This 2019 edition of Beyond the Blues contains the most current pregnancy and postpartum resources for prevention and treatment of mental health challenges for all parents. Updated information and research about medications, as well as complementary and alternative options are included. Direct and compassionate, it is required reading for those suffering before or after the baby is born and for all professionals working with them.

This accessible guideaddresses the nature of the intrusive and unwanted thoughts that can be common in new parenthood, and offers practical answers and advice on how to tackle these.With fresh material focusing on how to overcome barriers to disclosure and stigma, and updated treatment approaches and case descriptions, this revised edition explains exactly what these negative thoughts are, why they come about, and what can be done about them. Chapters offer information on the specific nature of perinatal anxiety and related disorders, along with take-home points and evidence-based strategies for symptom relief that clinicians can use effectively with new parents.Written by two leading clinicians in the perinatal community, in collaboration with two promising leaders in this specialized field, Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts, 2nd edition offers a compassionate approach to breaking the cycle of scary thoughts that is invaluable to new parents and clinicians alike.

If you only buy one pregnancy book, this should be the one! It’s the most complete. It covers all aspects of childbearing, from conception through early infancy, and tells you what to expect. It offers detailed information, suggestions on decisions to make, and advice on steps to take to have a safe and satisfying experience.The Award-Winning Resource Recommended by Experts & Loved by ParentsParents love this book because it puts them in control by explaining a wide range of options, information, and questions to ask, so parents can find what works best for their health situation, personal goals, and priorities.Experts love this book because it’s based on the latest medical research and recommendations from leading health organizations. It’s practical—rooted in the real-life experiences of new families. The five authors bring a combined total of 150 years of experience working with expectant and new families as educators, nurses, counselors, doulas, physical therapists, and lactation consultants. They have attended hundreds of births, heard thousands of birth stories, and assisted innumerable new parents in adapting to their new lives. Not only that, the authors have a combined total of 12 children and 12 grandchildren. All of this experience allows them to write with compassion, understanding, and wisdom based on what really works in the real-world of parenting.The companion website offers even more details on select subjects, including lists of all the best resources on each topic and worksheets to guide parents’ decision-making process. The website also includes a bonus chapter on pre-conception, which provides ways to improve your health and fertility before pregnancy begins.

Over 90 percent of new mothers will have scary, intrusive thoughts about their baby and themselves. What if I drop him? What if I snap and hurt my baby? Mothering is so hard. I don't know if I really want to do this anymore. Gosh, I'm so terrible for thinking that! Yet for too many mothers, those thoughts remain secret, hidden away in shame that make you feel even worse. But here's the good news: you CAN feel better!Author Karen Kleiman, coauthor of the seminal book This Isn't What I Expected and founder of the acclaimed Postpartum Stress Center, comes to the aid of new mothers everywhere with a groundbreaking new source of hope, compassion, and expert help. Good Mothers Have Scary Thoughts is packed with world-class guidance, simple exercises, and nearly 50 stigma-busting cartoons from the viral #speakthesecret campaign that help new moms validate their feelings, share their fears, and start feeling better. Lighthearted yet serious, warm yet not sugary, and perfectly portioned for busy moms with full plates, Good Moms Have Scary Thoughtsis the go-to resource for moms, partners, and families everywhere who need help with this difficult period.

Many mothers-to-be find themselves torn between choosing a natural childbirth with minimal medical intervention, and the peace of mind offered by instant access to life-saving technology that only a hospital can provide.Cynthia Gabriel, a doula who has attended hundreds of births and who advises hospitals on how to facilitate low-intervention childbirths, knows that new moms can have both. In this fully updated edition of her popular and pioneering book Natural Hospital Birth, Gabriel gives moms, as well as partners and even medical personnel, concise and reassuring guidance on how to have as natural a birth as possible in a hospital setting.Gabriel shows expectant mothers how to avoid unnecessary medical interventions, how to take the initiative and consciously prepare for the kind of birth they want, and how to prepare a birth plan to share with doctors and nurses at the hospital.

Sixteen weeks into her second pregnancy, psychologist Jessica Zucker miscarried at home, alone. Suddenly, her career, spent specialising in reproductive and maternal mental health, was rendered corporeal, no longer just theoretical. Navigating this nascent transition amid her own grief became a catalyst for Jessica to bring voice to this ubiquitous experience. She embarked on a mission to upend the strident trifecta of silence, shame, and stigma that surrounds reproductive loss - and the result is her striking memoir meets manifesto.

Create the childbirth plan that's right for youWelcoming a new baby is an exciting and joyous time, but it's natural to be nervous about getting everything ready. The First-Time Parent's Childbirth Handbook empowers you with answers for all your burning questions about giving birth and the days before and after, with space to build a custom birth plan that matches your values and comfort level. Know your options―Explore the pros and cons of giving birth at a birthing center, at home, or in a hospital, so you can make the decision that fits your needs. Be prepared―Find checklists and questions to help you choose your care providers and make sure everyone around you is ready to follow your chosen birth plan. Stay confident―Feel more in control as you learn what to expect during the stages of childbirth and which medical interventions might arise.Make your childbirth journey the one you imagine with The First-Time Parent's Childbirth Handbook.

Pregnant and looking to optimize your experience? Wondering what you can do to improve your outcomes during birth and recovery? Longing for more than 2 to 3 sentences on pelvic floor exercises? There’s a full chapter! Find out what this pelvic floor physical therapist wants you to know to have your best pregnancy ever. Are you hoping to get practical, easy-to-implement ideas that make you feel empowered about yourself during this time?If you answered YES to these questions, then you would benefit from this book.Whether this is your first pregnancy or your fifth, this pregnancy book aims to empower you with healthy habits from a pelvic floor physical therapy standpoint.Sure, there are already pregnancy books out there that are filled with every possible detail you may want to know, but not everyone has time for that. Oftentimes those thick books get put off. This book is different from the others.This pregnancy book is a quick, easy read for my pregnant mamas out there wanting to start developing some healthy habits right now. You’ll find plenty of options and variations for you to make these habits your own. This book was written to give you insight into what people mean when they say just listen to your body. It’s meant to give you a way to listen to that voice and know how to modify or ask for help.Your body was meant to do this! The tips provided in this book will allow you to embrace this time and connect with your body in a healthy and inspiring way.This book is essential for all women who are thinking about getting pregnant and those who are currently pregnant at any stage. Although titled and specific to pregnancy, this book can be helpful for those who had their babies long ago or women who don’t plan to be pregnant because most of these healthy habits are beneficial for everyone.Pelvic floor physical therapist, Jen Torborg, PT, DPT shares pregnancy tips based on research and insights from clinical experience. You can apply these easy-to-follow habits to have your best pregnancy, birth, and recovery. In this book, you will learn about1.Breathing: how embracing your breath can affect your body and mind including your breathing during labor and birth2.Pelvic floor exercises: how knowing your pelvic floor can improve your health3.Common vs. normal: Know the difference between what is common - a lot of people pee their pants during pregnancy and after childbirth, but leakage of urine is never normal. Treatment is out there if things get out of whack!4.Exercise: how to move in ways that feel good to you and improve your outcomes now and during recovery5.Sleep: easy-to-adopt strategies to improve and prioritize your sleep6.Nutrients: how to nourish your body and your baby with quality food and drink7.Posture and alignment: how to adjust your posture for your best pregnancy experience8.Self-care: why it’s important to make self-care an approach and a philosophy vs. another item on your checklist9.Preparing for birth and recovery: perineal massage and stretching, labor and birthing positions including how to breathe, what to expect and do postpartum – why the 6 week check-up isn’t a magic numberThis book also includes a FREE Best Pregnancy Checklist so you can apply the healthy habits described in this book and monitor your progress.Are you ready to have your best pregnancy ever?

You are not your thoughts! In this powerful book, two anxiety experts offer proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help you get unstuck from disturbing thoughts, overcome the shame these thoughts can bring, and reduce your anxiety.If you suffer from unwanted, intrusive, frightening, or even disturbing thoughts, you might worry about what these thoughts mean about you. Thoughts can seem like messages—are they trying to tell you something? But the truth is that they are just thoughts, and don’t necessarily mean anything. Sane and good people have them. If you are someone who is plagued by thoughts you don’t want—thoughts that scare you, or thoughts you can’t tell anyone about—this book may change your life.In this compassionate guide, you’ll discover the different kinds of disturbing thoughts, myths that surround your thoughts, and how your brain has a tendency to get “stuck” in a cycle of unwanted rumination. You’ll also learn why common techniques to get rid of these thoughts can backfire. And finally, you’ll learn powerful cognitive behavioral skills to help you cope with and move beyond your thoughts, so you can focus on living the life you want. Your thoughts will still occur, but you will be better able to cope with them—without dread, guilt, or shame.If you have unwanted thoughts, you should remember that you aren’t alone. In fact, there are millions of people just like you—good people who have awful thoughts, gentle people with violent thoughts, and sane people with “crazy” thoughts. This book will show you how to move past your thoughts so you can reclaim your life!This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation—an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

Here is a holistic approach to childbirth that examines this profound rite-of-passage not as a medical event but as an act of self-discovery. Exercises and activities such as journal writing, meditation, and painting will help mothers analyze their thoughts and face their fears during pregnancy. For use during birth, the book offers proven techniques for coping with labor pain without drugs, a discussion of the doctor or midwife’s role, and a look at the father’s responsibilities. Childbirth education should also include what to expect after the baby is born. Here are baby basics, such as how to bathe a newborn, how to get the little one to sleep, and tips for getting nursing off to a good start. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is a process of continuous learning and adjustment; Birthing From Within provides the necessary support and education to make each phase of birthing a rewarding experience.

