Publisher
Cynren Press
Published
May 26, 2026
Format
Paperback · Ebook
Category
Memoir · Maternal Health
About the Book
Childbirth is often framed as magical, transformative, and universally joyful. For many women, the reality is far more complex—and far more damaging.
In The Alchemy of Motherhood, Casey Keen examines the physical and psychological aftermath of pregnancy, labor, and delivery, tracing how birth trauma, postpartum depression, and postpartum anxiety are routinely minimized, misdiagnosed, or ignored altogether. Grounded in her own experience, and informed by her work as a postpartum women’s advocate, 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.
What This Book Explores
Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
Postpartum Preeclampsia
Birth
Trauma
Systemic
Healthcare Gaps
Praise forThe Alchemy of Motherhood
Dr. Cheryl Beck, DNSc, CNM, FAAN, Professor, University of Connecticut
“Casey Keen has poignantly and bravely described her battle with birth trauma and her postpartum journey. This is a must on the bookshelf of childbearing women. With her beautiful writing style, she eloquently invites the reader into the reality of new motherhood. She masterfully weaves her own personal experience of traumatic birth, postpartum depression, and her postpartum preeclampsia with current research on these devastating disorders. Casey is to be applauded for sharing her story so other women and their families will be aware of often untreated mental illness in new mothers.”
Julie Summers, Midwest Book Review
“Candidly informative and exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the non-specialist reader with an interest in the subject, "The Alchemy of Motherhood: Unspoken Truths of Birth Trauma and the Postpartum Journey" by Casey Keen is a seminal and groundbreaking study that is unique, iconoclastic, and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Pregnancy/Childbirth collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.”
Teresa Wong, Author of Dear Scarlet: The Story of My Postpartum Depression
"With a blend of research and personal narrative, The Alchemy of Motherhood sheds new light on the difficulties of giving birth in a health care system that has lost sight of what's best for mothers and babies. It doesn't only examine the problems, however: It gives us a better way forward. I wish this book had existed before I had my own babies!"
Joel "Gator" Warsh, MD, MsC
“As an integrative pediatrician, I’ve watched too many families navigate birth trauma alone; this book gives them the validation and road map they deserve.”
“The Alchemy of Motherhood is a book every expecting, new, and seasoned mother needs to read. Casey Keen’s shared experiences will help them feel heard, seen, and, most importantly, validated.”
Danelle Petersen, Readers’ Favorite Review
“Casey Keen’s raw honesty is refreshing. We need to talk about this distressing topic more; there’s no shame in admitting that you need help as a mother or that you feel like a failure. Casey’s heartfelt letters to mothers and healthcare workers were a teaching moment, filled with love and hope for a better tomorrow. Her passion for advocating for proper and accessible mental health resources is nothing short of admirable.”
