Designed to transform the experience of childbirth, this manual calls upon the use of the timeless and powerful symbol of the labyrinth in 12 simple meditations and ceremonies. Ideal as a tool for centering the self and calming the body and mind, this guide ushers readers through the inner journey of the childbearing year--from pregnancy and labor through the postpartum stage. A variety of labyrinths--including four childbirth-related labyrinths from the Hopi and Papago cultures in the American Southwest and two others from India--are presented in this handbook and cover topics that include helping mothers focus on their emotional and spiritual state preparation for birth, aid in calming the mind and steadying breathing during birth, and allowing parents to fully process their experiences. Instructions for drawing a classic labyrinth, ideas for personalizing the design, and labyrinth "seeds"--start-up patterns for six variations of labyrinth--are also included. The timeless and powerful symbol of the labyrinth forms the core of this collection of 12 simple meditations and ceremonies designed to transform the experience of childbirth. The inner journey through the childbearing year--from pregnancy through labor and postpartum stages--is enhanced through the use of labyrinths as a tool for meditation and centering. Studies show that walking or finger-tracing a labyrinth slows down and balances brain waves, calms the body and mind, and helps access intuitive knowing. During pregnancy, labyrinth meditations help the mother focus on her emotional and spiritual preparation for birth and mothering. In labor, the labyrinth helps to calm the mind, steady the breath, and ease pain. Postpartum, the Birth Story Labyrinth helps parents process and integrate their experience in labor. A variety of labyrinths--including four childbirth-related labyrinths from the Hopi and Papago cultures in the American Southwest and two others from India--are presented in this handbook. Instructions for drawing a classic labyrinth, ideas for personalizing the design, and labyrinth "seeds"--start-up patterns for six variations of labyrinth--are also included. The labyrinth meditations and rituals may be practiced privately or may be used to enrich mother blessing ceremonies and baby showers.

'I SAVOURED EVERY WORD' ABI DARE A REDEMPTIVE TALE OF THE POWER AND WISOM OF WOMEN'S BODIES' LEAH HAZARD 'MAGNIFICENT: A WORK OF TRUTH' SUSIE ORBACH 'FILLED ME WITH HOPE' DR ELINOR CLEGHORN 'SO MANY WOMEN WILL FEEL LESS ALONE AFTER READING THIS BOOK' KATIE WARD 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.

From the moment you share the news that you are pregnant or have a new baby it feels like everyone becomes an expert. Did you see that headline? Did you hear that story on TV? Have you heard the latest about what they say is best? In a world overflowing with information telling you what is best for you and your baby, making decisions can feel overwhelming. Who do you trust? Who is telling the truth? And how do you know if what they are saying is right for you? How? By becoming your own expert in sorting the media spin and politics from the actual facts and data. This isn't a book that is going to tell you which decisions to make, or that there is ever one right answer. It is not going to tell you that the same thing is always best for everyone. Instead this is a guide to help you evaluate information and evidence to decide what is right for you, your body and your baby. In three main parts it will firstly open your eyes to how information is shared in the media and how this can affect our thinking and decision making. Next it will help you spot who is funding, leading and promoting research and how this can affect the content of what is shared. Finally it will talk you through reading, understanding and evaluating evidence for yourself across topics in pregnancy, birth and caring for babies. You'll learn how to spot weaknesses in methods used, how to determine the real risk for you and your baby, and how wider context and other factors can influence what research means for you. Information is power. Making your own decisions that are right for you is empowering. #informedisbest

