This thesis is about the history of American motherhood between 1910 and 1921 when “scientific motherhood” became the winning strategy for solving the nation’s infant mortality crisis. As scientific and medical discoveries in the late-nineteenth century gradually disproved conventional beliefs about the inevitability of infant death, reform-minded Americans grew increasingly intolerant of the nation’s shamefully high rate of infant mortality. Committed to raising public awareness about the extent of infant death in the United States, the infant welfare movement introduced “baby-saving” campaigns like Baby Week and Children’s Year to establish public responsibility for an otherwise private family tragedy. In a time when progressive reformers regularly lobbied the federal government for protections against the dark side of modernization, the infant welfare movement embraced a different sort of progressive solution: it blamed the moms. How did women in the United States become responsible for a national public health problem? With the help of campaign planning manuals, conference exhibits, Children’s Bureau reports, newspapers, and ladies’ magazines, I argue that the infant welfare movement was as much about reforming the modern ideal of American motherhood as it was about saving babies.

The infant management concepts presented in this book have found favor with over two million parents and twice as many contented babies. On Becoming Babywise brings hope to the tired and bewildered parents looking for an alternative to sleepless nights and fussy babies. The Babywise Parent Directed Feeding concept has enough structure to bring security and order to your baby's world, yet enough flexibility to give mom freedom to respond to any need at any time. It teaches parents how to lovingly guide their baby's day rather than be guided or enslaved to the infant's unknown needs. The information contained within On Becoming Babywise is loaded with success. Comprehensive breast-feeding follow-up surveys spanning three countries, of mothers using the PDF method verify that as a result of the PDF concepts, 88% breast-feed, compared to the national average of only 54% (from the National Center for Health Statistics). Of these breast-feeding mothers, 80% of them breast-feed exclusively without a formula complement. And while 70% of our mothers are still breast-feeding after six months, the national average encourage to follow demand feeding without any guidelines is only 20%. The mean average time of breast-feeding for PDF moms is 33 1/2 weeks, well above the national average. Over 50% of PDF mothers extend their breast-feeding toward and well into the first year. Added to these statistics is another critical factor. The average breast-fed PDF baby sleeps continuously through night seven to eight hours between weeks seven and nine. Healthy sleep in infants is analogous to healthy growth and development. Find out for yourself why a world of parents and pediatricians utilize the concepts found in On Becoming Babywise.

Generations of mothers have been told -- and believed -- that having a baby means checking their own brains at the delivery room door. "The Mommy Brain" usually refers to a head full of feeding times, soccer schedules, and nursery rhymes, at the expense of creative or challenging ideas. But recent scientific research paints a dramatically different and far rosier picture. Journalist Katherine Ellison draws on cutting-edge neuroscience research to demonstrate that, contrary to long-established wisdom that having children dumbs you down, raising children may make moms smarter . From enhanced senses in pregnancy and early motherhood to the alertness and memory skills necessary to manage like a pro, to a greater aptitude for risk-taking and a talent for empathy and negotiation, these advantages not only help mothers in raising their children, but in their work and social lives as well. Filled with lively (and often hilarious) stories of multitasking moms at home and on the job, The Mommy Brain encourages all of us to cast aside conventional thinking and discover the positive ways in which having children changes mothers' brains for the better.

How to create a healthier, happier, smarter baby?the breakthrough pregnancy diet and lifestyle plan based on cutting-edge genetic science Whether you're planning for pregnancy or are already pregnant, this essential prenatal guide draws on the latest genetic research to give you a complete program of specific nutrition and environmental lifestyle changes that can help you have a better baby. The book is based on the emerging science of epigenetics and shows how the environment interacts with your genes, affecting which genes are expressed or "turned on". It shows you the important steps you can take to improve preconception nutrition and reduce toxins in your home and body to consciously help your child be healthy, smart, and strong. Leverages the latest epigenetics research to help you produce a healthier, smarter, and happier baby with a lower risk of allergies, asthma, and developmental issues Shares a specific prescriptive program based on four principles: eating the right foods; taking the right supplements; detoxifying before, during, and after pregnancy; and minimizing stress Shows how a woman's health and her environment during pregnancy may have a much bigger impact on her child than was previously thought Includes the authors' compelling personal story of developing the Better Baby Plan shared in the book as they had their own better babies

Embark on a transformative journey with "New Mom Revival: Bouncing Back Wiser and Stronger After Baby" by Dr. Omolola Habib. This insightful guide is not just a manual; it's a companion for new mothers seeking wisdom, strength, and a holistic approach to postpartum well-being. Dr. Habib, a seasoned practitioner in Naturopathic Medicine and a devoted wellness coach, seamlessly combines professional expertise with the genuine warmth of a mother. In this book, she navigates the intricate terrain of postpartum experiences, offering practical strategies to bounce back after childbirth with resilience and grace. This isn't just another parenting book - it's a heartfelt conversation with a trusted mentor. Dr. Habib shares personal anecdotes, nurturing the reader through the challenges of early motherhood. From relationship strengthening to self-care rituals, nutrition, and mindfulness practices, each chapter is a compass guiding you towards a balanced and empowered new chapter. "New Mom Revival" is more than a guide; it's a celebration of the incredible strength that resides within every new mother. Dr. Habib's words resonate as a beacon of support, offering solace, encouragement, and a roadmap to becoming a wiser and stronger version of yourself. Whether you're a first-time mom or adding to your family, this book is a sanctuary of wisdom, filled with insights that will empower you to embrace the transformation wholeheartedly. Welcome to a revival - a journey to rediscover yourself, thrive in motherhood, and emerge stronger on the other side.

"This book is a pragmatic introduction to evidence-based parenting. The second edition provides details of the latest advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics and includes enhanced coverage of allergenic foods and genetically modified organisms, breast versus bottle feeding, plastics as endocrine disrupters, vaccinations, and the co-sleeping debate. An all-new chapter reveals the real facts behind the benefits of both paid childcare for working parents and staying at home with babies"--

Poignant, raw, and insightful, Jennifer Gilmore’s third novel is an unforgettable story of love, family, and motherhood. With a “voice [that is] at turns wise and barbed with sharp humor” (Vanity Fair), Gilmore lays bare the story of one couple’s ardent desire for a child and their emotional journey through adoption. Jesse and Ramon are a loving couple, but after years spent unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant, they turn to adoption, relieved to think that once they navigate the bureaucratic path to parent-hood they will have a happy ending. But nothing has prepared them for the labyrinthine process—for the many training sessions and approvals; for the constant advice from friends, strangers, and “experts”; for the birthmothers who contact them but don’t ultimately choose them; or even, most shockingly, for the women who call claiming they’ve chosen Jesse and Ramon but who turn out never to have been pregnant in the first place. Jennifer Gilmore’s eloquence about the human heart—its frailties and complexities—and her razor-sharp observations about race, class, culture, and changing family dynamics are spectacularly combined in this powerful novel. Suffused with passion and fury, The Mothers is a taut, gripping, and satisfying book that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.