"A baby is an angel whose wings decrease as his legs increase." -- Anonymous. Babies are life's little miracles. Everything about them -- from conception to birth and beyond -- is fascinating. Book of Babies includes intriguing scientific facts, strange stories, famous stars and their little ones, and cultural traditions from across the globe.

Analyzing the impact of motherhood on a woman's life, this intriguing study investigates the relationships between new and experienced mothers. Acknowledging how beginning mothers are able to articulate, debate, and negotiate dimensions of their mothering experiences with other mothers, this discussion reviews the physical and social aspects of pregnancy, the daily work of new mothering, and the competing cultural constructions of motherhood. Examining a diverse group of first-time mothers and how they discussed their own experiences with what many have called "the mommies' club," this reference documents the results of their interactions--the sharing of information and resources, the establishment of hierarchies of authority within the community of mothers, and how women are able to discursively explore and construct their maternal identities. This study reveals how essential, valuable, and complex mothers' connections with other mothers are, and yet how wrought and ambivalent these relationships can be as well.

First foods for little eaters don't have to be bland and boring! Featuring 100 delicious recipes like Mango Saffron Puree (India), Rosewater Vanilla Smoothie (Middle East), Pastina with Parmesan and Nutmeg (Italy), and Pumpkin Millet Porridge (Russia), Around the World in 90 Purees shows foodie parents how to bring global cuisine to the high chair with little effort and no fuss. Studies show that babies who are exposed to a variety of tastes grow up to be more adventurous (and less fussy!) eaters as kids. This comprehensive and easy-to-follow book is the perfect resource for parents of toddlers aged 6-18 months who want to broaden their baby's palate.

'Funny and relatable . . . Buy it as a present for a pregnant friend and she'll probably make you godmother' Pandora Sykes 'Making the transition to motherhood is a seminal moment in the life of a woman and this gutsy, informative - and very funny - guidebook is the ideal 'best friend' to navigate new terrain. I loved it.' Rosie Nixon, Editor-in-Chief, Hello! So, you're a mum. Now what? It's easy to spend so long thinking about the birth (and packing and re-packing that hospital bag) that you forget what happens next: becoming a fully-fledged actual parent. Introducing The Mumsition: basically your smartest, wittiest mum friend. It covers everything you'll go through in that crazy first year in a way that's useful and informative - but also funny, chatty and above all, real. Becoming a mum (i.e. your mumsition) is one of the biggest things that you'll ever go through. That's why the milestones in this book aren't just about your baby smiling or walking or sleeping through the night for the first time, but everything YOU'RE going through too: the first time you manage to leave the house, the first time you get on a bus with your little one and the first time you have sex again. The Mumsition is clued-up without being judgemental or patronising, funny without trying too hard and sympathetic and supportive without being saccharine. From the moment you go on maternity leave until your baby's first birthday, this book has got your back.

Explaining the practical implications of new discoveries in 'life-course biology', Nutrition and Lifestyle for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding is an informed resource on factors that affect offspring development. The impact of parental lifestyle and behavioural choices influence not only fetal development and birth outcomes, but also postnatal development, yet guidance on appropriate diet, behaviour, and exposures during pregnancy is often confusing and contradictory. With accessible explanations of the latest scientific research, and clear summaries and recommendations, this book is a valuable and authoritative guide for all levels of health care providers. The authors provide an overview of the background evidence, highlighting the importance of lifestyle choices prior to and during pregnancy. In-depth discussions of nutritional and lifestyle factors that impact on pregnancy and offspring outcomes are based on the latest research and exploration of key scientific studies. Nutrition and Lifestyle for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding is a manual offering both scientific and clinical evidence to empower health care providers and ensure they have the information necessary to confidently care for prospective and new parents.

'GORGEOUS, VIVIDLY ALIVE' NEW YORK TIMES 'BOLD, HONEST AND SUPERBLY WELL-WRITTEN' ANDRE ACIMAN, AUTHOR OF CALL ME BY YOUR NAME 'GRACEFUL AND SOUL-BARING' MELANIE REID, THE TIMES 'WHAT A GIFT . . . HAS THE RIGOR AND PRECISION OF JOAN DIDION AND MAGGIE NELSON AND A FORTHRIGHT HUMOR AND NAKED TRUTH ALL OF ITS OWN.' SARAH RUHL, AUTHOR OF SMILE I am in a bar in Brooklyn listening to two men, my friends, discuss whether or not my life was worth living. So begins Chloe Cooper Jones's bold account of moving through the world in a body that looks different than most. Born with a rare congenital condition called sacral agenesis, she must contend not only with her own physical pain, but the emotional discomfort of others. It is only when she unexpectedly becomes a mother that she confronts the demand to live life fully, propelling her on a journey across the globe, reclaiming the spaces she'd been denied, and denied herself. From Roman sculptures to a Beyonce concert, from a tennis tournament to the Cambodian Killing Fields, Jones interrogates the myths of beauty with spiky intelligence, aesthetic philosophy, love and humor, inviting us to find a new way of seeing.

