Offers expectant mothers seeking natural childbirth in a hospital a detailed look at pregnancy and labor, explaining how to create a mutually supportive relationship among birth-care providers and make informed choices.

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...

"There is no right way or best way to give birth, but if you're pregnant, you're likely already hearing advice and stories about what you should do, how you should feel, and what you should want from your birth experience. Your Birth Plan is an intervention: it's a birth book that equally honors all paths and all pregnant people, guiding and empowering you to make informed decisions, without judgment or prescription, for your own positive birth experience....

"People have probably told you (usually over and over) that having a baby can be hard. Pregnancy can be uncomfortable, birth almost unbearably painful, breastfeeding challenging and nights long and sleepless. And while some of these were sometimes true and there were many dirty diapers and hours of cluster feeding early on, I found that knowing some of the why behind the sensations in my body and my baby's behavior helped me foster tolerance, respect...

A comprehensive pregnancy guide for expecting mothers and their partners offers advice from top experts in the field who cover more than three hundred topics of interest, including fertility, birth, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes.

Pregnancy is about more than simply growing a baby-- it's about becoming a mama. Long before your baby is born, motherhood means a decision to focus on your health; to start saving up for your first home; to connect more deeply with your partner. Motherhood will mold you in unexpected ways-- but becoming a mama doesn't mean leaving the woman you are behind. Koziol, Tenety and Spalding are here to coach you through this season of transformation. --...

"In today's perfectionistic culture, pregnant women are expected to be boundlessly optimistic and literally glowing with happiness. What often go unacknowledged are the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy. This book offers strategies and solutions for confronting and relieving the stress of pregnancy. Think about some of the words so commonly used to describe a pregnant woman: "radiant," "glowing," "serene." But even for women who are thrilled...

What if labor does not end with pregnancy but continues into a mother's postpartum life? How can the fiercest love for your child and the deepest wells of grief coexist in the same moment? How has society neglected honest conversation around the significant physical changes new mothers experience? Could real healing occur if generations of women were fluent in the language of their bodies? Molly Caro May grapples with these questions as she undergoes...