Natural Health after Birth

Provides essential advice for adjusting to the many challenges facing women during the first year after giving birth. • Offers practical tips for finding balance between being fully immersed in the beautiful but demanding path of motherhood and maintaining a sense of self. • Provides helpful herbal tips and recipes and includes gentle yoga exercises. • Addresses a new mother's need to replenish her body, mind, and spirit so that she can nurture her child. • By the author of The Natural Pregnancy Book and Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide. New mothers need care and support to adjust to the myriad challenges facing them after birth: changing body image, lifestyle, work arrangements, and relationships. Midwife, herbalist, and mother of four, Aviva Jill Romm shares her insights into how to make this crucial time a happy one. She provides essential advice for preparing for the postpartum period, coping during the first few days after the birth, establishing a successful breast-feeding relationship, getting enough rest, eating well even with a hectic schedule, and finding time to regain strength and tone with gentle yoga exercises. Woven throughout are helpful herbal tips and recipes to make the first year of motherhood a naturally healthy one. Natural Health after Birth also addresses a new mother's need to replenish her body, mind, and spirit so that she can nurture her child. This book provides support both for women who plan to be home full or part time during the first year and those who must return to their jobs soon after the birth. With humor and compassion, Romm offers mothers practical wisdom for attaining the delicate balance between being fully immersed in the beautiful but demanding path of motherhood and maintaining a sense of self.

Aviva Jill Romm is a certified professional midwife, practicing herbalist, and the president of the American Herbalists Guild. Her children are now ages 17, 14, 10, and 8. Her previous books include The Natural Pregnancy Book, Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide, and Naturally Healthy Babies and Children. She lives with her family in Georgia.

Introduction ONE The Birth of a Mother Birth: Only the Beginning What Is the Postpartum? Postnatal Care The Fourth Trimester Signs and Guideposts Honoring Our Range of Emotions Being a Mother Is Second Nature, Isn't It? Realistic Expectations The Feminine Mystique Revisited Sacrifice and Empowerment Developing Confidence Mothering Archetypes TWO New-Mother Care around the World Postpartum USA: Immediately after Birth Immediately after Birth: A Glimpse at Traditions Lying-In Rites of Passage Postpartum Family Support Heat and Healing Massage Wrapping the Belly Herbs Bathing Nutrition Visitors Mother-Baby Men and Postpartum Care Bringing the Best to the West THREE Preparing for the Postpartum before Baby Is Born Late Pregnancy Health Is the Foundation for a Healthy Birth Recovery The Needs of New Mothers Creating a Support Circle Breast Feeding Maternity and Paternity Leaves Creating a Postpartum Sanctuary Drawing from a Full Well FOUR The First Days after Birth The Birth Setting and Postpartum Experience Bonding Physical Changes in the Days after Birth Herbal Baths The Shape of Your Body Healing from a Cesarean Your Digestive System When Your Milk Comes In Breast-Feeding Challenges in the First Days Sore Nipples Difficulty Nursing Insufficient Breast Milk Breast-Feeding Support in the Days after Birth If You Aren't Breast-Feeding Reflecting on Your Birth A Difficult Birth Emotional Highs and Lows Body Tonics Exercise Sex after Birth Your Healthy Newborn Signs of Illness in the Newborn Babies in Need of Special Care Getting Enough Rest Visitors, Visitors, and More Visitors New-Mama Nutrition The Partner Relationship Older Children FIVE The Next Six Weeks More Body Changes Where Did Everybody Go . . . or Yes, You Still Need Help around the House Reinventing Yourself as a Mother More Birth Reflections Further Breast-Feeding Adventures Herbs and Breast Feeding The Magic of Your Baby Fussy Babies Infant Massage Sleeping Arrangements Getting Around with Baby More Exercises for Loving Your Post-Birth Body Back into the Swing of Things Working and Breast-Feeding Breast Pumps, Nursing, and Making It Work Relationship Challenges and Triumphs Sex in the Weeks after Birth Baby Blues Postpartum Depression The Light at the End of the Tunnel SIX Nutrition for New Mothers Not Pregnant Anymore: What You Need Now Lactation and Nutrition Planning a Healthy Diet SEVEN Into the First Year Wondering Who You Are "I Feel Like I Can't Get Anything Done" Your Body Motherhood and Your Career Teething Baby, Sleepless Nights Still Nursing New-Mother Moods Isolation and Social Networks Postpartum Depression Parenting Issues Relationships, Sexuality, Fertility, and Birth Control EIGHT Replenishing Yourself New-Mother Meditations New-Mother Checklist Creating Time to Nurture Yourself Your Pelvic Floor Free-Movement Dance Postnatal Yoga Fabulous Healing Baths Shower Spa Simple Pleasures for Your Hair and Body Creating a Home Spa Quiet Time Alone Exploring Your Creativity Keeping a Journal Be Gentle with Yourself: Embrace and Enjoy Your Baby APPENDIX 1 Herbal Preparations Purchasing Herbs Herbal Preparation Forms of Preparation APPENDIX 2 Resources Herbs and Herbal Supplies, Books, Support and Information Groups, Educational Programs, and Additional Health Supplies Support and Resource Organizations Educational Resources and Magazines Miscellaneous Products Bulk Herbs, Herbal Products, Books, and Supplies Bibliography Index