reviewed by the EQUIP Women Team for women.

EQUIP22 Picks will be available for a limited time online via our ministry partner, Reformers Bookshop.

A percentage of the sales from books bought via the above link will support our CMS missionary, M.

Meet Sarah Cameron

Sarah lives in South West Sydney, loves trying new foods and reading the Bible with women. She looks after the social media for EQUIP and is so encouraged seeing women live for Jesus through that role.