In the early 1980s it was discovered that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, could be passed through a mother's milk to her baby. Almost overnight in the industrialised countries, and later in the African countries most ravaged by HIV, breastfeeding became an endangered practice. But in the rush to reduce transmission of HIV, everything we already knew about breastfeeding's life-saving effects was overlooked, with devastating consequences for mothers and babies. In HIV and Breastfeeding - the untold story, former IBCLC Pamela Morrison, an acknowledged authority on HIV and breastfeeding, reveals how women in the world's most poverty-stricken areas were persuaded to abandon breastfeeding as part of a short-sighted and deadly policy that led to an humanitarian disaster. The dilemma that breastfeeding, an act of nurturing which confers food, comfort and love, could be at once life-saving yet lethal, has been called 'the ultimate paradox'. This critical account reveals how vital breastfeeding is, even in the most difficult of circumstances, and examines the lessons that can be learned from the mistakes of the past - which is particularly relevant as we deal with the consequences for mothers and babies of another global pandemic, Covid-19. With detailed information for HIV-positive mothers and their caregivers, and success stories from mothers themselves, this book is essential reading for anyone involved in protecting and supporting breastfeeding, or with a need for evidence-based information about breastfeeding and HIV.

Very practical science-based tips and guidelines, and stories for moms and dads of baby boys. Including:

• Why we need a book just about boys. The very different health issues, genetic predisposition, hard wiring, neurological and biological development of boys from conception that relates to birth issues and unique strengths and weaknesses.
• How to understand the core nature of your boy and nourish it through problems of crying, fussing, eating, sleeping, attaching and other key issues during the first 12 months of life.
• Warm hearted stories about boys and tips from real moms who have baby boys, and a preview of what's to come for boys as they become toddlers, preschool kids, pre-pubescent and beyond.

There is no right way or best way to give birth, but if you're pregnant, you're likely already hearing advice and stories about what you should do, how you should feel, and what you should want from your birth experience. Your Birth Plan is an intervention: it's a birth book that equally honors all paths and all pregnant people, guiding and empowering you to make informed decisions, without judgment or prescription, for your own positive birth experience. Long on information, short on opinions, Your Birth Plan is a how-to guide filled with practical descriptions, insights, stories and tips to make it easier for you to pick where, with whom, and in what way you would like to give birth. Your Birth Plan is comprehensive and free from judgment and prescriptions. It offers unbiased information about all birthing options, including birthing in a hospital, at home, or in a birthing center; having an epidural or an unmedicated birth; induction of labor; vaginal or Cesarean birth; and more. This is a new, inspiring, inclusive, and much-needed guide to help you plan for a birth where you are empowered to make your own choices and to have your needs met, whatever they are.

Explore the science behind your nutritional needs and the impact that your diet can have on pregnancy. With practical advice from Rhiannon Lambert, a leading nutritionist and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Science of Nutrition, this book helps you prepare for each stage of pregnancy."

Recognizing the vacuum of readily available nutritional information to guide people through pregnancy, Deliciously Healthy Pregnancy is the myth-busting antidote to a grey area, previously regarded as taboo. While accepting there's no "right way" for everyone, Rhiannon's practice is based on the latest scientific research, and backed up with practical advice, tips, and recipes to inspire.

Readers can go on a journey to explore:

• The entire pregnancy cycle - fertility, conception, pregnancy, postnatal - showing how good nutrition can have a positive impact on each phase, and preparing the mind and body for pregnancy and birth.
• An expert insight into the key nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that enable a healthy pregnancy
• Includes over 80 recipes to be enjoyed by parents and families, focusing specifically on nutrition for pregnant mothers
• Recipes have been thoroughly researched by a qualified nutritionist specialising in pre and postnatal health, breaking down the science for the reader and enabling them to trust the source of the advice.

Split into two sections, the book starts by breaking down the science behind the advice, exploring the stages of pregnancy and being a new mum, with infographics illustrating the changes to the body, your lifestyle, and diet for mother and baby. Following on from the theory, the second half of the book is the practical side with over 80 flavour-packed recipes.

Recipes can be customized to suit your personal situation: either to target a particular condition or symptom, or to cater for your dietary needs and choices, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten- and dairy-free.

A must-have pregnancy cookbook for couples looking to conceive - this book is useful for both mothers and fathers alike! So whether you're seeking to explore all the stages of pregnancy, birth and weaning, or you're looking for a self-purchase or gift for friend/relative/partner who is looking to conceive, pregnant or already has a young baby, Rhiannon's practice is based on the latest scientific research and backed up with practical advice, tips, and recipes.

