The New Mom's Companion: Care for Yourself While You Care for Your Newborn

As a family therapist and teacher, I thought I was quite prepared to become a mother. In reality, I was overwhelmed by the abrupt changes in my life after having a baby. This book addressed my concerns in a caring, supportive and nonjudgmental way. It discussed issues that I had difficulty verbalizing, and it normalized my early experiences of motherhood. This is my top pick for every new mother - it is my staple gift at every baby shower!

I cannot believe I had to endure the pregnancies and births of four children before someone wrote this book! The New Mom's Companion: Care for Yourself While You Care for Your Newborn is an amazing book that speaks directly to a new mom, and about practically ALL of the questions and dilemmas that a new mom has to endure! Wait, it really speaks to ANY mom! I have to admit that I quickly studied the "in-law" questions, to make sure I wasn't off my rocker for some of the concerns I had (and still have) about my ability to be a good mom, despite what the other side of our family thinks! The authors of The New Mom's Companion: Care for Yourself While You Care for Your Newborn have taken great care to respond to the many questions highlighted in this book, putting a positive light on some very emotional and misunderstood feelings of a new mom. We are pampered and doted on while we are pregnant, yet the minute the baby arrives, moms seem to lose their identity and their value. The New Mom's Companion: Care for Yourself While You Care for Your Newborn brings self-worth back to the woman, who just happens to be a mom!

When I had my son, everything about my life changed. Debra Rosenberg's book helped me make sense of it all--my moods, my body, what to do about my work. All of a sudden, my relationships with some of my friends and my parents/in-laws were different. Reading The New Mom's Companion helped me understand and manage those changes. So much of what Rosenberg writes about is glossed over in other new mom's books. Reading The New Mom's Companion was a breath of fresh air and a great relief. I highly recommend it. A great baby shower present!

A friend and I were looking for a gift for a first-time mother when we came upon The New Mom's Companion. As a mother and a psychiatrist, I know first and second hand how much a woman's life drastically changes when she has her first baby. This attractive book insightfully and sensitively touches on all of the many concerns I had when I first became a mother, from internal, identity issues to changes in my marriage and other relationships. The Question and Answer format is easy to use and allows a harried mom to focus right in on the issues coming up for her at that moment. The index takes her quickly to where she needs to go. Every new mom desperately needs the reassuring tone and easily found answers to her questions. This book helps a new mother feel confident, normalizes what feels abnormal, and helps her to know when her emotions or behaviors indicate that she needs professional help. (With all of the most welcome current media attention on post-partum depression and psychosis, this is particularly valuable.) I wish I'd had The New Mom's Companion when I was a first time mom, and it will be the book I give to every new mom I know.

I am a first time mother and received this book when my son was three weeks old and it really helped my sanity. With the new found awareness of postpartum psychosis this book is a must for all new moms. When I brought my son home from the hospital I had such a swing of emotions (some to embarassing to share) that I thought I made a big mistake having a child! It was difficult adapting to this "little bundle of joy" let alone coming to grips with my new role as mother. I mean wasn't this supposed to be the best thing? Well, when I picked up The New Mom's Companion and read through the questions that pertained to me I felt not only relieved but confident that I didn't make the biggest mistake in my life. What I liked most about this book was the format of question and answer it let's you browse the questions that pertain to you. The great thing is that this book not only validates your feelings and let's you know they are normal but offers some great coping advice. I can't thank these women enough for taking the time to put out such a great book for such a great cause our children and their hard working Mom's.