My Friendship with Jessica Wolstenholm was forged through our individual journeys to complete our families. Her struggle included infertility and multiple miscarriages, mine was a roller coaster adoption process. As her friend and OB/GYN, once she did conceive, I was a quick phone call away when the anxieties of pregnancy would pop up. Shortly after she delivered, she approached me with the idea of writing a faith based guide to pregnancy: she would write as the patient, I would write as the doctor. It took me a while to warm up to the idea, but Jessica can be very convincing. Eventually I agreed to go along with writing a proposal, not really thinking anything would ever come of it. However, the awesome folks at Leafwood Publishing believed in our vision and published The Pregnancy Companion in February of 2011. The feedback we got from our readers was so encouraging, that in April of 2013 we released The Baby Companion, with guidance for baby’s first year of life.
Both books provide the medical facts in an easy to understand fashion, but also give biblical truths and devotionals to help women walk through the pregnancy and the newborn years as peacefully as possible.
I am also a contributing author of the book The Everything Guide to Pregnancy Nutrition and Health.
Nice things people have to say about The Pregnancy Companion:
The depth and accuracy of the medical information presented in The Pregnancy Companion is impressive. Dr. Heather Rupe has an uncanny ability to present complex medical material in a way that is both understandable and enjoyable to read. The Pregnancy Companion offers a balanced presentation of medical information from a Christian perspective and, supplemented with Jessica Wolstenholm’s patient perspective, is an uplifting and thought-provoking read of what to anticipate during pregnancy. – Dr. Michael DeRoche, Perinatologist, Greater Nashville Perinatology
Dr. Heather Rupe and Jessica Wolstenholm have composed a guide that is both comprehensive and inspirational. The journey through pregnancy, its unknowns, and sometimes its losses can be life-altering. With this book the authors have provided a spiritual and medical compendium for women everywhere with which to navigate that path. – Rebecca Bell, D.O., FACOG, Franklin, TN
Dr. Rupe is a kind and caring physician. Her patients benefit from her compassion, dedication, and professional attitude. Readers will also find this to be true of her guidance in The Pregnancy Companion. – Dawn Pekarek, MD, Akron, OH
Finally, a pregnancy book that is both practical and Biblical! Jessica’s honest perspective is refreshing and encouraging, while Dr. Rupe’s expertise is useful and accessible for any mother-to-be. I read The Pregnancy Companion after my first child was born but am looking forward to reading it again when I am actually pregnant! What a helpful resource for the expectant mother. – Meredith Andrews, Worship Leader and Recording Artist
When I was pregnant with each of my children I devoured just about every thing I could get my hands on to help me understand better what I was experiencing and what I could expect with each passing milestone. In all of my researching and reading, I never came across anything quite like The Pregnancy Companion. Jessica Wolstenholm and Dr. Heather Rupe have provided an incredibly informational and inspirational companion for women who are walking through the hard-to-describe realities of pregnancy. Weaving the facets of the whole person – mind, spirit, and body – they have created a resource that really has it all. I am thrilled that this resource is available for women today and I can’t wait to give this book to women who are entering this journey themselves! – Shelley Hendrix, Founder of church4chicks.com and host of Atlanta Live!
Finally! A common sense, easy to understand, month by month guide to the most exciting nine months in a woman’s life. Complete with baby stats, mommy stats, symptom checklists, and mommy quotes, Jessica and Heather have left nothing uncovered. As a parent who has made this journey with his wife six times, I can tell you that, “The Pregnancy Companion”, is an exciting and informative must read for every want-to-be mom and dad. – Joe McGee. President, Faith For Families, Tulsa, OK
The Pregnancy Companion is a marvelous resource for expectant moms who are looking for a guide on how to have a healthy, happy and holy pregnancy. Pregnancy is an exciting and joyous journey. But it can also be a journey filled with uncertainty if you don’t have some seasoned guides to help you find your way. Jessica Wolstenholm and Dr. Heather Rupe are two such guides—committed Christian moms, one being an obstetrician, who have a heart to help those expecting to have a spiritually rich, physically healthy pregnancy and delivery. With The Pregnancy Companion they have succeeded on both counts. I recommend this book highly. – Dale Evrist, Senior Pastor, New Song Christian Fellowship Nashville
At the intersection of making babies and following God, there is The Pregnancy Companion. A unique blend of medically sound pregnancy information and faith filled words of wisdom for mothers to be, this book is a gem. As myself a mother of five for whom both mothering and faith are paramount, I can only wish this book would have been in my hands when I was pregnant with my babies! The Pregnancy Companion is the perfect partner for an expectant mother who wants the best for herself, her baby and her family. – Jennifer McKinney, mother of five and author of the blog MckMama.com
Dr. Heather Rupe 