5 Books Every New Mom Should Read

Looking for the best books for new moms? We’ve got you covered!

There is typically a lot of prep for when baby arrives. Yet, there is little focus on how to nourish the mothers in postpartum.

Along with the newborn items, baby clothes, and the gear new moms need for one of life’s biggest transformations, it’s important to consider how to best support the mother’s mental health too.

Pregnancy and new motherhood can often be a time filled with doubt, fear of judgment and confusion. Finding holistic and non-judgmental resources is key for new moms.

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Here Are 5 Books Every New Mom Should Read:

These five mental health postpartum books will help break through the clutter of information overload and provide new moms with practical tools, guidance and a renewed sense of ease surrounding motherhood.
 

1. The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality

The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson, is a holistic guide that offers practical guidance for women making the physical, emotional and spiritual transition into motherhood.

This postpartum mental health book is a transformational guide that has shifted the experience of motherhood for women all over the world — and helped make this universal, yet widely-ignored experience of postpartum healing a priority in national policy.

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2. The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother

The first forty days after the birth of a child offer an essential and fleeting period of rest and recovery for the new mother, and The First Forty Days, by Heng Ou, revives the lost art of caring for the mother after birth.

As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely “bounce back” after deliver­ing their babies, and are often left alone to face the physical and emotional challenges of this new stage of their lives, the first forty days provide a lifeline — a source of connection, nourishment and guidance.
 

The first forty days after the birth of a child offer an essential and fleeting period of rest and recovery.

 
This mental health book for new moms includes sixty simple recipes for healing soups; replenishing meals and snacks; and calming and lactation-boosting teas, all formulated to support the unique needs of the new mother.

In addition to the recipes, this warm and encouraging guide offers advice on arranging a system of help during the post­partum period, navigating relationship challenges, and honoring the significance of pregnancy and birth.
 

3. Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood — and Trusting Yourself and Your Body

Nurture is an all-in-one pregnancy and birthing book for modern mothers-to-be and their partners who want a more integrative approach. In her book, Erica Chidi Cohen covers everything from the beginning months of pregnancy to the baby’s first weeks.

This empowering mental health book for new moms includes:

• Supportive self-care and mindfulness exercises, trimester-specific holistic remedies, nourishing foods and recipes for every month of pregnancy, and expert tips for every birth environment
• More than forty charming and helpful illustrations, charts and lists can be found throughout
• Dozens of important topics that every modern mom needs to know including fetal development, making choices for a hospital, home or birth center birth, the basics of breastfeeding, tips on what to expect postpartum and more

Looking for another integrative wellness practice? We love meditation. Check out Meditation for Moms: 3 Important Tips to Get You Started
 

4. Untamed

Although Untamed, by Glennon Doyle, isn’t specific to postpartum, it’s an inspiring and energizing read for all mothers on the importance of staying connected to the core of who they are.

Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed, is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how Doyle learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live.

It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure, but on each member’s ability to bring her full self to the table.

And it is the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts so we become women who can finally look at ourselves and say: There She Is.
 

5. This Isn’t What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression

Sometimes society doesn’t like to talk about the challenges and realities of motherhood – that’s when books for new moms that focus on mental health come in to save the day.

10 Daily Reminders to Support Your Mental Health During Challenging Times

Written by two postpartum experts, Karen R. Kleiman and Valerie Davis Raskin, This Isn’t What I Expected is a definitive guide offering compassionate support and solid advice on dealing with every aspect of Postpartum Depression (PPD).

If you or someone you love is among the one in seven women stricken by PPD, you know how hard it is to get real help.

This proven self-help program, which can be used alone or with a support group or therapist, will help you monitor each phase of illness, recognize when you need professional help, cope with daily life, and recover with new strength and confidence.

Learn how to:

• Identify the symptoms of PPD and distinguish it from “baby blues”
• Deal with panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive urges, and stress overload
• Break the cycle of shame and negative thoughts
• Mobilize support from your husband or partner, family, and friends
• Seek and evaluate treatment options
• Cope with the disappointment and loss of self-esteem

Bonus Book! A Year of Self-Motivation for Women

Anyone can benefit from a daily dose of inspiration, including (and especially) new moms! Written by YouAligned founder Ashton August, this beautiful little book gives you a blend of affirmations, short guided practices, and motivating quotes to uplift and support a healthy mindset.

While A Year of Self-Motivation for Women is not a book that’s specifically geared towards new moms, it is an inspirational book for all women that will give you a quick daily dose of Vitamin C for courage and E for empowerment. Each day offers a short passage that’s the perfect companion without taking a lot of time – which is perfect for new mommas!
 
 

These Books for New Moms Support Your Mental Health Postpartum

In our modern day society, the art of taking care of new moms has fallen to the wayside. Thankfully, there are practitioners, guides, experts and community members who are dedicated to keeping this information alive and well.

These mental health books for new moms make a thoughtful gift and it’s highly encouraged for partners and family members to read them as well!

We can all play a role in supporting mother’s mental health through educating ourselves and sharing the rich information provided in these books with others.

Did any of these books resonate with you? Do you know of any other mental health books for new moms? Please share with us in the comments below – we love hearing from you!
 

New Moms: Support Your Mind-Body Wellness With Restorative Yoga

As part of a holistic approach to your postpartum wellness, try this Inner Balance online class once you’ve been cleared by your doctor. This 51-minute all-levels guided online class with YA Classes teacher (and new mom!) Jess Rose is incredibly calming and relaxing. It’s a great way to calm your mind, relax your body, and recharge.