Written by a world-renowned expert in perinatal pharmacology, this essential reference contains current, complete, and evidence-based information on the transmission of maternal drugs into human milk. Because so many women ingest medications while breastfeeding, one of the most common questions encountered in pediatrics is: Which drugs are safe and which are hazardous for the infant?This 2021 edition has been extensively revised, and now includes 49 completely new and 356 updated medications, and state-of-the-art coverage of multiple diseases, vaccines, and syndromes. It addresses the use of radiopharmaceuticals, chemotherapeutic agents, and vaccines in breastfeeding mothers, and covers adult concerns, methods of reducing risk to infants, and infant monitoring. New to the 2021 Edition: 50 New Drugs Added 356 Drugs Updated with new data 817 Drug References Updated An updated trim size and design for ease of use in patient education A more streamlined size for increased portablity The latest information on the impact of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, herbs, and street drugs Updates to existing drug monographs Key Features: Evidence-based, current information on over 1300 drugs, diseases, vaccines and syndromes Dr. Hale's renowned "Lactation Risk Categories", incorporating recent updates Adult concerns, adult dose, pediatric concerns, infant monitoring, and alternatives Key points and savvy tips about breastfeeding and medications for quick reference Succinct information about evaluation of the infant Common abbreviations and drugs listed in alphabetical order Extensive updates to drug references

Finally, a book for real moms that tells the honest truth about what to expect emotionally after having a baby. In their groundbreaking Postpartum Survival Guide, Dr. Ann Dunnewold and Dr. Diane Sanford shattered the silence about the enormous emotional challenges of postpartum adjustment and motherhood. Now, in Life Will Never Be The Same: The Real Mom's Postpartum Survival Guide, their new definitive guide to emotional health surrounding childbearing, they present their clinically-proven strategies for surviving and thriving during both the postpartum period and a lifetime of motherhood. The feelings surrounding becoming a mom are often more powerful than feelings at any other time in a woman's life. Pregnant and new moms take every precaution to ensure their physical health, from all the latest tests to prenatal vitamins. However, emotional health is just as critical, if not more! In fact, postpartum depression is the single most frequent complication of childbirth. As moms, the authors know what a wild ride pregnancy and postpartum emotions bring. In this book, they share with you the best kept secret of all: caring for yourself emotionally will lead to a happier, more successful journey through motherhood and beyond. Within this book is exactly what every woman needs to know to balance her life as a mom. In this book you will learn to: • Be emotionally healthy in the critical postpartum period. • Prevent normal ups and downs from turning into anxiety and depression. • Cope with postpartum depression and anxiety. • Replace mothering guilt and inadequacy with confidence and strength. • Survive and thrive as a mother by learning self-care, the key to emotional health and successful mothering.

The Vaccine Book offers parents a fair, impartial, fact-based resource from the most trusted name in pediatrics. Dr. Bob devotes each chapter in the book to a disease/vaccine pair and offers a comprehensive discussion of what the disease is, how common or rare it is, how serious or harmless it is, the ingredients of the vaccine, and any possible side effects from the vaccine. This completely revised edition offers: Updated information on each vaccine and disease More detail on vaccines' side effects Expanded discussions of combination vaccines A new section on adult vaccines Additional options for alternative vaccine schedules A guide to Canadian vaccinations The Vaccine Book provides exactly the information parents want and need as they make their way through the vaccination maze.

This hands-on guide includes straightforward, supportive information and specific recommendations to help partners deal with the impact of depression after the birth of a baby.

Dear loss mom, acknowledging that your baby's life has meaning and deserves to be honored will one day not feel as heavy as the forced separation of pregnancy and infant loss.No anguish compares to the abrupt loss of a beloved baby. Unfortunately, countless families suffer in plain sight without effective support. Mourning what is, what was, and what will never be, the grief journey for families who have experienced the hurt of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or infant death is both undefined and arduous.From Three Heartbeats to One offers readers empathy and practical life tools to manage grief and defy the crushing weight of loss. As a mother who has endured the unimaginable heartache of neonatal loss, Keisha created this resource to comfort and empower readers navigating their grief journeys. Topics explored include: Managing emotions such as sadness, guilt, shame, and anger Forgiving self and others Establishing a mental, physical, and spiritual plan for self-care in grieving Increasing assertiveness by establishing and maintaining boundaries with others Defining motherhood and transforming in loss Enduring holidays and memorable dates Celebrating your precious baby's lifetime Featuring affirmations, writing prompts, and exercises for reflection, From Three Heartbeats to One is a gentle companion in grieving for mothers in loss from a mother in loss.

America's bestselling "baby bible" -- an encyclopedic guide to the first two years of your baby's life. The million-copy bestseller by "the man who remade motherhood" (TIME) has now been revised, expanded, and bought thoroughly up-to-date -- with the latest information on everything from diapering to day care, from midwifery to hospital birthing rooms, from postpartum nutrition to infant development. The Searses draw from their vast experience both as medical professionals and pas parents to provide comprehensive information on virtually every aspect of infant care. The Baby Book focuses on the essential needs of babies -- eating, sleeping, develipment, health, and comfort -- as it addresses the questions of greatest concern to today's parents. The topics covered include: \npreparing for a safe and healthy birth\nbonding with your baby\nfeeding your baby right\nsoothing your fussy baby\ngetting your baby to sleep\nunderstanding your baby's development\ntreating common illnesses\nbabyproofing your home\nunderstanding toddler behavior\ndealing with temper tantrums\ntoilet training\nworking parenting\nfirst-aid procedures\nand much more\n\nUnrivaled in its scope and authority, The Baby Book presents a practical, contemporary approach to parenting that reflects the way we live today. The Searses acknowledge that there is no one way to parent a baby, and they offer the basic guidance and inspiration you need to develop the parenting style that bests suits you and your child. Their book is a rich and invaluable resource that will help you get the most of of parenting -- for your child, yourself, and for your entire family.

“A one-of-a-kind planning tool and the perfect companion for families”– C. K. Jarecki, birth author and educatorAn indispensable resource for expectant families, this affirming workbook educates and guides readers as they prepare for their newborn. First time and experienced families alike find comfort in having a postpartum care plan specific to their needs, parenting style, family structure, and community.Divided into manageable sections covering topics like finances, birth planning, Caesarean Section, breastfeeding, mental health and activating community support, this workbook delivers the information most sought after by expecting parents in a format that encourages reflection and dialogue. It offers important considerations for a host of possibilities without overwhelming and leaves parents with the confidence to tackle both the joys and challenges of the postpartum time.Build Your Nest: a postpartum planning workbook includes:•holistic tips for healing•practical solutions to common challenges•journal exercises•planning calendars and worksheets•a pregnancy-to-do list•resources lists•a complete template for your postpartum planWhile Gates draws on the wisdom of traditional postpartum practices, gently empowering readers to connect with their own lineages, she also puts forth the ideas that postpartum planning can be simple, that there is no one right way, and that having rest, support, and care are possible for everyone.Build Your Nest: a postpartum planning workbook offers everything parents need to develop an personalized plan that honors the time with a newborn as precious, addresses the need for rest (and how much), considers the needs of siblings, allows community members to plan their support and much more.“It is our birthright to fully recover from birth and to bond with our babies. In order for this to happen we need to be cared for. We need rest. We need support. All of this can be planned for.” - Kestrel Gates