The Phenomenology of Gravidity explores the particularity of women's engagements with gestation, linking the denial of certain embodied experiences of pregnancy to gender oppression. Employing the term 'gravidity' to name the metaphysical condition of having conceived, Lymer develops a theory of maternity that emphasises the interactive nature of gestation, highlighting the necessity for women to choose to become maternal as an important factor in optimal foetal development. Critically drawing on bonding and attachment theory, Lymer rethinks debates around abortion, adoption and surrogacy which ignore the ethical and practical implications of an understanding of gestation that is necessarily interactive and embodied, challenging the view of the pregnant woman as a passive container. Through an engagement with the work of Merleau-Ponty, Levinas and Derrida, The Phenomenology of Gravidity offers an ethical feminist framework for a hospitality of gravidity which welcomes the place of the pregnant mother in all her guises, while highlighting the medical, legal and ethical consequences of failing in this welcome.

Our Baby’s Album is an album for the Muslim parent to keep track of their child's milestones from birth to 5 years. With an Islamic ethos, this product allows parents to use the templates to help spark their creativity and allows them to keep those memories stored for safekeeping. Our Baby’s Album allows you to: add in your baby’s biographical details; the details of baby’s day of birth; the Aqeeqah; Tahneek details; keep track of your baby’s measurements; fun quirks of your baby; keep track of other important milestones like ‘first eid’, ‘first day at school’, etc.; add pictures; and store it as an heirloom for many years as it it protected by a hard cover. This can be a wonderful gift to your child when they reach adulthood. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

Breastfeeding. The mere mention of it has many mothers wracked with anxiety (how will I manage with work, other kids, what if I don't make enough milk?) or guilt about not doing it (will I be hurting my child ifl choose not to breastfeed? what will people think of me if I choose not to?). This hot-button issue is one we've talked about repeatedly in the media and in celebrity culture. Remember when Angelina Jolie posed for the cover of W nursing her new-born? Oh, the controversy! And when Barbara Walters complained about the woman breastfeeding next to her on a plane? She was forced to issue a public apology. Or what about when supermodel Gisele Bunchen declared that there should be worldwide law that mothers be required to breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life? All hell broke loose. This topic gets people riled up, and there has never been a narrative account that explores the breastfeeding big picture for parents and their children in today's world. THE BIG LETDOWN by author, journalist, and breastfeeding advocate Kimberly Seals Allers will change that for the better and open up a candid conversation about the cultural, sociological, and economic forces that shape the breastfeeding culture and how it undermines women in the process.

Le Petit Baby Book - Ideal expectant mother gift or new mom giftBaby journal: This sweet-as-can-be baby pregnancy book offers dozens of creative ways to capture the milestones and special baby memories from pregnancy through baby's first year. Capture and preserve the treasured memories: Packaged in a compact album with a fabric spine and foil-stamped cover, with whimsical color illustrations and thoughtful prompts throughout, this book is the ultimate keepsake gift for new parents. Le Petit Baby Book includes: An envelope for ultrasound scans A spin-wheel to display baby's astrological sign A gatefold family tree Space for photos Mini envelopes to stash written notes Illustrated pop-ups A pull-out growth chart to display in baby's room And much more If you like As You Grow, you will love Le Petit Baby Book

