Like any woman - I was scared about pregnancy, labor and the postpartum journey. Everyone has experienced their journey in their own way & while it's great to consult in others about their experience - I found I preferred reading for information. This way when I had my fill of info - I could put the book down & go about my day. The reading materials were meant to inform and a prepare you - not scare you as some people unintentionally can do. Below are some of my favorite books I've read that I truly recommend!
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Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts
I suffer from Bipolar Disorder so statistically I am more likely to get postpartum depression. I wanted to be ahead of it should it happen to & that way I might hopefully be able to identify the signs in myself to find the strength to ask for help. I read this before having baby & I'm glad I did. There are certain emotions that I experienced after baby beyond just depression like anxiety, rage, etc. that I felt I was able to control somewhat better because I knew what was happening. I'm by no means perfect, but I encourage all Mom's - not just new moms, but all - to read this. And make your spouse read it too.
Your Pregnancy Week by Week
Right after finding out we were pregnant - my husband & I went to Barnes & Noble as a date night and bought all the pregnancy books lol! This was one of them! I know that you can use the various apps out there to track week by week, but I don't need anymore reasons to be on my phone than I already am. Each week was very easy to read, right to the point and very short. I read a few weeks ahead at a time to keep myself ahead of the game. I definitely preferred this over 'What To Expect When You're Expecting'. That book had a lot of information that I felt wasn't necessary unless you really wanted to know EVERYTHING & MORE.
What To Expect The First Year
While I wasn't a fan of 'What To Expect When You're Expecting' I am a fan of the 'What To Expect The First Year' - I'm still reading it currently & I wish I would have started it a lot earlier in my pregnancy as a way to prepare myself for when baby is here. I caught up pretty quick and am reading a month in age ahead so I know what to expect. Once baby got here, I felt a little more confident because I knew firsthand information that I probably wouldn't have - like newborns don't poop everyday. In fact - they sometimes can go several days without pooping and it's nothing to alarmed about. Something my husband first was freaked out about, but I assured him that I read it was normal & our pediatrician also confirmed it. There's several more things of information that I've read in advance that put me at ease when encountering the situation in real life that I felt prepared for.
The Postnatal Depletion Cure
Honestly I recommend this to ANY Mom no matter what phase you're in. Lots of great information here on the postnatal health and how the depletion can lead to so many issues. Great advice on how to get back to your healthy self and recognizing when brain fog / fatigue / weight issues, etc. aren't something to be ignored and tips on how to navigate curing them. Often times we assume this is just apart of motherhood, but it's not. I wish I would have read this sooner, but I didn't know about it until after baby was born. It's an informative read so can be a bit of a snoozer at times, but if you give it a chance - you can find there's great info in it. I have several pages folded at the corner to to refer back to.
While there are a lot of great reading materials out there for pregnancy/new moms/ postpartum, etc. These were just a few out the books I read I actually really liked & found them to be helpful! I don't think I'll ever be a completely confident Mom in knowing what I'm doing, but it's nice to have something give you a little bit of confidence for the road ahead so you're no scared when you encounter a few bumps in the road!
Thanks for reading!
XOXOXO
Mrs. Northern Belle
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