Taking in many different perspectives, this book sheds light on the many aspects of postnatal depression in fathers - an unknown subject to many people. It includes a review of recent studies and research in this area, investigating the reasons behind male postnatal depression and how this can effect family relationships. It also examines the the social and psychoanalytic factors which go some way to explaining why men experience this depression as well as women. The book's author, Olivia Spencer, talks with Michel Odent, a renowned obstetrician, writer, and birth expert. Odent's controversial view that men should not be present at childbirth, and that their presence may indeed be a trigger for depression, are central to his discussion. Spencer also talks with Adam Jukes, a psychoanalyst with a wealth of experience in working with violent and angry men. Jukes gives fascinating insights into male behavior, explaining that we simply don't give men the resources they need to deal with a new baby. The book opens up a discussion of diagnosis and treatment through personal stories from both men and women affected by a father's postnatal depression. It will increase awareness of this under-discussed subject and will challenge preconceptions. *** "This book will certainly provide significant contributions to the field of childbirth education in the conventional, childbirth preparation, and labor and birth classes....Fathers involved in the pregnancy experience, even in a small way, can be encouraged to take the suggested surveys identified in this book. It will certainly increase the conversation on providing more resources for fathers who are unaware of, or are reluctant to talk about, suffering from PND." - International Journal of Childbirth Education, Vol. 30, No. 2, April 2015˜

An Amazing Resource for Nursing MomsAlthough breastfeeding is the natural and healthy way to nourish your baby, it’s not always easy. Many new mothers are scared away from nursing because of difficulty getting started and lack of information about what to do when things don’t go as planned. In this fully revised and updated edition of The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, two of today’s foremost lactation experts help new mothers overcome their fears, doubts, and practical concerns about one of the most special ways a mother can bond with her baby.In this comprehensive guide, Dr. Jack Newman, a leading authority on infant care, and Teresa Pitman, a La Leche League leader for more than twenty years, give you the facts about breastfeeding and provide solutions for the common problems that arise. Filled with the same practical advice that made the first edition a must-have for nursing moms, the new edition features updates on:• Achieving a good latch• What to do if your baby refuses the breast• Avoiding sore nipples• Ensuring your baby gets enough milk• Feeding a colicky baby• Breastfeeding premature and special-needs babies

It’s no secret that breastfeeding is the normal, healthy way to nourish and nurture your baby. Dedicated to supporting nursing and expectant mothers, the internationally respected La Leche League has set the standard for educating and empowering mothers in this natural art for generations.Now their classic bestselling guide has been retooled, refocused, and updated for today’s mothers and lifestyles. Working mothers, stay-at-home moms, single moms, and mothers of multiples will all benefit from the book’s range of nursing advice, stories, and information—from preparing for breastfeeding during pregnancy to feeding cues, from nursing positions to expressing and storing breast milk. With all-new photos and illustrations, this ultimate support bible offers• real-mom wisdom on breastfeeding comfortably—from avoiding sore nipples to simply enjoying the amazing bonding experience• new insights into old approaches toward latching and attaching, ages and stages, and answers to the most-asked questions• strategies for moms who choose to breastfeed for a short time or who plan to nurse for a year or more• reassuring information on nursing after a C-section or delivery complications• recent scientific data that highlight the many lifelong health benefits of breastfeeding• helpful tips for building your support network—at home or when back at work• nursing special-needs infants, premies, multiples, and how to thrive no matter what curveball life throws• guidance on breast health issues, weight gain, day care, colic, postpartum depression, food allergies, and medicationsPlus—Internet references for further information, including La Leche League support sites and groups.Mothers bringing babies into a new world want sustainable, healthy, positive ways to help their children blossom and thrive. There is no better beginning for your baby than the womanly art of breastfeeding.

Want to know the world’s worst best-kept secret?Parenthood is a time of joy love and wonder. And also some perfect storms. Which is why 92% of parents have more differences and disagreements with their partner in their first year of family.The normal changes and challenges of parenthood are the world’s worst best-kept secret. Becoming a parent isn’t a walk in the park or for the faint of heart. It’s a hero’s journey into the unknown. Based on over 20 years of research and the experiences of thousands of parents Parenthood Tour Guide, Elly Taylor, takes mothers, fathers and partners on a journey of discovery. Becoming Us prepares, guides and supports parents to find their way through the twists and turns of parenthood, face any challenges head on, hand in hand and have practical steps to support each other along the way.Knowing the ways to "becoming us" can make all the difference between couples just surviving parenthood and knowing how to love, learn, grow - and thrive - as a family all the way through it.

*WINNER of the 2017 IAN Book of the Year Awards in the Parenting/Family/Relationships category.*WINNER of the 2017 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards in the Parenting category.*WINNER of the 2017 Best Book Awards in the LGBTQ: Non-Fiction category.*AWARD-WINNING FINALIST in the 2017 International Book Awards.Same-sex couples are faced with many different options when choosing to have children today. In Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood, author, activist and father Eric Rosswood guides and helps prospective LGBT parents to explore these five popular options: Adoption, Foster Care, Assisted Reproduction, Surrogacy and Co-Parenting.Each section includes a description of the specific family-building approach, followed by personal stories from same-sex couples and individuals who have chosen and gone through that particular journey. The appendix contains important legal issues to consider and questions to ask before deciding to move forward, along with a list of reasons why people may choose each of the five family-building paths and the challenges they may encounter.Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood provides a unique combination of inspirational firsthand accounts combined with the critical information, tips and advice needed to help couples successfully navigate the complex road to parenthood.

Written by two postpartum experts, a definitive guide offering compassionate support and solid advice on dealing with every aspect of Postpartum Depression (PPD).If you or someone you love is among the one in seven women stricken by PPD, you know how hard it is to get real help. This proven self-help program, which can be used alone or with a support group or therapist, will help you monitor each phase of illness, recognize when you need professional help, cope with daily life, and recover with new strength and confidence. Learn how to:\nIdentify the symptoms of PPD and distinguish it from "baby blues"\nDeal with panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive urges, and stress overload\nBreak the cycle of shame and negative thoughts\nMobilize support from your husband or partner, family, and friends\nSeek and evaluate treatment options\nCope with the disappointment and loss of self-esteem\n\n

Getting diagnosed with gestational diabetes is scary, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Imagine easily managing your blood sugar, effortlessly gaining the right amount of weight during your pregnancy, and giving birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. This can be you! Real Food for Gestational Diabetes offers an alternative to the conventional nutrition approach that embraces nutrient-dense and delicious foods that nourish you and baby without causing high blood sugar. With the wrong information (or no information at all), far too many women are left alone struggling with erratic blood sugar and excessive weight gain, often leading them to high doses of insulin or medications and difficult births. Sadly, this often happens despite these moms dutifully following the dietary advice given to them by well-meaning clinicians; a restrictive diet that leaves them feeling unsatisfied, unhappy, and confused about ever increasing blood sugars. In Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, prenatal nutritionist and diabetes educator, Lily Nichols, RDN, CDE, CLT, sets the record straight, offering revamped carbohydrate recommendations and exercise guidelines based on the latest clinical research. You can have gestational diabetes and have a healthy baby. Lily will show you how. With this book, you have the tools to turn this diagnosis into a blessing in disguise.You’ll learn:Why conventional diet therapy often fails and what to do insteadHow the right prenatal nutrition can reduce the likelihood you’ll need insulin by 50%Exactly which foods raise your blood sugar (and more importantly, which foods DON’T raise your blood sugar)How to customize a meal plan with the right amount of carbohydrates for YOU (there’s no one-size-fits-all plan, despite what you may have been told)The truth about ketosis during pregnancy (and why checking urine ketones isn’t useful)Information on insulin and blood sugar-lowering medications used in pregnancyWhich foods to emphasize to provide your baby with the right nutrients for optimal development (these real foods have a long history of producing strong, healthy babies)The best prenatal exercises to control your blood sugar and prepare for laborWhat to do after delivery to prevent type 2 diabetes

Aromatherapy has seen a huge surge in popularity in the past decade, and has proven effective for a wide array of women's health problems. However, the number of women interested in introducing aromatherapy to their personal health care dwarfs the number of clinicians formally trained in it. As a result, large numbers of women self-treat with aromatherapy, which can increase risk factors particularly during pregnancy and lactation. Condensing thorough research into concise, easy-to-digest language, this scientific evidence-based guide enables women's healthcare professionals and aromatherapists to quickly determine the safest and most effective way to apply aromatherapy in any given situation.\nThe perfect bedside clinical guide for busy professionals, it covers 20 essential oils and their uses in women's health, from pregnancy to menopause. Readers will come away equipped with new tools to improve their patients' comfort and wellbeing, with the confidence of drawing from a reliable base of clinical evidence.

And Baby Makes More: Known Donors, Queer Parents, and Our Unexpected Families explores the role of the "known donor" in the queer family structure: what happens when would-be dyke moms or gay dads ask a friend or acquaintance to donate sperm or an egg, or to act as a surrogate? A quirky, funny, and occasionally heartbreaking collection of personal essays, this book offers an intimate look at the relative risks and unexpected rewards of queer, do-it-yourself baby-making, and the ways in which families are re-made in the process. With no clear models to follow, these new versions of the queer family are creating their own, addressing questions such as: What's the difference between being a donor and being a parent? What happens to non-biological parents when a known donor is also part of the picture? When and how does biology count-or does it? Why do parents choose known donors, and what happens if things get ugly? And what does all this mean for queer families already facing extraordinary social pressures? The contributors-donors, biological and non-bio parents, and their children-offer provocative, nuanced insights into what it means to be or use a known donor and how queer families are being reconceived to include new roles, new rules, and kinship ties that transcend biology.

