The Alchemy of Motherhood

book release 05/26/2026

"Childbirth is often framed as magical, transformative, and universally joyful. For many women, the reality is far more complex—and far more damaging.

Grounded in her own experience, and informed by her work as a postpartum women’s advocate, Casey Keen situates maternal suffering within a health care system ill equipped to recognize or respond to it.

Part personal reckoning, part cultural and institutional critique, this book confronts the myths surrounding motherhood and exposes the structural failures that leave women unsupported during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. The Alchemy of Motherhood is written for mothers seeking language for what they endured, and for anyone invested in maternal health, social justice, and systemic change.​"

https://www.casey-keen.com/alchemy-of-motherhood

#bookstodon #motherhood #childbirth #pregnancy

Had cause today to think about #pregnancy and #childbirth no I'm not having any more it was conversation with a colleague 😂

I've given birth 4 times.

First daughter when I was just 17. I got to 41 weeks and was told I had to be induced. I did as I was told and had a very fast and painful 4 hour labour in a hospital ward. The receptionist at the hospital was my godmother and as I had no-one else to support me, asked for her. Midwife said to her colleague 'this little girl wants her god mummy' and laughed. Was told no time for epidural and could only have gas and air. I sucked on that thing so hard my hands and feet contorted and I couldn't speak. Needed stitches afterwards and was told they could do it without anesthetic it would be fine.....I screamed at the pain and was told to stop being a baby. Had a peek at my chart once alone and saw that cord had been wrapped around my daughter's neck and they had to resuscitate her. I had and still have no recollection of that happening.

2nd daughter when I was 20. Again got to 41 weeks and told had to induce. Again was a very fast and strong labour at 3 hours in hospital. Again no time for anything other than gas and air. Very intense. Her dad was with me and left the room to get more water, and no one else was in the room when I felt the urge to push. I screamed for help and the midwife came in and told me to shut up and calm down. Again needed stitches but was 'allowed' gas and air.

My son was stillborn at 38 weeks when I was 27. Had to go through labour knowing he was gone, again in hospital and was treated like a very low priority and a nuisance because there wasn't a live baby coming. Labour was easier than before but I think I was too sad to be panicked.

3rd daughter when I was 35 following IVF. Got to 40+10 and refused being induced. Home birth in a paddling pool! Very easy, relaxed, beautiful 45 minute labour. No drugs not even a paracetamol. No gas and air. Nothing. The most amazing experience of my life! Ray La Montague playing, candles and clary sage oil burner, one very pro home birth midwife. When she arrived I was on my yoga ball and had a big contraction. She said 'ooh was that a bad one' and I said 'no, that was a strong one, not bad' and she immediately got on my wavelength of changing the language. I got in the pool and told her I wanted to push. I was free to listen to my body and move how I wanted to. I had one push which was my waters. She said it might still be a while, I said no here she comes! I had one more push where I tucked my chin down and grunted like a cow and out she popped!

The differences;

I was informed about pregnancy length and how 40 weeks is just the convenient average. 38-42 weeks is normal.

I was informed about each stage of labour. 2nd stage is particularly troublesome as your body transitions from contracting stage 1 to pushing stage 3 and the sudden change in hormones, which are telling your body what to do, is what makes us feel suddenly overwhelmed and exhausted and is when many feel 'i can't do this, give me all the drugs!' recognise it and ride it!

I was at home in a peaceful setting.
I was in water and free to move not on my back with legs in stirrups.

I was in control.

I was in control.

Bares repeating but I was in control!

🧠👶 New scans show that fathers’ #brains undergo significant restructuring in the first six months after #childbirth.

Gray matter shrinks in some regions and swells in others, with changes tied to #caregiving, attention, emotional processing, and the brain’s reward system. Led by psychiatrist Negin Daneshnia in #Germany, the study suggests the male brain prunes and rewires itself to meet the demands of caring for a #newborn, much like the maternal brain does during #pregnancy.

👉 https://www.sciencealert.com/fatherhood-dramatically-rewires-your-brain-scans-reveal

#fatherhood #neuroscience #parenting #science #mentalhealth #biology #research #family #childdevelopment #parenthood

Breastfeeding Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

Understanding Breast Cancer: Learn about key risk factors and preventative measures, including the impact of childbirth and breastfeeding. Join our discussion to empower yourself with knowledge and reduce your risk!

Follow @biohackingpathway for more

#BreastCancerAwareness #BreastCancerPrevention #WomensHealth #CancerRiskFactors #Childbirth #Breastfeeding #HealthTips #MedicalInformation #CancerResearch #WomenEmpowerment

Police Deputy Praised After ‘Run-of-the-Mill’ Call Turns into Emergency Baby Delivery

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/police-deputy-praised-after-run-of-the-mill-call-turns-into-emergency-baby-delivery/

A literature review and data analysis reveals that difficult childbirth (dystocia) occurs in many wild and domesticated mammal species, and at rates that equal or exceed those in humans. This may result from a natural selection tradeoff between offspring size and dystocia incidence.

Summary: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-challenge-a-long-held-belief-about-why-human-childbirth-is-so-difficult/

Original paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/brv.70174

#Science #Childbirth #WomensHealth #Evolution #MaternalMortality

#Australian #RedCross #Lifeblood is calling on Australians to roll up their sleeves this week, with 13,000 A and O #BloodDonations #urgently needed over the next 7 days as national blood stocks run very low.

The appeal comes as Lifeblood warns supplies could fall to critical levels by June without an immediate boost in donor appointments, placing added pressure on the blood products hospitals rely on every day for #cancer treatment, #surgery, #trauma care & #childbirth.

#auspol

My wife thought she had cramps – then gave birth in the car

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/16/wife-thought-cramps-gave-birth-car-2-28323624/

I was sure my mother-in-law poisoned me — but I was the one who got sectioned

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/13/sure-mother-in-law-poisoned-one-got-sectioned-28340113/