The Zen Mama Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond

by Teresa Palmer, Sarah Wright Olsen

Being Zen(ish) is what we call it--and it’s the ish that we endorse!

Teresa Palmer and Sarah Wright Olsen, two moms from opposite sides of the world, are doing their best to raise happy, empathetic children while working, traveling, and maintaining their sanity. With seven kids between them, the founders of the much-loved Your Zen Mama blog know as well as anyone that motherhood doesn’t exist in the highlight reel of life, and that finding even a fleeting semblance of calm among the epic ebbs and flows of parenting is usually all you can hope for!

So forget perfection and prepare to get real, vulnerable, and dirty (mostly from guacamole) with Sarah and Teresa, as they share knowledge they’ve collected over the years, from the Your Zen Mama community and expert mentors, as well as being in the trenches of parenthood themselves.

Whether it’s dealing with fertility challenges or pregnancy loss, riding out a long and complicated labor, or juggling multiple kids (and work!), these mamas have been through it--and have written this gorgeous book to help you find your own glimpses of Zen along the way.

Readers of The Zen Mama Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond will benefit from . . .


 Important questions to ask and decisions to make before and during pregnancy
Essential guidance from a woman’s point of view for conception, pregnancy, and childbirth
Nutritional and dietary advice to support the complete health of both mother and baby
Practical education about the mother’s body before, after, and during pregnancy
Science-based methods to promote a mother’s healthy body and mind
Expert advice from medical professionals, chiropractors, and pediatricians
Engaging, accessible advice for every step of the newborn’s journey
Suggestions and tips for creating a birthing plan
Comforting language to address fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, and complicated labor
Tips to celebrate the parenthood journey, in all its complexity and beauty
Earned and lived wisdom collected and shared by real mothers in the Your Zen Mama community
Access to the Your Zen Mama resource guide


 

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Self Help

301 pages, Hardcover

Published April 6, 2021

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very comprehensive overview of pregnancy from pre-conception to the fourth trimester. The authors offer a lot of holistic options for pain relief and even throw in recommendations for chemical-free cleaning supplies. Eco friendly products are emphasized.

I really appreciated the fact that in a book about pregnancy, they covered miscarriage or pregnancy loss as they refer to it. Not too many books cover it or they do it really quickly.

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed the Zen Mamas Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond! As a first time mom / pregnant person, I feel like a sponge just wanting to absorb as much reputable advice and information as I can, and Teresa and Sarah really broke down their personal experiences and mixed in some good education and advice from professionals that made the book a really easy and enjoyable read. I actually spent a couple of months reading and absorbing the book, and even went back and re-read some parts too!

Thanks to the authors and NetGalley for the copy, I thoroughly enjoyed it snd have recommended it to a couple of other expecting mamas!

[OjoAusana · Rating 4 out of 5]

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* not a mother, to be mother or otherwise but i do work with kids often and like to read books like this for reference, this is a book i would reread if i ever decided to get pregnant for sure!

[Abby Booked · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! I appreciate how nonjudgemental and supportive this was, and how they did not shy away from discussing pregnancy loss. This book was a hug from one mama to another!

[Nikky Raney · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a self-proclaimed “krunchy” lady who embraces the holistic lifestyle and is proudly plant/based - I was intrigued book as I am currently trying to get pregnant!

I did learn some new things in this book that I didn’t know before, but it seemed quite shallow. There wasn’t much depth, or the depth that I was expecting. I enjoyed the anecdotes, personal experiences, taking a stance on controversial topics like circumcision, placenta smoothies, co-sleeping, and so much more. It was cool to hear the husband perspective on witnessing the childbirth process.

With that being said - there seems to be something lacking in this guide. I didn’t feel that connection to the authors - the book itself seems a bit rushed and under developed. I also wish there was more of a spiritual connection made - there’s talk of affirmations and mantras but there’s never really anything connecting the spiritual side of pregnancy which is unexpected in a book talking about zen.

The authors talk a lot about their own businesses and I liked learning the information about women entrepreneurs being happier than non and the empowerment they encourage moms to have.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to consume this ARC.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review*

I wasn't too sure what to expect with this book, but I ended up really loving it a lot. I am not pregnant nor do I have any children, but I hope that it is something I have the ability to experience in my life and this was a great book to read.

I love how clear the information was presented, with personal anecdotes and professional opinions scattered throughout. I also appreciated that there was an entire chapter dedicated to pregnancy loss included since that is something that so many women experience.

Overall this was a very well thought out book that I am very glad to have read before embarking on this new part of my life.

[Achu Aswathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for people who are planning to have kids. The book covers a lot of topics like pregnancy planning, pregnancy loss and about each trimester and post pregnancy and postpartum depression. Each stage is explained in detail and what they experienced and other moms and mom to be experienced was there. I really loved the way they explained pregnancy loss they used this word instead of miscarriage and how the loss is different of everyone and how it affects and what needs to be done to have a good relationship with yourself and partner than detaching from everyone around. As it mentioned in title it talks about birth and beyond and I wish you read to understand what would be good for you as Sara and Teresa has shared a lot of stuffs that are helpful for people across the world who wish to have the little ones in their life and to feel the parenthood.