Your Pelvic Health Book is a guide to better understanding your pelvic floor, bladder, bowel, and sexual health, as well as changes that can occur during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. This book contains tips for people with vaginas and/or uteruses through various ages and stages. This book is written by a pelvic floor physical therapist, Jen Torborg, who has a passion for sharing conversational-style general pelvic health tips.Topics include: Anatomy and physiology of the bladder, bowel, and sexual/reproductive systems as it pertains to vaginas and uteruses. The pelvic floor: why it is important, and how to contract, relax, and lengthen the pelvic floor muscles to your advantage, how the pelvic floor is coordinated to your breathing, posture and movement patterns. How product choices can affect your pelvic health. Bladder health: healthy bladder habits and how to treat urinary frequency, urgency, and leakage. Bowel health: healthy bowel movement patterns and how to address bowel dysfunctions (such as pain, constipation, IBS, gas or fecal incontinence) Sexual health: safe and healthy sex experiences and how to treat unwanted pain with sex The physiology behind menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, and the difference between normal changes and treatable symptoms How physical therapy and other resources can help before and after pelvic and abdominal surgery, and with pelvic organ prolapse or diastasis recti abdominis.

La edición 2019 de Más allá de la melancolía contiene los recursos más recientes sobre embarazo y posparto para la prevención y el tratamiento de los desafíos de salud mental de madres y padres. Presenta información e investigación actualizadas sobre medicamentos, así como opciones complementarias y alternativas. Con un estilo directo y compasivo, este libro es de lectura obligatoria para quienes sufren antes o después de la llegada del bebé y para todos los profesionales que trabajan con estas personas."Es una guía indispensable para comprender y tratar la depresión prenatal y posparto. Este libro es una bendición no solo para los proveedores de atención médica, sino también para familiares y amigos de madres que sufren estos devastadores trastornos del ánimo perinatales."- Cheryl Tatano Beck, DNSc, CNM, FAANProfesora, University of Connecticut, Escuela de EnfermeríaCoautora de la escala Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS)."En Más allá de la melancolía, Bennett e Indman ofrecen un manual compacto pero sorprendentemente completo sobre depresión prenatal y postparto. En un formato práctico y fácil de leer, describen sistemáticamente el diagnóstico y la evaluación, explican cómo buscar un psicólogo, explican los mitos relacionados con la lactancia y el vínculo con el bebé, y presentan las opciones de tratamiento. Las sugerencias para familiares y amigos son interesantes y útiles. Se incluye también información detallada de diagnóstico y tratamiento para profesionales de la salud. Más allá de la melancolía es un libro de lectura rápida con un formato fácil de manejar. Recomendado para colecciones de salud para el público en general y para profesionales de la salud."-Library Journal

The female pelvis and its contents are an underappreciated region of the anatomy. Important not only for sexuality, they are also central to the processes of childbirth and elimination. The Female Pelvis was written for women to use over the course of their lives, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and its aftermath. Its purpose is to help women become more familiar with the pelvis and its related structures, and how to keep them healthy and fit. The book begins with a description of the functional anatomy of the pelvis, and how it responds to pregnancy and childbirth. This is followed by a series of specific exercises, initially for self-discovery, and then to increase the flexibility, strength, and coordination of each of the pelvic functions. The book concludes with some guidelines which focus on the pelvis during different phases of a woman's life. The Female Pelvis was designed to make the subject of the pelvis understandable to all women. Anatomically correct, the language of the text is clear and concise. Over 250 drawings illustrate every important aspect of pelvic anatomy, and show the reader how to perform simple exercises to keep the pelvis and its related structures fit.

As featured in People magazine: One LGBTQ family's inspiring, heartfelt story of the many alternative paths that lead to a loving family, with lessons for every parent   Trystan and Biff had been dating for just a year when the couple learned that Biff's niece and nephew were about to be removed from their home by Child Protective Services. Immediately, Trystan and Biff took in one-year-old Hailey and three-year-old Lucas, becoming caregivers overnight to two tiny survivors of abuse and neglect.   From this unexpected start, the young couple built a loving marriage and happy home--learning to parent on the job. They adopted Hailey and Lucas, tied the knot, and soon decided to try for a baby that Trystan, who is transgender, would carry. Trystan's groundbreaking pregnancy attracted media fanfare, and the family welcomed baby Leo in 2017.   In this inspiring memoir, Trystan shares his unique story alongside universal lessons that will help all parents through the trials of raising children. How We Do Family is a refreshing new take on family life for the LGBTQ community and beyond. Through every tough moment and touching memory, Trystan shows that more important than getting things right is doing them with love.

Your journey through a comfortable, safe, and confident pregnancy begins with Pregnancy Fitness. This practical guide answers your questions and delivers the information, exercises, and workouts you need to maintain your personal fitness and enjoy the best possible experience in welcoming your baby to the world.Written by three experts in prenatal and postpartum fitness, pelvic floor exercise, and core restoration, Pregnancy Fitness covers all physical and physiological aspects of pregnancy, birth, and recovery so you can enjoy peace of mind throughout your pregnancy and long after delivery.You’ll get complete need-to-know information about hormones, body and posture changes, and common pregnancy aches and pains, along with critical information on diastasis recti and pelvic floor health, which aims to support and protect your body from core dysfunction.A full spectrum of stretching, strengthening, and functional exercises provides the focus, description, safety tips, and variations that allow you to progress safely through your pregnancy and to be physically prepared for birth and optimal recovery. The sample workout programs guide you through each phase of pregnancy, including postpartum, to help you establish and meet your personal fitness goals with comfort and confidence.

A 2006 Lambda Literary finalist in the LGBT anthology category After author Harlyn Aizley gave birth to her daughter, she watched in unanticipated horror as her partner scooped up the baby and said, "I'm your new mommy!" While they both had worked to find the perfect sperm donor, Aizley had spent nine months carrying the baby and hours in labor, so how could her partner claim to be their child's mommy? Many diapers later, Aizley began to appreciate the complexity of her partner's new role as the other mother. Together, they searched for stories about families like their own, in which a woman has chosen to forgo her own birth experience so that she might support her partner in hers. They found very few. Now, in Confessions of the Other Mother, Aizley has put together an exciting collection of personal stories by women like her partner who are creating new parenting roles, redefining motherhood, and reshaping our view of two-parent families. Contributors include Hillary Goodridge, who was one of the lead plaintiffs in the case for same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, stand-up comedian Judy Gold, and psychologist and author Suzanne M. Johnson.This candid peek into a previously unexamined side of lesbian parenting is full of stories that are sometimes humorous, sometimes moving, but at all times celebratory. Each parenting tale sheds light on the many facets of motherhood, offering gay and straight readers alike a deeper understanding of what it means to love and parent in the twenty-first century.

Unlike other mindfulness resources for moms and moms-to-be, this compassionate book is grounded in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, a proven program. The authors are leading experts on the emotional challenges of pregnancy and early parenting--and how to overcome them. Guided meditations and gentle yoga practices help you build crucial skills to prevent depression, ease anxiety, and minimize stress during this unique and important phase of your life. Clear suggestions for how to follow the program day by day are accompanied by moving reflections from a "circle of mothers" working through the same steps. In a convenient large-size format, the book features journaling exercises and other practical tools (you can download and print additional copies as needed). The companion website also includes audio downloads narrated by renowned meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg, plus video clips of prenatal yoga practices.

Slow down. Stop running. Pregnant and postpartum women have heard this advice since the beginning of time. Many runners have no idea what they can and cannot do during pregnancy and postpartum, leaving them unsure, scared, and susceptible to injury. This book throws out all those old wives’ tales and proves that women can keep running—during and after pregnancy. All they need is the right information.Written by two moms and physical therapists who also have a passion for running, Go Ahead, Stop and Pee is a fresh voice that empowers women to maintain their running lifestyle during pregnancy and postpartum. Combining first-hand experiences as well as science, this book:- Dispels some common myths about running pregnant and postpartum-Presents key exercises for pregnant runners- Helps women understand and care for their postpartum bodies- Offers tips on maintaining a running lifestyle after the babyFor any soon-to-be or new mom who doesn’t want to “slow down”, Go Ahead, Stop and Pee is the catalyst that will inspire her to keep going.

