Natural Health after Birth: The Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness

by Aviva Romm

Provides essential advice for adjusting to the many challenges facing women during the first year after giving birth. • Offers practical tips for finding balance between being fully immersed in the beautiful but demanding path of motherhood and maintaining a sense of self. • Provides helpful herbal tips and recipes and includes gentle yoga exercises. • Addresses a new mother's need to replenish her body, mind, and spirit so that she can nurture her child.• By the author of The Natural Pregnancy Book and A Thoughtful Parent's Guide. New mothers need care and support to adjust to the myriad challenges facing them after changing body image, lifestyle, work arrangements, and relationships. Midwife, herbalist, and mother of four, Aviva Jill Romm shares her insights into how to make this crucial time a happy one. She provides essential advice for preparing for the postpartum period, coping during the first few days after the birth, establishing a successful breast-feeding relationship, getting enough rest, eating well even with a hectic schedule, and finding time to regain strength and tone with gentle yoga exercises. Woven throughout are helpful herbal tips and recipes to make the first year of motherhood a naturally healthy one. Natural Health after Birth also addresses a new mother's need to replenish her body, mind, and spirit so that she can nurture her child. This book provides support both for women who plan to be home full or part time during the first year and those who must return to their jobs soon after the birth. With humor and compassion, Romm offers mothers practical wisdom for attaining the delicate balance between being fully immersed in the beautiful but demanding path of motherhood and maintaining a sense of self.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have liked to have sat and read this book from cover to cover, but I am pretty tired of reading baby books in general so I skimmed it.
It includes references to women in other cultures and how they handle the postpartum period, which I found very interesting. There are several recipes for herbal baths, supplements, rubs, ointments and nutritious dishes. I will copying some of these recipes into my own repertoire.



Notes:
"mother roasting" goes beyond keeping the ambient temperature warm... includes infusing heat deep especially on the abdomen to speed healing (warm rocks, herbal supplements, hot packs, etc)

postpartum massage also speeds the healing process

belly binding - wrap the belly with a strip of thin cotton 8-10 inches wide and 5 feet in length, place fabric midline on abdomen from the top of the pubic hairline to just under the navel, firm but not tight, wear the wrap for up to 2 weeks after birth

to relieve engorged breasts
- take a hot bath or shower with the water running over the breasts then gently express them
- apply hot compresses
- have partner nurse
- apply bruised cabbage leaves (leaves on a cutting board rolled over with rolling pin)

food nursing babies may not like-- spicy, caffeinated, dairy, peanuts, eggs, citrus fruits, onions, wheat, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, tomatoes, corn and soy

getting time to take car of yourself
- turn off phone several hours each day
- set specific times for housework, etc, work for that time, then put tasks away
- consolidate errands
- plan meals ahead (like a weeks' worth)
- turn off tv and do something nurturing/fulfilling (read, write, garden, bath time, etc)
- hire a mid to high school student to help you 2 hours a week after school so you can get shit finished


**how to make a hot rice pack**
4x36 inch fabric
fold in half so it is 4x18 inches
sew the ends
fill 2/3 with rice (or rice mixed with 1/4 cup lavender blossoms)
sew last side
heat 2 min in microwave

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of the book is just wordy, uninformative, pretty useless discussion. Like, who needs to read page after page after page about how relationships with our own mothers can range from supportive to tense, or explanations of options you might have when you need help around the house (husband, family, friends, hired help - wow!). I was very frustrated through the first third of the book but kept reading hoping to get useful information at some point. I did get some useful advice and herbal recipes. Towards the end of the book, there were more empty discussions, interspersed with some recipes and tips. Overall, what I got from it could be put in 50 pages if not less, or a good Internet resource (probably exists). For someone even mildly educated, this book is a drag. I'm glad I read it, but it was a frustrating read and a waste of ten bucks.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy read. Information is a bit outdated - references from the 1970’s-2001 (mostly the 1990’s). It would be much better if an updated edition were released. For example, the cesarean and episiotomy percentages should be updated- doubtful the numbers in this book are accurate. Ask your doctor before using some of the mixtures. Some postpartum food recipes are included, as well as salves and tinctures and teas. Worthwhile read, but also read other postpartum books.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down for first 200 pages...super helpful and insightful into significance of life after birth. Some of the herbal recipes seemed complicated but I am not an herbalist yet so maybe I'm totally off. The last section was the least helpful because I prefer more specific books on those subjects (nutrition, fitness, self relaxation) but it is meant to be a catch all so I understand.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original "First Forty Days" with a heavy emphasis on herbs. Really enjoyed it! Like the prenatal book, Romm's opinions on what she feels is best ("natural" childbirth, not a fan of hospitals, "breast is best") is pervasive, but if you can manage to look past it (if you don't feel the same), this book can be a wonderful tool.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I had read this before birth but was equally informative afterwards. The herb recipes looked quite complex and I’m not sure where you could source some of those ingredients in NZ. I found the section about nutrition for breastfeeding especially helpful.

