Book Recommendations

In much of the world, the first three months after giving birth is a sacred time for connection to baby, nourishment of the new mother, guidance and support from surrounding women in their communities.

In our culture, there’s a lot of pressure to bounce back quickly - just take a look at the average maternity leaves across this country (if you haven’t watched Jessica Shortall’s TED Talk, watch it now).

We know that the plan of holing up in our homes for over a month with loved ones cooking nourishing meals might not be realistic or even appealing. But, spending time preparing for the postpartum period - knowing what to expect, how to set boundaries, and learning practical ways to take care of ourselves (hint: ask for/don’t decline help!!) can make a big difference.

Some of our favorite resources on the fourth trimester cover these topics. They help us understand what’s in store, inform us of important things to look out for, and educate us on when to get help.

"It's time to change our ways, to pick up the threads of knowledge that we forgot and weave them into a new kind of fabric to hold the mother. We must do it for ourselves and for our children, because the way women become mothers profoundly affects the way their children awaken to this world. When you take care of the mother, you take care of the child." — Heng Ou