When pediatrician Dr. Bob Hamilton's video showing how to soothe a crying infant hit the web, he became a YouTube sensation, garnering over 15 million views in ten days. With 7 Secrets of the Newborn Dr. Hamilton brings parents clear, sensible, warm advice on the first year with baby. Dr. Hamilton covers topics such as: * Sleeping (teach them gently to do it themselves) * Vaccinations (get them, all of them) * Breast feeding (wonderful for baby, if possible for mom) * Screen time (don't do it!) * Eating (let them make a mess) * Crying (the famous "hold") * Clothes (completely optional for the first six months) * Toys (simple and cheap are best) Dr. Hamilton brings 30 years' experience as a pediatrician, father, and grandfather to the page. His advice is science-based, slightly retro, and strives for a supportive and healthy growing environment for babies AND parents. With Dr. Bob, parents will be prepared to face baby's first year with common sense, confidence, and calm.

Having a baby is surely one of the pinnacle events of a woman's life, full of joy, serenity, and contentment--or so society tells a new mother, who thus finds herself ill-prepared for the exhaustion, boredom, and isolation that can follow childbirth. The resulting depression--how it is experienced, and how it might be relieved--is the subject of Natasha Mauthner's insightful and compassionate book, which recounts the stories of new mothers caught between a cultural ideal and a far more complex reality.

In Mauthner's interviews with thirty-five new mothers in Britain and America, we see how women contend with images of motherhood as a state of bliss for everyone but themselves. The British women tend to view their depression as a personal failure of strength; American women, as a result of hormonal fluctuation. But all vividly describe a similar state of paralysis and loneliness, with alternating love, resentment, and guilt toward their babies.

Most usefully, these women reveal the positive impact that other new mothers had on their depression. Far more important than their own family's support or understanding, the sense of not being alone in their trials emerges as a key source of strength and healing for women struggling with postpartum depression.

How many times have you held your fussing or crying baby and thought, "Come on, please tell me what's going on with you!"

Well, your infant does tell you.

In What Babies Say Before They Can Talk, Paul C. Holinger, M.D., M.P.H., a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who has been studying children and their emotions for more than twenty-five years, explains how infants communicate with us, and we with them.

Dr. Holinger decodes the nine easily identifiable signals -- interest, enjoyment, surprise, distress, anger, fear, shame, disgust (a reaction to bad tastes), and dissmell (a reaction to bad smells) -- that all babies use to express their needs and wants. These insights will aid parents in discerning what their baby is feeling. This book can help all parents become more confident and self-aware in their interactions with their children, create positive communication, and put the joy back into parenting.

This is a unique work. It provides a foundation for understanding feelings and behavior. Based on emerging research, What Babies Say Before They Can Talk offers parents a new perspective on their babies' sense of the world and the people around them. The goal of this book is to help parents enhance their infants' potential, prevent problems, and raise happy, healthy, responsible children.

When Helen Ledwick discovered she had a prolapse after the birth of her second child, she was devastated, not just by the constant discomfort but also by the pervasive shame she felt and the lack of available information and support. When she learned that one in three women have pelvic floor disorders, she was horrified...and determined to do something about it. In this warm, factual and anecdote-rich look at a taboo subject, Helen shares her story along with those of many other women. From postpartum care to incontinence, with expert advice on returning to sport, the impact on sex and intimacy, and having another baby after pelvic floor injury, Why Mums Don't Jump is a groundbreaking book that will have readers laughing, crying and cringing as finally women come together to break the stigma around pelvic floor issues.