[Taylor Fazio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly outdated as it was published over 20 years ago, however, extremely thoughtful to all things postpartum — mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. Dr Aviva Romm is such a badass. The book helps guide and ground truth the very unpredictable and unexpected ride of postpartum.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favorite books on motherhood. So wise and comforting to read during postpartum

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much helpful information!

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

While there is a lot of good advice, it's also very repetitive

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read ... a bit privileged at times but overall a great resource for postpartum parents. Especially if you are into herbalism!

[Tabitha Alterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can find time to read while pregnant, this book can help you through the early postpartum phase. ❤️

[treva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Be prepared to spend 200+ pages being told that you will feel abandoned, incompetent, and unconfident for a minimum 8 months. As a brand new first-time mom, is this REALLY what she thinks I need to hear? Believe me, I am aware that this will be a lot of work, for the rest of my life, and that there will be many times, as there are already, when I don't feel like I have the slightest clue what I'm doing. But perhaps focusing on those mindsets is not exactly the most effective way to encourage me. If you're into herbal teas and tinctures, there are several recipes in here; however, this resource is not worth undermining your confidence.

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

thought this would be helpful, even though I'm on baby #5, but really, the first couple chapters talk about how women in our culture will be abandoned and feel incompetent. After that, most of the info was a big "DUH" to me. Might be helpful for a 1st time mom, though. The only parts I found remotely useful were the herbal recipes... One part kinda grossed me out though- it said if your breasts are engorged with milk and baby can't latch on, let your partner suckle at your breasts as long as he wants. Um... ewww. I don't think my husband or I would be comfortable with him drinking my breastmilk.

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Everyone should read this - whether you are becoming a mother for the 1st/2nd/3rd time or have someone around you who is becoming a mother. Aviva gently writes about mom, new baby and the post-partum period which is often forgotten or rushed in our culture. I only wish I had read this before I had Oli! This will definitely come in handy for the next time. She also has great herbal suggestions - from teas to baths.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be more useful and helpful if I were already more versed in natural health. As I am, it was kind of intimidating. It's a good reference, though I don't know if I would buy it. Again, if I were more familiar with using herbs, etc., already, I might feel more comfortable. Very interesting info re: breastfeeding, and I have to admit that I wish I had saved my placenta to try powdering it. Yes, some might say that is gross. Oh well.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so crammed with information, it was like she was trying to say everything and ended up saying nothing at all.
Very unlike her Natural Pregnancy Book in flow. I can see how this would be hard for a new mother to sort through for the bits she needs, although there is value in it for someone willing to take the time to hunt for it.

[Juliana Rodrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be gentle with yourself during the postpartum period is the main message that I got from this book. Complemented with many suggestions of how to do it and why it is important to pay attention to many aspects of a new mother's well being.
A good complement for the parenting books collection out there where the main focus is on the baby.

[Melissa Matthewson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every new mother should have this book on hand for right after the birth of her baby. It helped me through some really down days after my son was born.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Aviva Jill Romm really brings home the essential point of the importance of pamering a recovering postpartum mother. Great for any expectant mom, or friend or family of an expectant mom.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be essential reading for every new mom-to-be and those who will be her support system as a new mom!

[Audrey Hoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended by our postpartum doula, and it was a good book to read as a first-time mommy. I appreciated the homeopathic suggestions to address various aspects of postpartum care.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Jaime Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

#25

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare book on women's self-care after birth. Many books that claim to be about mother's care are really parenting books. This is a supportive guide for all the changes and needs of a new mother.