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Het moederbrein: Hoe het moederschap je lichaam, geest en identiteit vormt
Enriched with discoveries from biology, psychology and social science, THE MOTHERHOOD COMPLEX is a journey to the heart of what it means to become a mother.
Melissa Hogenboom examines how the suite of changes we experience during pregnancy and motherhood influence our sense of self, both physically and from the wider world. From the way our brain changes during pregnancy and the psychological impact of our changing body, to the true cost of the motherhood workplace penalty and the intrusion of technology on family life, Hogenboom reveals how external events and society at large shape the way we see ourselves and impacts upon the choices we make.
Interweaving her personal experience as a mother of two young children with the latest research, Hogenboom confronts the modern myth of maternal perfection and highlights the importance of understanding how and why we change for our physical and emotional health.
Melissa Hogenboom examines how the suite of changes we experience during pregnancy and motherhood influence our sense of self, both physically and from the wider world. From the way our brain changes during pregnancy and the psychological impact of our changing body, to the true cost of the motherhood workplace penalty and the intrusion of technology on family life, Hogenboom reveals how external events and society at large shape the way we see ourselves and impacts upon the choices we make.
Interweaving her personal experience as a mother of two young children with the latest research, Hogenboom confronts the modern myth of maternal perfection and highlights the importance of understanding how and why we change for our physical and emotional health.
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First published May 27, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 3, 2022
I’m pregnant with my first child and I found this book put into words all of the worries I’ve had about my changing world. It is refreshing to see research brought together and frank discussions about career and friendships and so much more. A really useful, friendly book that showed me I’m not alone in worrying about this stuff.
June 25, 2023
Horribly negative take a pregnancy and motherhood. At one point, do you author says that if you’re pregnant everyone, including your mailman, coworker, and the lady at the supermarket will know that you have had sex. What the hell? Yes, of course, that is how babies are made. And I assume that the mailman, coworker, and the lady at the supermarket occasionally enjoy intimacy in some form. I found chapter two "Birth and Labour" focused too much on trauma. It should be called 'traumatic birth experiences' as it starts with an absolutely gruesome recount of the authors c-section wound opening and spilling her guts. Only to continue with the traumatic stories of others. IF YOU'RE PREGNANT DON'T READ THIS CHAPER! It only focuses on what can go wrong. I have to honestly say that I put this book down after a few chapters because I was absolutely disgusted. This really happens. And it’s even more rare for me to then write a review. I absolutely do not recommend this book. There are 1 million other great books on the topic. Take awake at 3 am for example by Suzannah Neufeld. It’s a book that offers a very empathic take on the anxieties and worries around pregnancy without being negative.
June 17, 2021
I don't usually write reviews bit I thought I had to share what an enlightening read this book is. 'The motherhood complex' is a mixture of science, psychology, sociology and personal experience of motherhood. The research is very informative and has really made me think about how I feel about being a mother and the way I have changed. While reading it I was continually discussing the issues raised with my partner and thinking about our own parenting and relationship which was really positive. The author has been incredibly honest about her own parenting which is really refreshing. Is it so bad to make mistakes and discuss them? Must we be perfect mother's always? I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a mother. I would also recommend this book to anyone who would like to be better informed about feminist perspectives in regard to motherhood. What a fantastic read.
June 21, 2024
Ten eerste ben ik niet de doelgroep voor dit boek. Het voelt als een hoop eenzijdig onderzoek om te excuseren om een veeleisende carrière op te bouwen naast het beginnende moederschap, waarbij dus kinderen tot 5 dagen naar de kinderopvang gaan. Buiten dat iedereen hier zelf een keuze in mag maken, vind ik wel dat je de verantwoordelijkheid moet nemen over de consequenties van deze keuzes.
Daarnaast voelt het voor mij aan als een klaag sleur over het ouderschap. Begrijp mij niet verkeerd; ouders worden en zijn is de pittigste uitdaging in je leven, maar om het bijna alleen maar te omschrijven als een last waar je heel veel grenzen in moet stellen en afstand van moet nemen, voelt voor mij niet passend. Buiten dit, waren er ook zeker hoofdstukken die interessante onderwerpen deden aandragen en vind ik iets kijken vanuit een ander perspectief dan je eigen visie, nooit verkeerd en zeker leerzaam.
Daarnaast voelt het voor mij aan als een klaag sleur over het ouderschap. Begrijp mij niet verkeerd; ouders worden en zijn is de pittigste uitdaging in je leven, maar om het bijna alleen maar te omschrijven als een last waar je heel veel grenzen in moet stellen en afstand van moet nemen, voelt voor mij niet passend. Buiten dit, waren er ook zeker hoofdstukken die interessante onderwerpen deden aandragen en vind ik iets kijken vanuit een ander perspectief dan je eigen visie, nooit verkeerd en zeker leerzaam.