The healthy weaning & toddler bible: how to wean your baby and feed your family at the same time, from the bestselling author of The Good Stuff 'Based on millennia of healthy weaning practices, these are recipes to set your children and their microbiomes up for life!' - Dr Clare Bailey 'I wish I had had this book when I was bringing up my three. Lucinda's recipes are not only quick for a tired mum, but more importantly DELICIOUS for the children...' - Thomasina Miers Lucinda has totally changed my family's health for the better. This cookbook is full of amazingly delicious and healthy recipes you can all enjoy.' - Leonora Bamford, My Baba Say goodbye to cooking multiple different meals. I Can't Believe It's Baby Food has 120+ easy, healthy recipes that everyone will love. With more than 20 years' experience of specialising in child nutrition, Lucinda Miller lays the foundations for a lifetime's enjoyment of nutritious food, with recipes that feed growing brain cells and immune systems and cleverly avoid white flour and refined sugar. Nearly all the dishes are suitable for weaning babies from six months - you simply take off a portion for your baby before adding seasoning for older kids and adults - and they are easy to adapt for different ages, food allergies and fussy eaters. You will find nourishing breakfasts like Carrot Cake Porridge, mains like Lemony Chicken & Orzo Soup, as well as plenty of grabbable healthy snacks and sweet treats like Apple & Raspberry Crumble Bites. These are recipes your children will never grow out of! 'Aimed at maximising development whilst ensuring that eating becomes a social event devoid of stress, Lucinda's latest book guides parents down an exciting path of healthy eating for children, with a sprinkle of added fun!' - Dr Tim Ubhi, The Children's e-Hospital.

With statistics showing that 1 in 5 women have experienced some form of sexual abuse, it is likely that all birth professionals will support a survivor of such abuse at some point during their career. This book provides practical advice for those supporting these women throughout their pregnancy, labour, and postnatal periods. The impact of past sexual abuse on women during these periods is often underestimated, and this book shows the need for greater compassion and understanding in maternity services regarding this issue. Drawing on a vast range of research and expertise, this book includes details on the identifiable behaviours of survivors, how to respond when someone says they are a survivor, positive stories, and appropriate language to use. This book is for any care provider who wants to help pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period become a healing experience for those carrying trauma, and to support these survivors with compassion, respect and kindness.

DK brings you an all-encompassing trimester-by-trimester wellness guide for your pregnancy. Becoming pregnant is a beautiful moment in any person's life, but we understand that it can be challenging to keep your body nurtured and supported throughout this journey. Don't worry, DK has got you covered! Introducing 'Mindful Pregnancy' - a practical and inspiring step-by-step photographic guide to keep you and your baby happy and healthy during your pregnancy journey. If you're a yoga-loving, mindful mum-to-be looking for sound advice on how to enjoy a natural, stress-free pregnancy, then this is the book for you! Inside the pages of this in-depth natural birth book you'll discover: -In-depth guide to pregnancy wellness organized trimester by trimester, including top tips and advice on various themes to match your stage of pregnancy and the development of your baby. -Clear, concise and easy to follow techniques which are presented step-by-step, grounded in their scientific benefits Discover all that this prenatal health book has to offer. Packed with up-to-date research alongside safe, strengthening and supportive sequences to guide you through your pregnancy journey, this is a must-have volume for expectant mothers keen to stay fit and supported throughout pregnancy, women who want to explore the benefits of doing yoga with their babies, or even mums-to-be experiencing any one of the common ailments of pregnancy, such as backache and are looking to remedy them naturally. In fact, recent studies suggest there are great health benefits to practicing yoga during pregnancy, including reducing anxiety and stress in mothers, as well as a reduction in the pain of labour. This mindful maternity book offers safe yoga, meditation, natural remedies and nutritional and hypnobirthing advice that are specifically tailored to each stage of pregnancy. This inspiring guide offers encouraging and practical advice that will help you understand your body, embrace change and fully prepare you for becoming a mum. The ideal gift for yoga-loving mindful mums to be, this guide is jam-packed with top tips and techniques for a mindful and stress-free pregnancy and natural birth. At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So with Mindful Pregnancy by your side, we assure you will feel safe and supported during this special time in your life, as you count down the days to your new arrival!

Following the birth of her first children, twin boys, Jessica Cornwell collapsed in a fever. Rushed back to hospital, she was initially dismissed, before a life-threatening infection was diagnosed. Alone, recovering, watching her body bruise and break, a curious thing happened: she stopped feeling. At home, the numbness remained. Nursing her boys through jaundice, learning to breastfeed, slowly re-emerging into a world where other mothers seemed to cope, Jessica hid her secret - she felt no love, only fear. Worse, vivid memories began to surface, of moments in her past she thought buried. Jessica began to name, one by one, the shadows that returned to haunt her first year as a mother. And in claiming back the words, she fought to claim back her life and the love she bore her young family. Birth Notes is the story - luminous, breathtaking and courageous - of forging a self from fragments. With eloquent rage and searing honesty, it speaks for the unvoiced and shines a light on maternal mental health. It is the love story of a mother for her children and a woman for herself.