Vulnerable new mothers are often left to fend for themselves. Is it any wonder that so many struggle? It doesn't have to be this way. Postpartum doula Salle Webber gently explores the many aspects of new family support. The Gentle Art of Newborn Family Care is a complete manual for the aspiring professional doula, and for anyone helping a family after the birth of a child. It is offered with an attitude of reverence for new life, a willingness to offer service, and an understanding of the importance of the newborn family's earliest experiences.

Newborn Mothers is about doing less, not more. It answers your real questions about the transformation to motherhood including... Is baby brain real? Are you actually losing your mind? You heard it takes a village to raise a child, but what does that look like in the 21st century? You were told these are the best days of your life. ...

Since the original publication of The Birth Partner, partners, friends, relatives, and doulas have relied on Penny Simkin's guidance in caring for the new mother, from her last trimester through the early postpartum period. Now fully revised in its fifth edition, The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide to helping a woman through labor and birth, and the essential manual to have at hand during the event. The Birth Partner includes thorough information on: Preparing for labor and knowing when it has begun Normal labor and how to help the woman every step of the way Epidurals and other medications for labor Pitocin and other means, including natural ones, to induce or speed up labor Non-drug techniques for easing labor pain Cesarean birth and complications that may require it Breastfeeding and newborn care and much more For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, this book is indispensable.

After labor, it’s time for rest: A gentle guide to zuo yuezi, the ancient Chinese practice of postpartum self-care, including sixty simple recipes. The first forty days after the birth of a child offer an essential and fleeting period of rest and recovery for the new mother. Based on 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. This book includes sixty 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 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. Fully illustrated, it 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. “Bringing our attention back to the importance of the postpartum period for new mothers helps to create space for this essential period of integration and recovery . . . an invaluable companion during the first 40 days and beyond.” —Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein, filmmakers, The Business of Being Born

An authoritative guide to natural childbirth and postpartum parenting options from an MD who home-birthed her own four children. Sarah Buckley might be called a third-wave natural birth advocate. A doctor and a mother, she approaches the question of how a woman and baby might have the most fulfilling birth experience with respect for the wisdom of both medical science and the human body. Using current medical and epidemiological research plus women's experiences (including her own), she demonstrates that what she calls "undisturbed birth" is almost always healthier and safer than high-technology approaches to birth. Her wise counsel on issues like breastfeeding and sleeping during postpartum helps extend the gentle birth experience into a gentle parenting relationship.

This is a shorter version of the classic bestseller The Birth Partner, ideal for time-pressed parents, partners, and birthing professionals. It is a convenient and easy-to-use book that provides facts on the fly during the ultra-busy period before, during, and after labor and birth. An added planner keeps your plans and to-dos in one place. Generations of spouses and partners, as well as doulas, nurses, midwives, and other professionals, have relied on Penny Simkin's warm and wise guidance in caring for the new mother, from the last trimester through the early postpartum period. Her book The Birth Partner is the definitive guide to helping a woman through labor and birth, and The Birth Partner's Quick Reference Guide and Planner is a more-concise version of that book. For those who have the original book, it adds a planner component, for hospital or at-home birth plans and for other essential to-dos. It is full of reliable and up-to-date information on: Preparing for labor and for the new baby Ways to help a woman through each stage of labor and birth Pain-relief measures, including epidurals and medications as well as natural techniques Ways to induce or speed up labor Cesarean birth and complications that may require it Breastfeeding and newborn care and much more For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, this is the essential book to have on hand.

Discusses the final weeks of pregnancy, the labor process, comfort measures, medical technology, complications, medication, cesareans, post partum, and breastfeeding.