Mothering the New Mother: Women's Feelings and Needs After Childbirth

Becoming a mother is a truly powerful and transforming event. A woman's pregnancy is filled with hopeful expectations, knowledge, and preparation for the birth. With all the attention and excitement focused on the upcoming birth and arrival of the baby, often times the importance of preparing for the postpartum period is overlooked. Placksin's book, "Mothering the New Mother: Women's Feelings and Needs After Childbirth" is an incredible resource for every family expecting a baby. Filled with information, advice, and resources, it truly is a valuable guide for all expectant parents.

The baby has arrived. You are now a new mother. All the preparation and excitement about the upcoming birth and arrival of the baby has now passed. While you were pregnant, you got used to being the center of that excitement and attention. However, now that the baby has arrived, the attention is focused on the baby and often times the mom is forgotten. Plaskin's book is your answer. Plaskin begins by discussing the different emotions that women experience during the postpartum period, and offers reassurance that yes, it is normal to be completely overwhelmed, incompetent, and unsure if you able to be mother. Media currently portrays the postpartum period with pictures of perfectly made up mothers gazing lovingly down at perfectly content babies while standing in their perfectly clean nursery, or kitchen, etc. Plaskin assures new mothers that this image of motherhood is not realistic. Your house will be messy, you will be overtired, cranky, in pajamas for most the day, and hoping to just get a chance to take a shower, never mind put on makeup and shoes and get the entire house clean. And that's okay. Plaskin wants new mothers to understand that postpartum is a very overwhelming time for any mother, and that it is okay that you might not be overjoyed with your new baby. Her goal is to have mothers understand that support is essential during the postpartum period.

Plaskin explains what the post partum period is, and why it is so overwhelming for most women. She also talks about other culture's traditions around the postpartum period, and how while the majority of traditional cultures center the postpartum period around the well-being of the mother and allow her time and support to transition into motherhood, in the United States this support of a new mother is not the norm. Plaskin goes into details on ways to set up a postpartum support system, and explains the importance of doing so during your pregnancy, even though the postpartum period can seem a far way off. She explains what life after childbirth will be like, devotes a section on breastfeeding, and talks extensively on postpartum depression. She also includes sections for mothers who must return to work and those who are staying home full time.

Plaskin's book is easy reading with a friendly and non-preachy tone. She provides invaluable resources in each section for a mom to follow up with. She also fills each section with interviews and advice from new mothers who have already experienced the postpartum period. The reader is instantly given a dose of the reality of the postpartum period by reading the stories of real women who voice their stories, struggles, and triumphs that they experienced after the birth of their babies. And since Plaskin provides a section for mothers pregnant with their second, third, or fourth child, this book is valuable for the "old pro" mothers as well. Her index if filled with questionnaires designed to help you determine what your greatest needs are for the postpartum period, and how to set up the best support network for you.

Remember, when you give birth, both a child and a mother has been born. The importance of nurturing yourself as a mother can not be understated. In order to get off on a great start, read Plaskin's book, absorb the information and advice she provides, take advantage of the resources she lists, and take the steps to set up your postpartum support network. It will be a decision that you won't regret.