Your guide to the emotions of pregnancy and early motherhood, from two of America’s top reproductive psychiatrists.When you are pregnant, you get plenty of advice about your growing body and developing baby. Yet so much about motherhood happens in your head. What everyone really wants to know: Is this normal?-Even after months of trying, is it normal to panic after finding out you’re pregnant?-Is it normal not to feel love at first sight for your baby?-Is it normal to fight with your parents and partner?-Is it normal to feel like a breastfeeding failure?-Is it normal to be zonked by “mommy brain?”In What No One Tells You, two of America’s top reproductive psychiatrists reassure you that the answer is yes. With thirty years of combined experience counseling new and expectant mothers, they provide a psychological and hormonal backstory to the complicated emotions that women experience, and show why it’s natural for “matrescence”—the birth of a mother—to be as stressful and transformative a period as adolescence.Here, finally, is the first-ever practical guide to help new mothers feel less guilt and more self-esteem, less isolation and more kinship, less resentment and more intimacy, less exhaustion and more pleasure, and learn other tips to navigate the ups and downs of this exciting, demanding time

Examining the effects of exercise on women and their babies, this book presents case studies of women who exercised regularly before, during, and after pregnancy. The book provides guidelines for exercise plans that safely fulfill a mother's needs during different phases of pregnancy, answering such questions as, How does exercise benefit the mother? How does exercise affect growth of the fetus? What is the effect of exercise on milk production? Does exercise limit weight gain during pregnancy? What is the right amount of exercise? What are the dos and don'ts of exercising when pregnant? When should exercise be avoided? How late into pregnancy can you exercise? and What should be the exercise regimen after giving birth? Updated to include the latest scientific information on staying fit during pregnancy and emphasize appropriate exercises, this new edition thoroughly describes the changes that happen to the mother while she’s pregnant and how both she and the child can benefit through exercise.

"In this honest memoir, May recounts how she came to feel connected with her body again. It's a moving work for new moms about a subject that is often overlooked in conversations about postpartum depression." ―Real Simple Molly Caro May grapples with questions of grief and rage as she undergoes several unexpected health issues after the birth of her first child. Body Full of Stars both reveals deeper truths about how disconnected many modern women are from their bodies and celebrates the greatest story of all time: mothers and daughters, partners and co-parents, and the feminine power surging beneath it all.

This book offers friendly, realistic advice to support pregnant women and new mothers struggling with changing body image, eating disorders or postpartum depression. Self-care tips and recovery tools help women let go of social and self-imposed pressures, and embrace being good enough during the massive learning curve of new motherhood.

Perfectionistic, Type-A personality Bridget Croteau had her whole life planned out, until life had different plans for her. Read about her personal struggles with the very common postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety after the birth of her two daughters. Walk with her on her journey as she tells you of her fears, pain and struggles with guilt, depression and anxiety. Follow her further and she will tell you how she became empowered to overcome her illness and become herself again. Her story can empower you and those close to you with encouragement, courage and hope that there can be real healing.

“A kick-ass book on menopause. Do yourself a favor and pick up this gem.”—Dr. Jen Gunter, bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause ManifestoMenopause and perimenopause are no laughing matter―but that doesn't stop Amanda Thebe from approaching her 50s with a sense of humor. In this hilarious and personal account, the fitness trainer shares how she lost weight, dealt with her depression, improved her sleep, and overhauled her diet to survive―and thrive―during menopause. Now you can, too!Includes a Bonus Strength Training Guide for Women Over 40At a time when menopause has become an urgent topic of public discussion, with the likes of Michelle Obama revealing their struggles for the first time, personal trainer Amanda Thebe shares her journey with bold and big-hearted writing that will be familiar to readers of Glennon Doyle. Readers will come away from the book with:A better understanding of your own hormones and how they factor in menopause and your overall health; Confidence to speak your truth about your menopause symptoms to your doctor, other health professionals, your family, and friends; Zero bull-sh*t tips for nutrition, fitness, vagina health, sex, and more.Amanda Thebe was working as a personal trainer and fitness coach when, at age 43, she started experiencing debilitating exhaustion, dizziness, and depression. The busy mother of two boys was used to traveling the world and climbing mountains. Now, she struggled to climb out of bed.After several failed doctor’s appointments, Thebe saw her gynaecologist, who finally named the source of her struggles: perimenopause, the period of 5-10 years before menopause, when a woman’s fluctuating estrogen levels put her at risk of depression, anxiety, headaches, and more ailments related to female hormone health.Empowered by information, Thebe began her journey back to her former self, overhauling her approach to diet, mental health, and exercise. In Menopocalypse, she explains how to deal with migraines, hot flashes, weight gain, exhaustion, poor sleep, vaginal dryness, and mood swings—offering tips that have worked for her and others.She shares information about hormone therapy. She even shares her own strength-training routine, complete with a suggested workout schedule, easy-to-follow instructions, and pictures of herself doing the exercises, so you can feel empowered, fit, and ready to tackle the day.Menopause isn’t fun, sexy, or cool, and a woman might spend one-third of her life in it—but that doesn’t mean women should suffer in silence without support. Let the outspoken and honest Amanda Thebe be your guide to surviving—and thriving—during menopocalypse.

Modern Mothering is based on psychoanalyst Joyce McFadden's unprecedented study of 450 women, in which women could talk about whatever was important to them, and it was the women of her study who determined this book's topic: how girls learn about sexuality from their mothers. Full of the narratives of women and girls, kept in their own words, hear what daughters say they need from their mothers when it comes to learning about their sexuality, and learn how much more present they want us to be throughout our lives together. We tend to view sexual development as something that occurs in the contained space of adolescence, but our daughters want us to know that over their lifetimes, the messages they get about sexuality--in- cluding our reluctance to talk about it openly--under- mine their development of confidence and self worth, not only sexually, but in all areas of living. They want us to understand the mother-daughter relationship isn't static--it changes over the years. And we don't really cross a line into being sexual, or in becoming a woman. It's a gradual process, and both young and adult daughters are asking for our help along the way. While other books have named the issues facing girls and women, Modern Mothering is unique in its offering of simple and prescriptive changes we can make to be there for our daughters in the ways they need us to be, whether they're two and asking where babies come from, or 35 and wondering how to weather the challenges of marriage. It's the emotional closeness to us our daughters crave, and McFadden's research reveals how speaking honestly about sexuality nurtures that bond.

Expert, practical advice for complete mental and physical maternal healthKate Rope's Strong as a Mother is a practical and compassionate guide to preparing for a smooth start to motherhood. Everyone knows the secret to having “the Happiest Baby on the Block.” This is your guide to being the Sanest Mommy on the Block. It will prepare you with humor and grace for what lies ahead, give you the tools you need to take care of yourself, permission to struggle at times, and professional advice on how to move through it when you do. This book will become a dog-eared resource on your nightstand, offering you the same care and support that you are working so hard to provide to your child. It will help you prioritize your emotional health, set boundaries and ask for help, make choices about feeding and childcare that feel good to you, get good sleep, create a strong relationship with your partner, make self care an everyday priority, trust your instincts, and actually enjoy the hardest job you will ever love.This book is here to take care of you.

Pregnancy and new motherhood are often thought of as the most joyful, exciting, and blissful times in your life––but they can also be difficult and overwhelming. Yoga therapy offers practical mind-body tools (simple breath, movement, and mindfulness practices) to support you and provide solace, steadiness, and ease in difficult times. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the number one “complication” of birth. They affect not just moms who suffer, but also the families who care about and rely on those moms. More than twice as many moms suffer from PMADs as gestational diabetes. Yet while robust support and treatment options exist for diabetes, moms who suffer emotionally are rarely acknowledged. Instead of receiving help, they are handed platitudes like “Sleep when the baby sleeps,” “Let go of stress because it’s bad for the baby,” or “Just enjoy every minute because it goes by so fast.” This can be a lonely and confusing place to be—suffering profound fear or sadness at a time when your friends and family expect you to be happy, radiant, and beatifically calm.As a therapist supporting women's mental health and those recovering from perinatal mood disorders and trauma since 2003, Suzannah Neufeld is keenly aware of the special needs of women during pregnancy and the first year of motherhood. Synthesizing modern psychotherapeutic research with practical yoga therapy, Neufeld offers a compassionate, acceptance-based approach that meets women (and their partners) wherever they are. Awake at 3 a.m. contains short, digestible chapters that are perfect for when you are feeling exhausted or overwhelmed. Neufeld skillfully dismantles the myths and internal beliefs that contribute to the suffering of new mothers, and tells her own story with honesty and humor. The yoga practices are designed to fit into your life as it is now––no flexibility, mat, special clothes, or 90-minute yoga class required.

