Then Comes Baby: An Honest Conversation about Birth, Postpartum, and the Complex Transition to Parenthood

by Jessica Vernon

Genres: Parenting

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

Reviews

[Michael Silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Vernon’s Then Comes Baby is an exceptional and deeply thoughtful book about the realities of childbirth and early motherhood. Dr. Vernon provides a wealth of insight into the birth process, the emotional and medical complexities that can arise, and the often-unspoken challenges of navigating unexpected outcomes.

What makes this book particularly powerful is her willingness to be personally transparent. Through candid self-disclosure about her own disappointments and adjustments to motherhood, she creates a tone that is open, honest, and deeply humane. Rather than speaking down to the reader, Dr. Vernon writes alongside them - offering guidance, reflection, and reassurance without ever feeling prescriptive or patronizing.

As someone who works in mental health and has long believed that the reproductive journey sits at the intersection of obstetrics and psychiatry, I found this book especially meaningful. I have often wished that more clinicians would pursue residency training that bridges the two fields of OB and psychiatry, because so much of the psychological experience of motherhood unfolds within the medical realities of pregnancy and birth. Dr. Vernon’s work comes closer than anything I’ve encountered to embodying that integrated perspective.

This is a compassionate, intelligent, and refreshingly honest contribution to the literature on childbirth and early motherhood. Highly recommended for expectant parents, clinicians, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the emotional landscape that accompanies bringing a child into the world.

[Emily Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Then Comes Baby is written by Dr. Jessica Vernon, who is a board-certified OB/GYN. It's a book about birth and postpartum, so perhaps someone with her credentials writing a book on this topic seems like a natural fit. But it's actually revelatory—at least for me.

When I was undergoing my matrescence (my kids were born in 2015, 2017, and 2021), I read tons of books to prepare —books by midwives, doulas, and (eh-hem) a certain economist.

I wish I'd read one like this instead. This is the book where your big sister, MD, tells you everything you need to know in clear, non-judgmental terms. She tells you, truthfully, there's no one right way to give birth. She explains, straight up, that things won't go as planned. And that's ok. Or can be ok in time.

As a mental health writer, I particularly appreciated the section on perinatal mental health disorders, which contains Dr. Vernon's own candid description of her challenges in that domain.

I recommend this for parents-to-be seeking judgement-free health information to prepare for birth and everything that comes after.

Coming soon: A full review in my blog https://emilypgerickson.com/blog/.

Thanks to Rowman & Littlefield Publishers and Pacific & Court for the advance copy.

[Krystal Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is going to be such a valuable resource for moms to be and for moms after birth! Wow! I had already had my twins when I read this book but the section starting with baby blues, all the way to the end was really helpful for me!

That didn’t stop me from reading the other sections to though!! It was insanely informative and interesting to read! Will definitely be recommending this to people I know who are going to be having babies or those who have fairly recently have!

Super well written!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

there should be more books like this
focuses on medical model

[Bethany Gorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

plz note I am NOT pregnant but hope to be soon, and I really liked this book!!! Very scientific explanations with helpful insight to the emotional weight of certain situations and decisions. I'd love a physical copy of this to refer back to!