Mothering the New Mother: Women’s Feelings and Needs after Childbirth by Sally Placksin
A comprehensive handbook for dealing with the postpartum period, this book underlines the importance of a good support system to help mothers deal with what can be an overwhelming, and yet marginalized, experience. Information is given on what support is available, and how to find it for all aspects of the postpartum experience, including the early weeks after giving birth, breastfeeding, postpartum depression, returning to work, being a stay-at-home mom, and coping after subsequent births. Weaved into this, is a plethora of mothers' stories which reflect the universal feelings, common to new moms everywhere, of frustration, isolation, excitement and joy. Although a revised second edition, many of the resources listed are out-of-date, including the reference to The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.