For fans of One Born Every Minute. The Secret Midwife is a heart-breaking, engrossing and important read. At once joyful and profoundly shocking, this is the story of birth, straight from the delivery room. Strongest supporter, best friend, expert, cheerleader and chief photographer . . . Before, during and after labour the role of a midwife is second to none. The Secret Midwife reveals the highs and lows on the frontline of the maternity unit, from the mother who tries to give herself a DIY caesarean to the baby born into witness protection, and from surprise infants that arrive down toilets to ones that turn up in the lift. But there is a problem; the system which is supposed to support the midwives and the women they care for is starting to crumble. Short-staffed, over worked and underappreciated - these crippling conditions are taking their toll on the dedicated staff doing their utmost to uphold our National Health Service, and the consequences are very serious indeed.

Midwife Cath has delivered more than 10,000 babies over the last 40 years, but her care of mothers and babies doesn't end when they leave the hospital. She strongly believes that all families need ongoing support, particularly in their first crucial year of parenting. After the First Six Weeks is a follow-up to Midwife Cath's bestselling book The First Six Weeks. Week six is a major milestone for both babies and parents, and this comprehensive guidebook will provide a roadmap to 'what's next'-starting at six weeks and taking you through to the end of the first 12 months. Midwife Cath covers all the joys and challenges of your child's first year at home, focusing on such issues as breast and bottle feeding; the introduction of solids; sleep; growth and development; the importance of play; safety; and her Bath Bottle Bed (BBB) routine and how it evolves over these 12 months. Midwife Cath's invaluable experience and wisdom will help you establish routines that will ensure a healthier, happier baby and better-rested, more confident parents.

Highly experienced midwife Cathryn Curtin has delivered and looked after babies for forty years. Over those four decades she's come to understand how the first six weeks after birth are vital in setting up habits that create long-term, lifelong benefits and get both baby and parents off to the best possible start. In this essential and easy-to-follow book, Midwife Cath brings you all of her knowledge and experience. From teaching your baby how to sleep and eat, to advice on how you can cope with the sudden changes your baby will bring to your life, The First Six Weeks addresses the major concerns of parents of newborns and helps them with all the key aspects of their baby's life.