Book Club: My Favorite’s for New Mamas
As you already know, I’m a huge advocate of prepping for yourself as well as prepping for your baby. These 3 books will help you do exactly that. Take what resonates with you, leave what doesn’t. I hope these books provide insight, support, and connections on the road to or through out motherhood.
Nurture, by Erica Cohen
I read this while I was on bed rest in the hospital, and I’m so glad I did. Erica’s nonjudgmental tone leaves you empowered and at ease while digesting important information. Nurture is a comprehensive guide to pregnancy and the first few weeks that follow.
Synopsis
“Nurture is the only all-in-one pregnancy and birthing book for modern mothers-to-be and their partners who want a more integrative approach. Author Erica Chidi Cohen has assisted countless births and helped hundreds of families ease into their new roles through her work as a doula. More than 40 charming and helpful illustrations, charts, and lists can be found throughout.
Covers dozens of important topics that every modern mom needs to know including fetal development, making choices for a hospital, home or birth center birth, the basics of breastfeeding, tips on what to expect postpartum, and more.
Includes supportive self-care and mindfulness exercises, trimester-specific holistic remedies, nourishing foods and recipes for every month of pregnancy, and expert tips for every birth environment.”
Click here to purchase this book and support black-owned independent books store.
The 4th Trimester, by Kimberly Ann Johnson
My SIL hipped me to this one, which I listened to on audible. The author shares a lot of her personal experience and shines a light on the lack of resources for women as they enter postpartum. This book helps guide you through the physical and emotional changes you experience as you enter into motherhood.
Synopsis
This holistic guide offers practical advice to support women through postpartum healing on the physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual levels—and provides women with a roadmap to this very important transition that can last from a few months to a few years.
Kimberly Ann Johnson draws from her vast professional experience as a doula, postpartum consultant, yoga teacher, bodyworker, and women’s health care advocate, and from the healing traditions of Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and herbalism—as well as her own personal experience to cover:
how you can prepare your body for birth;
how you can organize yourself and your household for the best possible transition to motherhood;
simple practices and home remedies to facilitate healing and restore energy;
how to strengthen relationships and aid the return to sex;
learning to exercise safely postpartum;
carrying your baby with comfort;
exploring the complex and often conflicting emotions that arise postpartum;
and much more.
Click here to buy yourself or a new mother a copy!
The First 40 Days, by Amely Greeven
This one was recommended to me by my acupuncturist, while I was pregnant with Liam. My MIL blessed me with the hard copy while I was pregnant with Norah! With the lack of sleep and hormonal changes, it’s imperative to support your body with nutrition and nurture it as it recovers. This book guides you through the process of resting and recovering your body postpartum through food.
Synopsis
“The first 40 days after the birth of a child offer an essential and fleeting period of rest and recovery for the new mother. Based on author Heng Ou’s own postpartum experience with zuo yuezi, a set period of “confinement,” in which a woman remains at home focusing on healing and bonding with her baby, The First Forty Days revives the lost art of caring for the mother after birth.
As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely “bounce back” after delivering their babies and are often left alone to face the physical and emotional challenges of this new stage of their lives, the first forty days provide a lifeline—a source of connection, nourishment, and guidance.
The book includes 60 simple recipes for healing soups; replenishing meals and snacks; and calming and lactation-boosting teas, all formulated to support the unique needs of the new mother. In addition to the recipes, this warm and encouraging guide offers advice on arranging a system of help during the postpartum period, navigating relationship challenges, and honoring the significance of pregnancy and birth.
The First Forty Days, fully illustrated to feel both inspiring and soothing, is a practical guide and inspirational read for all new mothers and mothers-to-be—the perfect ally during the first weeks with a new baby.”
You can buy it here on Arbis, a marketplace that helps independent sellers find buyers through marketplace solutions and partnerships with scores of leading global media retailers, including Chapters/Indigo (Canada), and Waterstone's (UK).