The Journal

Slow words for great crossings

Pregnancy & Motherhood · August 2026 · 7 min read

Birth as a Rite of Passage

We often prepare for birth by learning what will happen to our bodies. But birth is more than a physical event. Preparing for it can also mean preparing for the transition that is happening in our lives.

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Menopause · August 2026 · 7 min read

Menopause: A Time of Change and Becoming

Menopause is often spoken about through the language of symptoms. Hot flushes, disrupted sleep, changing hormones, brain fog, mood changes, aching bodies. These experiences are real, and for some women they can be difficult enough to affect work, relationships and everyday life. Having good medical information and access to appropriate care matters. But menopause is not only something happening to our hormones.

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Thresholds · September 2026 · 6 min read

The Wisdom of Thresholds

There are times in life when we know that something is changing, but we cannot yet see what is coming next. We are often encouraged to move quickly through uncertainty. But there is another way of understanding these periods. We can think of them as thresholds.

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Pregnancy & Motherhood · August 2026 · 6 min read

Postpartum Recovery: Gentle Support for New Mothers

The weeks after birth can bring enormous change. Your body is recovering, your hormones are shifting, sleep may come in fragments, and at the same time you are learning the rhythms and needs of a completely new person. And yet the language around postpartum recovery can make it sound strangely simple. But perhaps recovery after birth is not really about going back.

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Pregnancy & Motherhood · August 2026 · 6 min read

Understanding Dutch Maternity Care: From Pregnancy to the Kraamweek

If you are pregnant in the Netherlands, you may quickly discover that maternity care here works a little differently from what you are used to. Verloskundige, kraamzorg, consultatiebureau — here is a simple guide to what you are likely to encounter, from the beginning of pregnancy through birth and the first days at home.

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