February 4, 2022
The motherhood complex is full of scientific research and personal experience, this was a great read about motherhood and how it has evolved over the years.
It covers wide range of topics from how a mothers brain physically changes, to body changes, to maternity leave, identity after having a baby and so much more.
The notes section at the back of the book is filled with all her references made throughout the book which a lot of is going on to my TBR.
It’s informative without being biased or opinionated which is great to see in any book regarding parenting
It covers wide range of topics from how a mothers brain physically changes, to body changes, to maternity leave, identity after having a baby and so much more.
The notes section at the back of the book is filled with all her references made throughout the book which a lot of is going on to my TBR.
It’s informative without being biased or opinionated which is great to see in any book regarding parenting
October 22, 2025
A nice sane mediation on motherhood and, in general, being a parent.
I agreed with most of it (and disagreed with some), but I read it with the feeling of a (mostly) uplifting pep talk: don't stress the big stuff, monitor how parental duties are divided, recognise the pressure your Wife is under, and it's hard for all parents - you're doing ok.
I agreed with most of it (and disagreed with some), but I read it with the feeling of a (mostly) uplifting pep talk: don't stress the big stuff, monitor how parental duties are divided, recognise the pressure your Wife is under, and it's hard for all parents - you're doing ok.
December 25, 2025
I’m really disappointed in this book. It’s really negative and as a 39 week old pregnant first time mom to be it’s upsetting to me.
Also there was a typo where she put “childness” instead of the world “childless.”
Also there was a typo where she put “childness” instead of the world “childless.”
July 6, 2021
As readable as a novel, with as much scientific insight as you would expect from any non-fiction book. Would recommend!
January 24, 2022
The Motherhood Complex offers an in-depth look at the ways in which societal pressures and realities conspire to put women at odds with their professional identities and their new identities as mothers.
While I thought the book covered its topics well, the writing started to wear me down towards the end - the author is a talented writer, but the constant reinforcement of the overarching chapter assertion felt like it was boosting a word count a la undergraduate essays, rather than adding anything meaningful or persuasive to the arguments, which were otherwise well reasoned and evidenced. To be honest this is something I've found quite common in mass-market sociology texts, so it may not be the fault of the author at all but rather a style required by editors, who knows.
I enjoyed that the book used the authors own experiences as the jumping off point for many of the arguments made in the book, and the comparisons between other countries was useful in underscoring the impact of differing policy approaches to families. I did find that the book focused on a very narrow, privileged view of motherhood. The author did allude occasionally to the additional pressures poorer or more marginalised parents might face, but very much as a "no doubt poverty and minority status exacerbates this" rather than really digging into what those exacerbations might be. That would be fine if the book were primarily a memoir, but I don't believe that that's the intention here.
Finally there were a few areas that made me feel uncomfortable -there was a tendency to romanticise and exoticise child rearing practices in the global south, and casual fat-shaming language in a couple of chapters.
Overall this is a decent book, a more socio-economic treatment of the topic than I've read in other titles thus far, but not the best book I've read on the matrescence.
While I thought the book covered its topics well, the writing started to wear me down towards the end - the author is a talented writer, but the constant reinforcement of the overarching chapter assertion felt like it was boosting a word count a la undergraduate essays, rather than adding anything meaningful or persuasive to the arguments, which were otherwise well reasoned and evidenced. To be honest this is something I've found quite common in mass-market sociology texts, so it may not be the fault of the author at all but rather a style required by editors, who knows.
I enjoyed that the book used the authors own experiences as the jumping off point for many of the arguments made in the book, and the comparisons between other countries was useful in underscoring the impact of differing policy approaches to families. I did find that the book focused on a very narrow, privileged view of motherhood. The author did allude occasionally to the additional pressures poorer or more marginalised parents might face, but very much as a "no doubt poverty and minority status exacerbates this" rather than really digging into what those exacerbations might be. That would be fine if the book were primarily a memoir, but I don't believe that that's the intention here.
Finally there were a few areas that made me feel uncomfortable -there was a tendency to romanticise and exoticise child rearing practices in the global south, and casual fat-shaming language in a couple of chapters.
Overall this is a decent book, a more socio-economic treatment of the topic than I've read in other titles thus far, but not the best book I've read on the matrescence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2021
A well written and researched book. The book explores the role and identity of mothers in the family unit and society across different cultures and provides astute insights backed up by the latest scientific research. An enjoyable read I would recommend to all new mothers, their partners, and employers alike.
June 22, 2021
A realistic reflection on the weird experience of becoming a parent. From the influences of biology and hormones to those that are social pressures this book goes through them all. It isn’t a guide, it doesn’t have answers to how to parent but it’s a reassuring read that validates experiences that are often not discussed and that in itself is extremely welcome.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews