I'm a person who likes to read for comfort/confidence, especially during the more challenging times in my life. I'm also trying to spend less time on the internet. So, I'm curious:
What have you read, or what are you reading/planning to read to prepare yourself for late pregnancy, birth, and baby-raising?
Re: Book Recommendations
- The First Forty Days by Heng Ou is a book about self-care/other-care for mothers in the post-partum period. I haven't read the whole thing, but I sent it to a friend before she delivered in October and she said it was helpful!
ETA: Same friend just mentioned said she wished she had prepared more for breastfeeding, having focused so much on birthing during her pregnancy. Can anyone recommend a good breastfeeding reference?Raising Elijah
Spit That Out
Smart Mama Green Guide
And, currently reading The Mindful Parent (This one got me from the beginning.)
I plan on continuing to read books about our influence on the environment and what I can do to help and protect my children from environmental toxins. I have a teenager that I am seeing some issues that might be directly related to my discipline techniques (or lack of, really). I would like to do better with my younger kids, but struggle with what is effective and still loving. I will be seeking out literature about discipline after I read The Mindful Parent. We are seeing a behavior therapist this week for my oldest to help with accountability and life skills, so I assume she will give me things to read. I am eager to be better informed in this area.
Edit wrong word
https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Catcher-Chronicles-Modern-Midwife/dp/0743219341/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510592865&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+catcher
Spoiler alert - it doesn't speak favorably for any sort of interventions, and leans anti-formula (not like starve your child, but says it's not the biologically best nutrition for your baby). She's not anti-intervention because obviously the health and safety of mom/baby are most important. It's written more to educate moms on the impact it can have on starting breastfeeding. I would say she is anti voluntary intervention though. So, I'd take it for what it's worth. The other main thing in it is moving away from "Breast is best" to "breast is normal" [in a biological sense] as a tag line for breastfeeding.
Pregnant with #2:
2. I second Womanly Art of BF. I skimmed it during pregnancy and I attribute that book to our continued nursing relationship (My son just turned 2). Never thought I would be going that long, but here we are. We dealt with slow weight gain, Csection recovery, NICU stay, tongue tie, lip tie and the works. Throughout it all, this book taught me that it's most important to feed and care for my baby. One way of feeding is not superior. Being fed is superior.
Somehow, that gave us the strength to keep nursing bc we weren't so bogged down with feeling bad about formula. If we used it, great, my son was fed. If he nursed, great, he was fed.
3. I highly DISrecommend "Husband Coached Childbirth" by Dr Bradley. Throw that horse manure in the garbage. It offered nothing in terms of method and was a big "here's how nature gives birth" lesson. The few method tips it does offer meant nothing in the face of labor and my husband and I were very ill prepared. Horse manure is better than this book. Sorry to those it may offend.