Cradled: Christ’s Care for Postpartum Moms

Sleep schedules, bottles, dirty diapers, colicky nights.

If you’ve felt like you’re drowning in the midst of it all-wondering what to do and who you even are anymore-you’re not alone. You’re more than these spit-up stains and baggy eyes, Mama. More than an around-the-clock milk machine or expert baby shusher. You’re a whole person, changing and growing alongside your child right now, and you are precious to Jesus.

The postpartum season can feel deeply disorienting, especially your first time through, but you aren’t as unseen or overlooked as you might feel. In his humanity, Christ came to walk where you walk and suffer as you do, and he understands the loneliness and exhaustion you feel. And in his deity, Christ meets you there with the comfort and care of a perfect Parent.

With tenderness and care, Cradled walks through eight tasks that consume the postpartum season-feeding, sleeping, changing, soothing, washing, nurturing, praying, and anticipating-imparting a fresh perspective of how Christ ministers to moms in like fashion. Through discussion questions and rich reflections, you’ll be better equipped to face your own physical, spiritual, and emotional needs as a postpartum mom and process your experiences through the lens of the gospel, grappling with the realities of the fall but also holding onto the hope of redemption.

152 pages.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Cutting the Cord

1. Feeding
2. Sleeping
3. Changing
4. Soothing
5. Washing
6. Nurturing
7. Praying
8. Anticipating

Appendix: Facing Unexpected Challenges

Acknowledgments

Endorsements

“What a life-giving resource! I commend Cradled to new moms as it will fortify their hearts and minds with the gospel in the hazy days of motherhood. The postpartum season is hard, but Annie’s words will encourage moms to set their sights on Jesus and the deep well of gifts found in him.”

-Laura Wifler, Poet; Author; Coauthor, Risen Motherhood

“Cradled is a gift to every new mother navigating the tender, disorienting, and beautiful postpartum season. With poignant language and deeply relatable reflections, it gently anchors weary hearts in the unchanging truths of Scripture. Page by page, it reminds us that Christ’s care is not distant or abstract but present and personal-even in the sleepless nights and fragile days of early motherhood.”

-Amy Gannett, Writer; Bible Teacher; Founder, The Bible Study Schoolhouse and Tiny Theologians

“Gloriously hopeful! Through the daily rhythms of motherhood, Annie masterfully-beautifully-leads postpartum moms to see how Jesus supplies for her every need. Her weary soul met with his rest make this book one I will put in the hands of every new mom I counsel.”

-Kristen Hatton, Licensed Professional Counselor; Author, Parenting Ahead

“This book is exactly what my heart longed for in the exhausting postpartum season with each of my babies. From the very first pages, Annie shares her own postpartum story with such honesty and vulnerability that every new mother will feel seen, understood, and held. She continually anchors the everyday moments of motherhood in the hope of the gospel-reminding us that the love, grace, and help of our merciful Savior, Jesus Christ, shape not only how we care for our little ones but how we receive his care. Though we are mothers, we are also daughters, cradled by God who never grows tired or weary. Cradled is a much-needed companion for every postpartum mom, and I’m confident countless women will find comfort in these pages.”

-Gretchen Saffles, Author, The Well-Watered Woman and Word Before World

“Annie’s writing is stunning, relatable, and theologically rich-painting real-life moments with warmth and honesty. Through each snapshot of postpartum life, she invites moms to see how the gospel offers hope and encouragement in the fourth trimester as they look to Jesus.”

-Emily Jensen, Coauthor, Risen Motherhood and Gospel Mom

“I love Annie’s writing. Not only is the prose itself beautiful, but she approaches this topic with vulnerability, tenderness, and deep care for the reader. She shines light on a topic that we all too often leave in the dark. Annie goes even further, examining the ways Jesus identifies with new moms and how he offers them genuine hope for the immediate moment and all eternity. This book is a must-read for every new mom and the people who love them.”

-Jen Oshman, Author; Speaker; Women’s Ministry Director