The Modern Midwife's Guide to the First Year

by Marie Louise

The book you can trust to guide you through the highs and lows of parenthood. Following on from where The Modern Midwife's Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond left off, this comprehensive and nurturing guide will ensure you feel supported and informed throughout your baby's first year. From the first 48 hours after birth through to establishing a routine and looking out for signs to start weaning, you'll be guided through each stage of your baby's development with lots of fascinating facts and a big focus on your well-being. Packed with the most up-to-date insights and bringing together a whole host of childcare experts, you'll find everything you need to feel calm and confident about the exciting months ahead.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

358 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2023

About the author

Sydney-based Marie Louise has been a mother, daughter, lover, friend, business owner, sister and wife. She had the fortune to wake up to her truth, which has exposed a self far different to the one she has perceived before. This truth has exposed her to the power of choice, being and the human potential. Marie now shares her insights and experiences so others can be exposed to their potential and personal power. She is a dynamic speaker and story teller, she lives from the heart with passion and that guidance proves to be contagious. Learning self-love for world peace is something she is passionate about and sharing that is what she loves to do.

Reviews

[Meggie]

This is a very good book to prepare pregnant people for postpartum recovery and basic tips and care for your baby. It doesn't touch much upon support for partners (if you have one).

I would have expected more of a care guide on how to look after a baby so if you are looking for that then this isn't the book for you. However, what it did give me was reassurance that my instincts are solid and the research I have done is accurate. It is a very encouraging and empowering book for new mums.

[Aoife]

I read Marie Louise’s book about pregnancy and really liked her writing style and friendly tone so decided to pick up her next book which looks at the postpartum period as well as the stages of your baby’s development over the course of the first year and what to expect. Again, I really liked this and I will keep it nearby to reread sections as my daughter grows. I appreciated Marie Louise’s ‘Honesty Box’ sections where she shared moments of her own postpartum and parenting journeys from the joyful moments as well the tough ones.

[Holly Morgan]

A really helpful guide to the first year of a baby’s life, with clear chapters and detailed information written in an accessible way.
I particularly enjoyed the Honesty Box sections in which the author related her own honest experiences of early motherhood. As a first time mum trying not to overthink everything, I found it really helpful to hear that those tough moments are pretty much universal amongst parents and helped me feel part of a wider community who are all going through the same thing in different ways.

I’d definitely recommend to anyone who is about to have a baby or who is currently in the first year of new parenthood!

[Helena Champion]

Every parent to be or new parent should read/ listen to this. Sooo informal and not biased. So helpful!

[Elena Horsnell]

I found this book really useful, at the time of reading it I was in the new born trenches and it helped me feel reassured and not alone.

[Martin]

The book has a good amount of helpful information within it, which can be used by a new parent. However, the focus is very much on the mother and the author doesn’t seem to offer much solace for any new fathers such as myself who are looking for a bit of guidance.
The cover of the book seems targeted to parents. But when you start to read the book, you realise it’s been written narrowly for mothers.

This was no problem for me but I found a disconnect with the book after reading part 3. There was quite an amusing quote from an ‘anonymous’ contributor, stating that she wanted to punch her husband in the face on a daily basis.

Beyond this, it seemed obvious to me that the author was framing the default stance of the male within parenting as one of a general nuisance; a lazy and selfish Neanderthal that needed to be tethered and trained by his all-seeing female partner.

Despite initially coming across as quite amusing, the dialogue continued along this trait until it became a bit tiresome to read.

Another small issue I took with the book was that the author often cites findings from “research”, yet doesn’t provide any references as to the source. So it leaves you wondering how much credence to give such assertions.

The book might suit new mothers better than fathers, which is a shame and I wish they would make this clearer on the front and rear cover of the book, as well as in the description on the bookstore I purchased it from!

If it was a little less typecasting of men in general, and a little more open to readers that don’t fall into the category of persons already encountered by the author and their apparent subjects, then I for one would find it a lot more engaging.

[Enya]

DNF halfway - my baby rocketing through her first year far outpaced my will to read about babies growing during any quiet reading time I had 😂

Top tip - read this when pregnant and then dip into it once baby has arrived rather than picking it up once they're here, that would've been far more helpful for me! I tried to read along as my baby was growing as the book intended but that didn’t pan out as I found we were always a step or two ahead of the book's timeline and I'd already done research elsewhere by that point.

I'm not leaving a rating as the DNF-ing is entirely down to me rather than the quality of the book but I would love a similarly written book for the toddler stage (and would optimistically try and keep up with the reading again!).

[Hizreen]

glad that i’ve decided to pick this up again. it truly is something i needed at this time.

feels like im talking to another mama, or at least like another mama is holding me and patting, telling me “you got this” and “i know what you’re going through and you are not alone” 😭🥹

i’d say its suitable for mama to pick up this book at any point until their baby turns 1

and maybe anyone who wants to understand their fellow mama friend

[Ami Shirley]

Love the Modern Midwife’s books. They’re like a big reassuring hug. Full of useful information about the first year of life and what to expect. Loads of honest accounts of tough times too, but not in a scary way - they really help normalise everything and suggest supportive ways to cope. This book made me feel more confident and capable. (Let’s see how I feel once the baby’s here haha)

[Chloe Paton]

Found this at the library, and picked it up as we enjoyed her pregnancy book. This one however was very mum-focused rather than couple/partner.

This was quite honest, but also felt a bit anecdotal at points. A focus on self care / 4th trimester. A bit chunk on relationships. And the bits that were expected about post-birth.

[Emily Howarth]

Some basically useful information but despite the title being quite broad this is aimed specifically at heterosexual birth parents. As an adoptive parent with a hands on husband this was somewhere between mildly funny and insulting.

[Doodle Reads]

I personally preferred the author's book on pregnancy which provided more technical detail, whereas this guide is fairly high level and based in large part on the author's own experiences as a mother. Other readers may prefer this approach though.

[Melissa Rose]

Really good book covering lots of topics and what to expect for the first year. Loved the honesty boxes also bringing a bit of reality to the book.

[Sanna]

Levelheaded, useful advice and information. Definitely a helpful read for any first time mums.

[Dannie Smith]

Another one I've loved, again very informative and not in a lecturing way which is refreshing 🥰 now If she could write about the teenage years I'd be set 😅

[Louise Pattinson]

No where near as good as the first book. First section largely a duplication of the first book and too many ‘honesty boxes’ for me rather than actual facts or advice.

[Elise Thompson]

Louise’s books are so easy to read, and wonderfully British in their approach to humour. This covers the big worries and has some useful play advice.

[Naomi]

Some good nuggets of info in here but by the end I was a bit tired of the honesty boxes and hearing about the author’s child 👶

[Ross Ann]

I find myself going back to this book all the time for comfort during postpartum. I love the Honesty Boxes. Thank you for the mantra that every mom needs to remind themselves. "You may not be an expert in child development, but you are an expert in your baby."

[Natalie]

A really nice, reassuring read covering many topics. Also good to flick through and read different sections at different times - very useful when trying to read a book with a new baby!!