An inclusive, non-judgmental, and empowering guide to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum life that puts mothersfirst, offering straightforward guidance on all the options and issues that matter most to them (and their partners) when preparing for a baby.In Birth Without Fear, January Harshe--founder of the global online community Birth Without Fear--delivers an honest, positive, and passionate message of empowerment surrounding everything that involves having a baby. It's a guide that fills in the considerable cracks in the information available to women and families when they're preparing to welcome a child--covering care provider choices, medical freedom, birth options, breastfeeding, intimacy, postpartum depression, and much more.Birth Without Fear shows moms, dads, partners, and families how to choose the best provider for them, how to trust in themselves and the birth process, and how to seek the necessary help after the baby has arrived. In addition, it will educate them about their rights--and how to use their voice to exercise them--as well as how to cope with the messy postpartum feelings many people aren't willing to talk about. Unlike other pregnancy books, Birth Without Fear will also help partners understand what mothers are going through, as well as discuss the challenges that they, too, will face--and how they can navigate them.Shattering long-held myths and beliefs surrounding pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum experience, Birth Without Fear is an accessible, reassuring, and ultimately inspiring guide to taking charge of pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.

Millions of mothers are born each year. From the moment a baby is born, the world seems to focus on childcare, but what about mothercare? Enter Dayna Kurtz, the brains behind Huffington Post's Mother Matters blog. From postpartum depression and "baby blues" to healing meals and postnatal exercise, Kurtz guides new and veteran mothers alike through the best practices to care for themselves during their first year of motherhood. Her unique approach also includes less common methods like acupressure, expressive arts therapy, and more to help mothers boost their mental health and reclaim their identity. Backed by irrefutable research and personal anecdotes, Mother Matters is the guide every mother needs to not only survive but thrive!

A daughter’s moving search to understand her mother, Carolyn Scott―once a bridesmaid to Princess Grace and one of the first Ford models―who later in life spent years living in a homeless shelter.\nNyna Giles was picking up groceries at the supermarket one day when she looked down and saw the headline on the cover of a tabloid: “Former Bridesmaid of Princess Grace Lives in Homeless Shelter.” Nyna was stunned, shocked to see her family’s private ordeal made so public―the woman mentioned on that cover, Carolyn Scott Reybold, was her mother. \nNyna’s childhood had been spent in doctor’s offices. Too ill, she was told, to go to school like other children, she spent nearly every waking moment at her mother’s side at their isolated Long Island estate or on trips into the city to see the ballet. The doctors couldn’t tell her what was wrong, but as Nyna grew up, her mother, who’d always seemed fragile, became more and more distant. Now Nyna was forced to confront an agonizing realization: she barely knew the woman on the magazine in front of her. \n She knew that her mother had been a model after arriving in New York in 1947, living at the Barbizon Hotel, where she’d met the young Grace Kelly and that the two had become fast friends. Nyna had seen the photos of Carolyn at Grace’s wedding, wearing the yellow bridesmaid gown that had hung in her closet for years. But how had the seemingly confident, glamorous woman in those pictures become the mother she knew growing up―the mother who was now living in a shelter?\n In this powerful memoir of friendship and motherhood, Nyna Giles uncovers her mother’s past to answer the questions she never knew to ask.

A Real Mum's Hilariously Honest Tales of Motherhood, Mayhem and Mental Health'A book to be shared the world over.'' I do believe this book will save lives ''This book made me proud to be a woman''You see, pre-motherhood I had this image of the sort of motherhood I was going to have. Happy, confident and in total control, breezing through my perfect new mum life, clad in white linen with a smiley easy-going baby attached to my hip. But then, something happened.'A moving, inspirational and at times hilarious book from best-selling author Olivia Siegl. Part-memoir, part guide, Bonkers follows Olivia's story of motherhood as she juggles two babies under two alongside two harrowing battles with Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Psychosis.Olivia's refreshingly honest approach leaves no area of motherhood uncovered in her bid to empower women to be able to talk about all areas of motherhood - NO judgement Throughout the book, this engaging and straight talking author shares her story of motherhood and how she has since overcome what she bills as "the most harrowing times of her life" to prove that suffering with a mental health illness is by no means the end of the story. A must read for anyone in need of hope that they can get through even the darkest of times.For every mum out there feeling lost in the wilderness. For every mum feeling pressure to be perfect. For every mum questioning if they are good enough. You are magnificent.

"Battling Over Birth: Black Women and the Maternal Health Care Crisis reveals hard truths— powerful findings on the role of racism, coercion, inadequate prenatal care, the pressures undermining breastfeeding and the lack of access to alternatives to a broken maternal health-care system as key threads of black women’s birth experiences." —Kimberly Seals Allers, MS, author, The Big Letdown "This book clearly lays out the barriers facing Black families, but it also offers solutions. I think every professional who works with parents and babies of any color should read this book." —Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE "Battling over Birth is a critical and timely resource for understanding black women’s birthing experiences in the United States, a country where black women’s lives—and the lives they create—are at much greater risk of death and injury than those of non-black women … By distilling the common and diverse threads from over 100 black women, the BWBJ researchers have woven a multi-faceted tapestry that reflects what black women view as important and central to optimal birth experiences. Their recommendations for improving care and outcomes are grounded in black women’s authoritative knowledge. … This wonderful, important, necessary research by and for black women points in the direction that black women think we should go to ensure they have safe, healthy, and satisfying birth experiences and outcomes. We need to listen and act." —Christine Morton, PhD, author, Birth Ambassadors: Doulas and the Re-Emergence of Woman-Supported Birth in America Black Women Birthing Justice is a collective of African-American, African, Caribbean and multiracial women who are committed to transforming birthing experiences for black women and transfolks. Our vision is that every pregnant person should have an empowering birthing experience, free of unnecessary medical interventions and forced separation from their child. Our goals are to educate, to document birth stories and to raise awareness about birthing alternatives. We aim to challenge human rights violations, rebuild confidence in our ability to give birth, and decrease disproportionate maternal and infant mortality.

This volume offers an overview of the latest research on perinatal adaptation among women who have faced trauma, loss and/or adversity, both in childhood and/or as an adult, and describes the varied trajectories of adaptive and maladaptive coping that follow. The range of outcomes considered span from health-limiting (e.g. mental illness, substance use, unhealthy life style behaviours) to health-promoting (e.g. resilience and posttraumatic growth). These outcomes are examined both in relation to mothers’ experience of motherhood and parenting, and with regard to their children’s lives.\nInterpersonal trauma, experienced in childhood and/or or adulthood, can have a profound effect on how women experience the transition into motherhood – from pregnancy, to childbirth, and postpartum caregiving. Women across the globe are exposed to high rates of interpersonal violence, and face the physical and emotional consequences of such events. The shift into motherhood is an emotionally evocative period in a woman’s life, entailing not only challenges, but also the potential for healing and growth.\nIndividual chapters will present state-of-the-art research, and will also highlight the voices of women who have personally experienced trauma, illustrating the effects on their experiences as mothers. Throughout the book, the consistent emphasis is on clinical implications and on ways that providers can create a context for healing and growth with the help of current evidence-based and promising treatment methods.\n

Written by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker after she recovered from her own experience with a Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder, this curriculum equips facilitators to create a support group for mothers on the path to emotional wellness. While all parents need support, this curriculum is designed specifically for mothers experiencing a Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder, such Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Anxiety. Steeped in practical Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the deep wisdom of Mindfulness, facilitators can feel confident that support group attendees will learn concrete tools each week. Whether you are a licensed mental health clinician, a nurse, a doula, a midwife, a lactation consultant, a grandparent, a clergy member, or a parent who has fully recovered from a Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder, you are qualified to create a support group with an evidence-based curriculum as a guide. Most importantly, you will give mothers hope that they are not alone, and with treatment, they will be well.

First conceptualized by D.W. Winnicott, holding in this book refers to a therapist’s capacity to respond to postpartum distress in a way that facilitates an immediate and successful therapeutic alliance. Readers will learn how to contain high levels of agitation, fear, and panic in a way that cultivates trust and the early stages of connectedness. Also addressed through vignettes are personality types that make holding difficult, styles of ineffective holding, and how to modify holding techniques to accommodate the individual woman. A must-read for postpartum professionals, the techniques learned in this book will help clients achieve meaningful and enduring recovery.

This multi-disciplinary resource provides an overview of perinatal mental and physical health issues within the military population. Perinatal mental health has far-reaching implications for military readiness. The text provides insights to the effects of military culture on identification, evaluation, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and is an invaluable resource for military and civilian primary and behavioral health providers.

Depression is the most common complication of childbirth and results in adverse health outcomes for both mother and child. It is vital, therefore, that health professionals be ready to help women who have depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder in the perinatal period. Now in its third edition, Depression in New Mothers provides a comprehensive approach to treating postpartum depression in an easy-to-use format. It reviews the research and brings together the evidence-base for understanding the causes and for assessing the different treatment options, including those that are safe for breastfeeding mothers. It incorporates research from psychoneuroimmunology and includes chapters on: \nassessing depression mother-infant sleep traumatic birth experiences infant temperament, illness, and prematurity childhood abuse and partner violence psychotherapy complementary and integrative therapies community support for new mothers antidepressant medication suicide and infanticide. This most recent edition incorporates new research findings from around the world on risk factors, the use of antidepressants, the impact of breastfeeding, and complementary and integrative therapies as well as updated research into racial/ethnic minority differences. Rich with case illustrations and invaluable in treating mothers in need of help, this practical, evidence-based guide dispels the myths that hinder effective treatment and presents up-to-date information on the impact of maternal depression on the mother and their infants alike.

15 women come together to shed light on maternal mental illness. Each having their own testimonies, they all share a common bond. From diagnosis to recovery, these women bravely allow us into their lives.

Created by an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of postpartum depression and anxiety, and author of several books on perinatal distress, this book provides the perfect format to introduce a postpartum woman to evidence-based recommendations for healing. Moods in Motion is a unique coloring book which addresses the specific areas of distress facing new mothers. Each illustration depicts a symptom followed by an adjoining illustration along with descriptions of recommendations for healing. We are learning more about the benefits of art therapy techniques to distract an anxious mind. Unfortunately, negative, unwanted thoughts are a common phenomenon causing much stress to postpartum women. Moods in Motion provides a restorative tool so moms can gain control over how they are feeling and enjoy a creative outlet at the same time. In this way, Moods in Motion is more than a coloring book which will ease stress. It is an illustrated guide toward recovery which enables any postpartum woman to actively participate in her healing. As you color your way through the symptom and healing pages, you will envision and internalize suggestions that bring you closer to feeling like yourself again!

Inspiring strategies from a wellness expert for keeping fit, relieving stress, and strengthening emotional well-being. We all know that exercise is good for physical health, but recently, a wealth of data has proven that exercise also contributes to overall mental well-being. Routine exercise alleviates stress and anxiety, moderates depression, relieves chronic pain, and improves self-esteem. In this inspiring book, Christina Hibbert, a clinical psychologist and expert on women's mental health, grief, and self-esteem, explains the connections between exercise and mental well-being and offers readers step-by-step strategies for sticking to fitness goals, overcoming motivation challenges and roadblocks to working out, and maintaining a physically and emotionally healthy exercise regimen. This book will help readers to get moving, stay moving, and maintain the inspiration they need to reap the mental health benefits of regular exercise. The 8 keys include improving self-esteem with exercise, exercising as a family, getting motivated, changing how you think about exercise, and the FITT principle for establishing an effective exercise routine.

Postpartum Action Manual promotes community conversations about new family emotional support through a 4 hour workshop. Author, Jane Honikman's goal is to reach and teach parents to be peer leaders. The manual is designed as a facilitator's guide to lead an interactive Postpartum Action Workshop.

This book provides a comprehensive look at effective therapy for postpartum depression. Using a blend of professional objectivity, evidence-based research, and personal, straight-forward suggestions gathered from years of experience, this book brings the reader into the private world of therapy with the postpartum woman. Based on Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioral theories, and on D.W. Winnicott's "good-enough mother" and the "holding environment" in particular, the book is written by a therapist who has specialized in the treatment of postpartum depression for over 20 years. Therapy and the Postpartum Woman will serve as a companion tool for clinicians and the women they treat.

Postpartum parent support consultant Jane Honikman shares her secrets and much more in My Diary. Jane Honikman is an author as well as a survivor of postpartum depression. Frustrated by the lack of community support available in the 1970s, she helped co-found Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP) to ensure support for herself and others. In 1987 she founded Postpartum Support International (PSI) to represent self-help/support groups worldwide working to prevent the negative emotional reactions to childbearing. Both she and PSI empower and encourage interested individuals to create new support groups, as well as support existing ones. Jane continues her work today, increasing the resources and contacts available to women, their partners, families and friends. For more information about PPD, please visit www.janehonikman.com

I'm Listening: A Guide to Supporting Postpartum Families teaches concerned, caring individuals how to help people struggling with pregnancy and/or postpartum depression (PPD) in person, over the phone and by email. In this revised edition, you’ll learn how to respond to all sorts of people: distraught women, upset husbands and partners, anxious relatives, and those just seeking information about PPD. Written by an internationally recognized PPD activist and personal survivor, the book addresses key steps to recovery such as education, communication, and nonjudgmental support--as well as common question and misconceptions about PPD. For more information, please visit www.janehonikman.com Jane Honikman is an author as well as a survivor of postpartum depression. Frustrated by the lack of community support available in the 1970s, she helped co-found Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP) to ensure support for herself and others. In 1987 she founded Postpartum Support International (PSI) to represent self-help/support groups worldwide working to prevent the negative emotional reactions to childbearing. Both she and PSI empower and encourage interested individuals to create new support groups, as well as support existing ones. Jane continues her work today, increasing the resources and contacts available to women, their partners, families and friends.

In Mothering in East Asian Communities, Duncan and Wong seamlessly rupture a homogenous identity category, that of the tiger mom. The editors invoke the works of diverse contributors who critically challenge essentialized identity categories and racialized and sexualized experiences of women of color within the institution of motherhood and practices of mothering. Here, the edited volume grapples with globalization, transnationalism, and capitalism with an East Asian ethno racial cultural context. Duncan and Wong offer a personal and political analysis of motherhood that is socially and culturally constructed, shaped by race, class, culture, sexuality, and other social categories.

Have you ever wondered, Why am I so negative? or Why is my life so chaotic? Whether or not your parent was ever formally diagnosed with depression, you’ve probably always known there was something different about your upbringing. And even though you’ve grown up and moved on, you may still feel the after-effects of living with your parent’s illness.In Children of the Depressed, a depression expert helps adult children understand and overcome common problems that stem from growing up with a depressed parent, such as poor communication skills and negative self-talk. Using skills and practices rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you will learn to shed the old dynamics and ways of thinking that have been weighing you down and keeping you from enjoying healthy relationships and the life you deserve.Most books on depression only focus on getting help for the depressed person. This book is written for you, the adult child of parents with who have struggled with depression. You need emotional healing after a dysfunctional childhood, and most importantly―you need an opportunity for your voice to be heard.You don’t have to become stuck in the past. By identifying and recognizing the feelings you experienced at a young age, you will start laying the groundwork for a happier and healthier life―socially, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

This convenient and easy-to-use orientation reference and care guide provides new neonatal nurses and their preceptors with the core information they need to provide all aspects of safe, effective, holistic care to newborn infants and their families. Addressing the needs of both low-risk and high-risk infants, the guide presents specific, evidence-based interventions in consistently formatted chapters. A special "orientation guide" is featured in each chapter to acquaint the new neonatal nurse with essential information on procedures, policies, equipment, medications, and evidence-based protocols. Content is divided into key topic areas including physiological adaptations to birth, newborn assessment and basic newborn care, newborn nutrition, common and high-risk neonatal conditions, special topics, and information based on a family-centered care model that addresses parent assessments, needs, and discharge instructions. Features such as Fast Facts in a Nutshell and tables with easy-to-read lab values and data reinforce information. Chapter objectives highlight procedures and policies to know as well as needed equipment, supplies, medications, and evidence-based protocols. Appendices include skills checklist, commonly used medications, abbreviations, and lab values. Pocket-sized and providing essential information at a glance, Fast Facts for the Neonatal Nurse is a useful guide to ensuring the highest quality of care for newborn infants and their families. Key Features: \nProvides essential information for new neonatal nurses and their preceptors in concise, consistent, easy-to-use format Encompasses all aspects of effective, evidence-based, holistic care in all practice settings Includes a special "orientation guide" and "Fast Facts in a Nutshell" in each chapter Offers practice-relevant information for quick retrieval Highlights Health Promotion and Discharge Teaching

All aspects of safe, effective, holistic care for birthing mothers, newborns, and their families are included in this easy-access guide for new antepartum and postpartum nurses and their preceptors during the orientation period. Presented in the convenient, easy-to-use Fast Facts format, the book provides up-to-date information regarding care for both low- and high-risk antepartum and postpartum patients. It encompasses evidence-based practice guidelines and clinical recommendations for routine antepartum assessment and nursing care, care of women with pre-existing conditions prior to pregnancy or complications of pregnancy, routine postpartum assessment and care, postpartum complications, and care of special populations. Each chapter features a helpful "orientation guide" to acquaint the new orientee with essential information on procedures and policies, equipment, medications, and evidence-based protocols. Chapters are organized systematically to include assessment and management guidelines, health promotion and teaching recommendations, routine laboratory and ultrasound tests, and holistic evidence-based nursing care practices. A separate section addresses special populations and outlines care components specific to these women and their families. They include culturally diverse families, women on each end of the age spectrum, women with fetuses or newborns diagnosed with adverse outcomes, women who have a history of being victimized, and those with deployed partners. While targeted to hospital-based nurses and new nurses in hospital orientation and their preceptors, it is also a helpful resource for nurses who practice in a great variety of related settings, as well as nurse midwifery students. Appendices include a skills checklist, a list of commonly used medications, abbreviations, and lab values. Key Features: \nCovers all aspects of safe, evidence-based, holistic care for birthing mothers, newborns and their families \nWritten for nurses in orientation and their preceptors as well as nurses working with mothers and newborns in any practice setting \nProvides key information demonstrating the impact of newborn status on assessing, planning, and implementing care \nIncludes an "orientation guide" to acquaint new orientees with essential information on procedures, policies, equipment, medications, and evidence-based protocols \nAddresses specific care components needed for special populations \n

