The New Mom's Survival Guide: How to Reclaim Your Body, Your Health, Your Sanity, and Your Sex Life After Having a Baby

by Jennifer Wider

Why can’t I lose the extra weight?

Why am I shedding like my pet golden retriever?

I’m just too tired to have sex— and it hurts. What should I do?

How can I tell the difference between the “baby blues” and a real depression?

Why am I having so many fights with my husband?

At last your baby has arrived, and you’re experiencing all the joys that come with being a new mom. But you may not have bargained on acne and enlarged feet, not to mention constipation, vaginal pain, mood swings, or perhaps one of the more serious conditions that pregnancy can trigger. So what can you do to deal with all these unexpected challenges? In this compassionate, comprehensive guide, Dr. Jennifer Wider, a physician as well as the mother of two small children, delivers up-to-date medical information, candid answers to a host of questions, and expert advice on a range of postpartum issues,

Sex and intimacy after pregnancy—physical and mental roadblocks
•Marital stresses and strains
•How to safely lose weight and exercise
•Cracked nipples and other breast-feeding concerns
•When the baby blues are more than just a phase
•Coping with thyroid problems, anemia, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and other conditions that can show up during or after pregnancy

From redefining yourself to taking care of yourself while caring for your baby, The New Mom’s Survival Guide offers such a wealth of practical help that new moms will turn to it again and again.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Eden Burrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well you can tell it was written in 2008 I’ll tell you that much

No I’m not a new mom gotta quell those rumors before the press gets ahold of them

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was a nice read, with some helpful information. I could really do wothout all of the negativity geared towards the husband. This is a time where your partnership is most important! I feel this writer may have had some issues with her spouse during the early stages of her child's life. At least that's how it comes off.

[Cintia Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a quick read and a refresher even for a second time mom like myself.

[Jessica Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad, but I knew a bunch of this stuff already. Good to read if you have no clue or don’t know much.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a medical book about what could go wrong.

[Adrienne Bross · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was actually really disappointed with this book. I picked it up thinking it might be a fun and quirky way of viewing the subject, but the way the book was written was very negative. I felt that it left the reader almost panicking with the way it approached many topics. One could argue that it was the author being frank, but I feel like it would be just as easy to explain the various topics covered without setting off an all out panic attack in the reader.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is kind of comforting to read. Most of the information is common, at least to me, but it's nice to hear some of this again. I also could skip over some of it because it had nothing to do with me... makes it faster to get through. I think it would be most helpful for someone who has just given birth to their first child.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book and I found it as a good source for new mom's. If only I had it months ago.. it would have helped during those early stages of being a new mom - though I don't know if I would have had time to read it like I do now. I do think it's a must-read for all new moms.

[Janelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent overview of postpartum changes, what is normal and what is not. It would have been more helpful for me had I read it during my last month of pregnancy, so I would be better prepared for issues as they came up.

[Charissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent post-partum book, especially for first time moms. There were several sections I skipped when I read this book, discussions concerning special situations like c-sections and other post-partum conditions that might arise.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a weird book. Loved some of the early chapters, they actually taught me some things that would have been helpful to know a few weeks ago, but then it seemed to randomly turn into a disease-o-pedia...felt like they needed filler maybe?

[Breen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book with lots of info for the post-partum mom about mommy issues - wish I had found this after my first, not my second as I felt I had already known most of this the second time around, but certainly did not the first time!

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good reference for a clueless first time mother. I would not recommend reading it before delivery. It's like reading Web MD when you feel sick. You end up worrying more than needed.
You could probably answer the same questions by asking another mother or searching the web.

[Victoria B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another scary book about the after-effects of becoming a parent. With all the scariness, it's a wonder anyone has kids! (At least, that's what the husband says.)

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny but very informative book for new moms about health stuff that happens after pregnancy but you don't know why or really remember to talk about with your doctor!

[rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

well intentioned. poorly edited.

[Lynnies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really funny and entertaining. I read most of it, skipped over a few things that didn't apply to me, but overall a very good resource. Would recommend to first time moms.

[Melanie Franklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for any new mom! I Highly recommend it!

[Rachele · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bunch of rambling about how you might feel mixed with some helpful medical information.

[Kw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick helpful read and not condescending at all