“In Blessed With Life, Oyekan draws from her own experience of pregnancy and childbirth to create a guide for women who may be overwhelmed by the uncertainties that often accompany pregnancy or the waiting period before conception.”
Pregnancy is often described as a season of joy and anticipation, but for many women, it can also be a period of anxiety, uncertainty, expectation and profound emotional vulnerability.
It is against this backdrop that Blessed With Life: Prayers and Affirmations for Pregnancy, written by Adejoke Deborah Oyekan and published in 2025 by PurpleBloom, seeks to offer comfort, spiritual direction and reassurance to expectant and waiting mothers.
Blessed With Life: A Faith-Based Companion For Expectant And Waiting Mothers
The book for this week is not merely a collection of prayers. It is, in many respects, a faith-based companion designed to accompany women through the different stages of the pregnancy journey, reminding them that they do not have to navigate the experience alone.
Adejoke Oyekan brings more than 15 years of experience in the book publishing industry to her work. She is a business executive, event host and founder/CEO of PurpleBloom Publishers. She is also the author of Yes, I Can: Positive Affirmations For Kids.
In Blessed With Life, Oyekan draws from her own experience of pregnancy and childbirth to create a guide for women who may be overwhelmed by the uncertainties that often accompany pregnancy or the waiting period before conception.
When Pregnancy Meets Anxiety, Faith Becomes a Companion
One of the strengths of the book is its honesty about the emotional terrain surrounding pregnancy. The author shares her experiences of anxiety and uncertainty before and during pregnancy and reflects on how faith, prayer and positive affirmations helped her navigate those moments before the successful birth of her child.
That personal foundation gives the book a clear purpose.
It speaks to women who may be expectant, anxious, uncertain about where to begin or simply in need of daily reminders that they are not alone. Rather than presenting pregnancy purely as a physical or medical experience, Oyekan approaches it from a spiritual, psychological and emotional perspective.
The result is essentially a spiritual and psychological map for women, particularly those who are pregnant, hoping to become pregnant or seeking encouragement during the waiting season.
A Simple Guide For The Pregnancy Journey
At 71 pages, Blessed With Life is divided into seven main parts, alongside additional sections and a conclusion. Its journal-like format contributes significantly to its accessibility.
The book reads more like a directory or guidebook than a conventional lengthy devotional. Its language is simple, clear and concise, making it an easy read for women who may not have the time or emotional energy to commit to lengthy passages.
The sections are brief and easy on the eyes. This makes the book particularly useful as a companion that can be picked up whenever the reader needs a moment of prayer, reflection or reassurance.
Each section concludes with prayers supported by Bible verses, reinforcing the central message of faith and dependence on God throughout the pregnancy journey.
Praying Beyond the Pregnancy
One feature I particularly appreciated is the breadth of the prayers.
The prayers do not focus exclusively on the pregnancy or the unborn child. They extend into the various stages of the baby’s development, the process of childbirth and even the people who will participate in caring for the mother and baby.
There is intentionality in this approach.
Rather than concentrating on a single aspect of pregnancy, the author encourages the reader to commit the entire journey to God. The pregnancy, the developing child, childbirth and the support system around the mother all become subjects of prayer.
This makes Blessed With Life more than a book about praying for a safe delivery. It encourages a woman to develop an attitude of continual dependence on God throughout the entire experience.
The Father Is Not Forgotten
Although the book is primarily directed at women and their pregnancy journeys, Oyekan does not treat pregnancy as an experience that exists in isolation.
The role and wellbeing of the father are acknowledged, an inclusion that makes the book more encompassing. Pregnancy may take place in a woman’s body, but the emotional, spiritual and family implications extend beyond her.
By recognising the father’s presence, the book reinforces the idea that pregnancy and childbirth can be shared journeys rather than experiences carried by the mother alone.
The Power Of Community And Prayer Partners
Another interesting feature is the author’s invitation for women to involve friends and prayer partners.
Pregnancy can sometimes feel deeply personal and isolating, particularly when a woman is dealing with anxiety, uncertainty or the challenges associated with waiting for a child. Encouraging trusted friends and prayer partners to participate introduces an important communal dimension.
It is a reminder that faith can be strengthened not only through personal devotion but also through the people who stand beside us, pray with us and provide emotional support when the journey becomes difficult.
In that sense, Blessed With Life recognises the value of community in sustaining faith.
From Prayer To Practical Action
The book also includes a short checklist after the prayers and affirmations. This is a thoughtful addition, particularly for someone who may be new to this form of prayer practice.
Rather than leaving the reader with prayers alone, the checklist provides a simple point of engagement and makes the book feel more practical.
That simplicity is perhaps one of its defining qualities. Blessed With Life does not attempt to overwhelm its audience with complicated theological explanations. Instead, it offers short reflections, prayers, affirmations and scriptural encouragement that can easily become part of a woman’s daily routine.
What Could Have Been Better?
If there is one area where I wished Blessed With Life had offered more, it would have been a deeper glimpse into the author’s personal pregnancy experience.
Knowing that her own journey helped inspire the book, I found myself wanting to encounter more of that story within its pages. More personal reflections could have provided readers with a more intimate understanding of the experiences, fears, questions and moments of faith that eventually shaped the prayers and affirmations.
I would have particularly enjoyed seeing more of her personal story woven into the prayers and reflections.
That, however, is not necessarily a flaw in the book. It is more a reflection of what I, as a reader, would have liked to see.
The author’s primary intention is clearly not to write an autobiography or a detailed account of her pregnancy. Her purpose is to provide spiritual guidance and prayerful encouragement to women, helping them place every stage of their pregnancy journey in God’s hands and draw strength from their faith in Christ Jesus.
A Gentle Companion For Women Of Faith
Ultimately, Blessed With Life succeeds in what it sets out to do.
It is a gentle, accessible and practical prayer companion for women navigating pregnancy or waiting for the blessing of a child. Its greatest strength lies in its simplicity and its deliberate focus on faith, prayer, affirmation and reassurance.
The book reminds its readers that pregnancy is not only a physical journey. For the Christian believer, it can also be a journey of faith, surrender, hope and continual dependence on God.
In a world where expectant mothers can easily become overwhelmed by information, anxiety and uncertainty, Blessed With Life offers something different: a quiet invitation to pause, pray and surrender the journey to God.
It is a book to pray with, return to and share with the people praying alongside you.
For women who are pregnant, hoping to conceive or simply seeking spiritual encouragement during a season of waiting, Blessed With Life offers a timely reminder that faith can become a source of strength throughout the journey.
And perhaps that is the heart of the book: the assurance that even in the waiting, the uncertainty and the anticipation, life remains a blessing—and faith can help us walk through every step of it.