Postpartum depression has become a more recognized mental illness over the past decade as a result of education and increased awareness. Traumatic childbirth, however, is still often overlooked, resulting in a scarcity of information for health professionals. This is in spite of up to 34% of new mothers reporting experiencing a traumatic childbirth and prevalence rates rising for high risk mothers, such as those who experience stillbirth or who had very low birth weight infants. This ground-breaking book brings together an academic, a clinician and a birth trauma activist. Each chapter discusses current research, women’s stories, the common themes in the stories and the implications of these for practice, clinical case studies and a clinician’s insights and recommendations for care. Topics covered include: mothers’ perspectives, fathers’ perspectives, the impact on breastfeeding, the impact on subsequent births, PTSD after childbirth and EMDR treatment for PTSD. This book is a valuable resource for health professionals who come into contact with new mothers, providing the most current and accurate information on traumatic childbirth. It also presents mothers’ experiences in a manner that is accessible to women, their partners, and families.

Parenthood transforms you. Even before this crisis, you may have experienced a wide range of feelings triggered by pregnancy, birth, and welcoming a new baby. The NICU experience challenges your emotional coping, your developing parental identity, your relationship skills, and your ability to adjust.\nIntensive Parenting explores the emotions of parenting in the neonatal intensive care unit, from in-hospital through issues and concerns after the child is home. Deboral L. Davis and Mara Tesler Stein describe and affirm the wide range of experiences and emotional reactions that occur in the NICU and offer strategies for parents coping with their baby's condition and hospitalization.\nDeborah L. Davis, PhD, is a developmental psychologist and writer who is the author of several books that support grieving parents including Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby and Loving and Letting Go.\nMara Tesler Stein, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist. She consults to healthcare providers and hospitals, guiding their efforts to improve the level of psychological support and care to families in Labor and Delivery and in the NICU. She specializes in the emotional aspects of coping with crisis around pregnancy and parenting.\n

Named a 2013 Doody's Core Title! 2012 Third Place AJN Book of the Year Award Winner in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing!\nThis is a great resource for any nurse working with women."--Score: 94, 4 Stars. Doody's Medical Reviews This is a quick-access clinical guide to the range of mental health issues and diagnoses that commonly affect women across the life span. It focuses on the unique biopsychosocial factors that make women especially vulnerable to psychological disorders and emphasizes key stressors specific to women that are precursors to mental illness. Frequent headings and bulleted, concise presentation of information facilitates reading. In addition to discussing mental health issues specific to women, the guide covers unique populations such as disabled women, lesbian and transgendered women, female veterans, women with forensic health concerns, and women who have been the object of violence. Chapters also address childbearing issues, including menstruation-related problems, infertility and its psychological implications, and antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum psychological disorders. Developmental milestones, the impact of culture on mental illness, and global health issues are covered as well. Tables and charts present key facts in an easy-to-read format. Key Features: \nProvides a concise, easy-to-use guide to women's mental health issues across the life span for new and seasoned nurse practitioners \nFocuses on stressors unique to women as precursors of mental illness \nDelivers commonly occurring DSM-IV disorders in women, using a consistent format that includes etiology, assessment, and drug and behavioral therapeutic approaches \nDiscusses preconception and childbearing issues, the impact of violence, female veterans, disabled women, lesbian women, and transgendered women\n

When your plate is too full, it eventually tips. Welcome to the world of a Supermom. When an overachieving, successful businesswoman tries to be perfect in every role of her life, it leads her onto a dark road of postpartum anxiety and panic disorder with psychotic features. A poignant memoir written with humor and heartache, this autobiography details the other side of postpartum depression: anxiety, panic, and psychosis. Ackerman gently walks readers through her terrifying journey of how a seemingly charming life unfolds into a nightmare of physical and mental breakdown, ending with inspirational, heart-wrenching inner strength that gives hope to a world of women. Stacey Ackerman, otherwise known as Supermom, is an overachieving, type-A personality who survived a serious and debilitating mental health disorder after the birth of her third child. She shares her story in the hopes of helping other women survive a similar trauma. Her ordeal proves that a mental breakdown can happen to anyone, erasing the stigma of mental illness.

For many women, having a baby delivers all the profound joy they anticipated and brings happiness beyond description. For women who experience depression after the birth of a baby, this joy can seem elusive. Instead, women with postpartum depression (PPD) are often gripped with feelings of deep sadness, confusion, anxiety, and despair, and they are deprived of their anticipated joy in their first precious months with their baby. At some point, the question of having another baby arises. If you ask a woman in the throes of a depression this question, she may say, no. No more children. If you ask a woman who has recovered from postpartum depression if she wants more children, she may say, yes, but I'm scared to go through that again. This book was written to accompany these women on their journey toward a subsequent pregnancy after postpartum depression. What Am I Thinking contains essential information for a woman and her family who plan on having another baby after a previous experience with postpartum depression. As these women know, planning another pregnancy can be a process filled with profound anxiety, indecision, fears, and self-doubt. What if I get depressed again? What if it's worse this next time? What if something terrible happens? What if I'm making a mistake? Filled with self-help strategies, current treatment recommendations, and practical advice, this book offers women the hope, confidence, and support they need to make this journey in spite of their anxiety. With this resource and available knowledge in hand, they are likely to feel more empowered, enabling them to proceed with confidence.

One day you will feel better… Eyes without Sparkle is a powerful medical autobiography describing the journey followed by the author into, through, and out of puerperal psychosis, the most severe form of postnatal depression. With vivid and intimate descriptions of events and the author’s feelings, this is the only book offering a single first-hand account of postnatal illness. The book serves as an inspiration for anyone suffering from or involved with a depressive illness. For health and social care professionals it is a reflective guide to learning from patients’ experiences, and the examples of positive and negative aspects of treatment can inform mental health services and policies.

Maternal infanticide, or the murder of a child in its first year of life by its mother, elicits sorrow, anger, horror, and outrage. But the perpetrator is often a victim, too.\nThe editor of this revealing work asks us to reach beyond rage, stretch the limits of compassion, and enter the minds of mothers who kill their babies -- with the hope that advancing the knowledge base and stimulating inquiry in this neglected area of maternal-infant research will save young lives. Written to help remedy today's dearth of up-to-date, research-based literature, this unique volume brings together a multidisciplinary group of 17 experts -- scholars, clinicians, researchers, clinical and forensic psychiatrists, pediatric psychoanalysts, attorneys, and an epidemiologist -- who focus on the psychiatric perspective of this tragic cause of infant death. \nThis comprehensive, practical work is organized into four parts for easy reference: ? Part I presents historical and epidemiological data, including a compelling discussion of the contrasting legal views of infanticide in the United States, United Kingdom, and other Western countries, a review of the latest statistics on maternal infanticide, and a discussion of the problems of underreporting and the lack of available documentation. ? Part II covers the psychiatric, psychological, cultural, and biological underpinnings of infanticide, detailing how to identify, evaluate, and treat postpartum psychiatric disorders. The authors explore clinical diagnosis, symptom recognition, risk factors, biological precipitants, and alternative motives, such as cultural infanticide. Chapter 3, developed to assist the attorney or mental health professional in understanding the implications of postpartum psychiatric illness as they relate to infanticide, presents a sensitive and thorough inquiry into infanticidal ideation.? Part III focuses on contemporary legislation, criminal defenses, and disparate treatment in U.S. law and compares U.S. law with the U.K.'s model of probation and treatment. Chapter 8 is an especially useful resource for the attorney or expert psychiatric witness preparing for an infanticide/neonaticide case in the criminal court system.? Part IV discusses clinical experience with mothers as perpetrators and countertransference in therapy, the range of mother-infant interactions (from healthy to pathological), and methods of early intervention and prevention. \nThis balanced perspective on a highly emotional issue will find a wide audience among psychiatric and medical professionals (child, clinical, and forensic psychiatrists and psychologists; social workers; obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives; nurses; and pediatricians), legal professionals (judges, attorneys, law students), public health professionals, and interested laypersons.