I really there are different ways and positions to give birth as I have watched only one position in movies and in hospital and I got to know more about it we should find the right doctor or midwife who matches with our mindset and we should be able to feel secure talking to them. Changing doctors to get the right and comfortable one is not bad.

The writing style was so simple and lucid and I liked the way they were expressing themselves openly so that it help others and there are few pictures of them with their kids which is so lovely.

[Liane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book even though I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first. I was worried it might be all gloss and none of the challenges but I was pleasantly surprised.
The book covers things like pre-conception care, conception, early pregnancy, labour, birth + the fourth trimester.
Im really glad they covered the myriad of possible loss' and resources for support because even though its common it can still feel quite taboo.

I love that this book covers so much ground, from non-medical birth support to medical and exploring different options in a really open and encouraging way. They also delve into mood disorders and where to seek help. As well as swaddling, feeding and more.

As a Birth Photographer I was so glad they mentioned this as something to consider! It doesn't have to be for sharing but its pretty special to be able to reflect on your birth both soon after and well into the future.

This is a great purchase for anyone looking to start a family or support a friend who is having a baby.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Harper Horizon in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've learned so much from the Zen Mama Guide and appreciate how open Teresa and Sarah were sharing their stories. My husband and I am thinking of becoming pregnant soon and all of the information shared in this book was so informative and educational. Even if you can't relate or not becoming pregnant, there are many tips and tricks to learn throughout this book. The layout and color scheme chosen for this book was very attractive and it brought your eye right to the important facts and tips. We have weeded almost all of our pregnancy collection in our R Non-Fiction and this book will be a perfect start in rebuilding the collection.

We will consider adding this title to our R Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[A reader somewhere · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how this book is written very conversationally and the both the authors are very open about their journeys to and throughout motherhood. It's like reading letters from your pals, rather than a boring and prescriptive 'how to' book. My only criticism is the styling of the book - even the authors admit their lives don't always look like these whimsical, dreamy, crunchy photos yet in the accompanying photos they're portraying a very stylised version of parenthood that most of us have no hope of living up to.

[Sarah Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very special book that helped me understand a lot about pregnancy. Two moms who tell you about their own experiences and knowedge and share pictures of their own lives. I know I will go back to this book when I need it.

Un libro muy especial que me ha ayudado mucho a entender y aprender cositas sobre todo lo que conlleva un embarazo. Dos mamás que cuentan sus propias experiencias con ayuda de fotografías personales que muestran sus vidas.
Muy informativo y sé que volveré a releer algunas páginas en un futuro 💗

[Rachel Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been following their YouTube channel and found it really helpful and informative while preparing for my baby and the first few weeks. A lot of the information is summarised from secondary sources. What I found useful was the firsthand testimony as both the authors have a wealth of experience. It helps that I agree with the more relaxed no-schedule lots of cuddling type of parenting.

[Brooklyn Filtness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. It referenced “The First Forty Days” a few times, which is another book about pregnancy that I’ve been wanting to read based off of my love of “Awakening Fertility” by the same authors.

Very comprehensive, I would definitely like to read it again, getting deeper into the “birth, and beyond” portion when I’m actually pregnant one day :)

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was given to me as a gift during my pregnancy. It is a very quick read and reads like an extended blog I thought. Something to pass the time reading about a shared experience but for me it was low on useful content.

[Laura Martínez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It provides a comprehensive summary of everything related to pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Covering a wide array of topics, it eliminates the need to read 20 separate books—you can simply consult this one. It's short, sweet, and clear!

[Johannah Kettell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers just about all you need to know in a simple way and is filled with beautiful commentary, images, and personal stories from the authors. It’s not as in depth as some other books on this topic but overall was a nice little read.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would recommend to a friend. The book is a good balance of physical and mental science. I was afraid from the title it would be too crunchy for me, but it didn't come across as crunchy at all. It provides information nonjudgmentally, which was refreshing.

[Chloe Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the podcast that the authors have and decided to check out their book. It gives a good overview of all things MOM and lots of references to other resources. Trying to prepare my brain far in advance.

[Kassie Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to comprehend, honest, down to earth.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't see what this book offers beyond what literally any other pregnancy book offers.

[Mackenzie Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite mama inspirations. I always feel more uplifted and empowered after reading/listening to them. 💕

[Shelley Wineland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a nice overview, and I enjoyed the more natural aspects to pregnancy, delivery, and baby raising.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these girls. I love how they mother and I love their friendship. I wish I had a tribe like theirs and I’m grateful they include us in theirs via this book, their podcast, and their socials.

[Rachel Emo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very laid back nonjudgmental/strongly swayed pregnancy book for first time Moms. The information was general and at times vague. The photography is gorgeous. Many boxes throughout the book made it feel like the authors were having a conversation with you about how that topic was relevant to their own experiences.

[Sarah Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic and insightful from start to finish. Could not put it down. Hearing about the wild, unpredictable, raw experiences of the contributing women was so enlightening.