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For Casey Keen, childbirth and pregnancy were marketed as magical, mysterious gifts from which would spring profound beauty and joy—leaving her unprepared for the raw, unvarnished truth about the physical and mental challenges that lay ahead, not only during her pregnancy, but through the crucible of labor and delivery and into the landscape of postpartum life. 

 

Motherhood is often portrayed as a journey of love and fulfillment, but the reality is more complex and often more isolating than anyone admits. It is a transformation that can break you wide open, forcing you to rebuild yourself from the inside out. This memoir is an unflinching exploration of what happens in the space between who you were and who you become after birth.

 

With searing honesty, Casey shares her deeply personal journey through birth trauma, unexpected medical complications, and the harsh reality of navigating a healthcare system that too often abandons mothers when they need it most. Weaving her lived experience with research from medical journals and hard-hitting truths about postpartum care, she exposes the silent struggles so many endure, like depression, grief, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and overwhelming loneliness.

 

More than just a memoir, this book is a rallying cry for change and a lifeline for mothers who feel unseen, unheard, and forgotten. Through a blend of storytelling and evidence-based research, it sheds light on the urgent need for better postpartum care, offering validation and hope to those who have been left to navigate this journey alone.

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It’s essential reading for pregnant women, mothers, anyone invested in maternal healthcare, social justice, or the honest realities of postpartum life. In the darkest moments, there is strength. There is transformation. And there is, above all, resilience.

 

This powerful memoir will be published in April 2026 by Cynren Press. Available for pre-order now!