The High-Risk Guide to Twin Pregnancy "An intimate account, told with flagging and unflagging optimism, Duffy's story ensures that others need not ride alone through this rollercoaster experience." -Suzy Becker, Author of One Good Egg #1 New Release in Pediatric Emergencies This is a twenty-nine-year-old mother's harrowing and inspiring adventure through a high-risk twin pregnancy. But this isn't only a book about pregnancy for twins. It's also an inspirational story to which all women can relate, especially when confronting any type of adversity. A crisis when expecting. One minute Crystal was sitting at a candlelight dinner in Paris with her husband. The next she was back home in Houston, sitting in her Ob-Gyn's office concerned that she was having a second miscarriage. Instead, she found out she was pregnant with twins! Since Crystal and her husband already had a two-year-old daughter, she couldn't imagine why mothering twins would be all that different. But, after a family vacation at the beach, she finds out that her twins have a life-threatening condition called Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, which meant that one is transfusing blood (disproportionately) to the other. A riveting true story. Forced to stay in the hospital to be under direct care, Crystal wondered how she would pass time the next few weeks, away from her husband and daughter. She soon found out as she embarks on an emotional rollercoaster. Twin to Twin is a raw and inspirational story filled with tenderness, vulnerability and humor. It chronicles the wildest, most terrifying and challenging year of Crystal's life, which is also the most beautiful and eye-opening. While reading Twin to Twin: Share the experience of a high-risk twin pregnancy Gain valuable insights Be inspired If you found solace and inspiration in What to Do When You're Having Two; You Can Two! or When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads; then you'll love Twin to Twin.

'As informative as it is poetic' Dolly Alderton 'Compassionate, funny and beautifully written' Daisy Buchanan ------------------------------ Every woman will experience the panic years in some way between her mid-twenties and early-forties. This maddening period of transformation and personal crisis is recognisable by the myriad of decisions we make - about partners, holidays, jobs, homes, savings, friendships - all of which are impacted by the urgency of the single decision that comes with a biological deadline, the one decision that is impossible to take back; whether or not to have a baby. But how to stay sane in such a maddening time? How to know who you are and what you might want from life? How to know if you're making the right decisions? Raw, hilarious and beguilingly honest, Nell Frizzell's account of her panic years is both an arm around the shoulder and a campaign to start a conversation. This affects us all - women, men, mothers, children, partners, friends, colleagues - so it's time we started talking about it with a little more candour. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING - 'Loved this book! Highly recommend for any woman (or man!) during the weird time in your 20s' ***** - 'Those panicky feelings of being a 24-30 something put into words' ***** - 'This book brings forth a sigh of relief. Excellent book that really taps into what so many of us are thinking and feeling, but not saying' *****

You've received the happiest of news: you're going to be a parent! So what's next? Top Tips for New Parents has advice on everything from what to prepare before your bundle of joy arrives to practical tips for settling in with your new addition to the family. This little book is the perfect companion for your greatest adventure.

A no-holds-barred collection of more than 100 real-life accounts of pregnancy, birth, and life with a baby, brought together with simple advice from pregnancy and postnatal expert Becca Maberly and consultant obstetrician Roger Marwood.

This broad range of honest pregnancy, birth and parenting stories, from the likes of Clemmie Telford, Molly Gunn, Megan Rose Lane, Anna Mathur and many more, is accompanied by professional and reassuring advice from experts that will help you navigate your own experience with positivity and confidence.

Nobody Tells You will give you all the tools you need to be informed and prepared for one of life's great journeys. Without any scaremongering or sugar coating, truths are shared about topics including:

• Trying to conceive
• C-Sections
• Postnatal recovery
• Not loving breastfeeding
• Self-care
• And many, many more!

Breastfeeding is the natural and healthy way to nourish your baby, yet it's not always easy. New mothers need practical information about getting off to a good start and solving breastfeeding challenges. Health professionals need this information too, because it is rarely taught in medical school. Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding covers the most common problems and questions that mothers encounter: - How do I help my baby to get a good latch - How can I know if my baby is getting enough milk - How can I help him get more? - Can I avoid sore nipples? - Will my medication affect my baby? - How do I fit breastfeeding into my life when I'm so busy? The answers are here. Dr. Jack Newman and Teresa Pitman are two of the world's foremost lactation experts and have helped tens of thousands of new mothers find solutions that work. In this comprehensive guide, they share the most current information about breastfeeding and provide new, effective strategies and solutions to make breastfeeding work for you.

What might happen if pregnant mothers and expectant fathers learned to pray for their baby - even before its birth? Francis and Judith MacNutt believe that if enough couples start praying for their unborn children a gentle revolution will take place. Those children will become more disposed to love God, happier and more secure. A practical book filled with helpful advice and case studies, now reissued with a new cover.