here are the books i'm currently reading (actually, yes, i'm reading all of them at the moment) Oh, and the images are from Amazon, so you can't actually click to look inside. i thought it might be helpful to have the image if you decided to pick one up from the library or book store. : )
Our Babies, Our Selves How Biology and Culture shape the way we Parent
I really like this one. it is very interesting for the psychologist in me. so much about human behavior is biologically determined for our million year old ancestors. now our lives are drastically different than when we were hunter/gatherers and so our parenting practices have changed but our babies and their behavior hasn't. so there is a mismatch if you choose to believe it. the author offers chapters on our basic biology, sleeping, feeding, and carrying... and something else but i haven't read that far yet. things that stood out to me in reading include: 1. women experience much more pain in childbirth due to our ability to walk upright. because now the pelvis has to be smaller or else we would fall over. so then babies have to do this whole dance to position properly through the birth process. 2. babies sleep much better with adults AND it helps to protect from SIDS because the baby learns better how to regulate breathing during sleep and moms automatically position their babies properly to avoid SIDS. anyway it is a very very interesting read if you are scientifically oriented. and it makes new mothers feel better because it gives permission for any caring parenting because so much of what is "wrong" to do is determined by the culture we live in, not by the actual needs of the baby and mother. so forget your rules dang culture, i'm going to do what feels right to ME!Yoga Journal
I have about thousand issues to get back into. but it helps me keep my brain interested in something other than cute baby smiles.I also am enjoying Mothering Magazine. and for all you bedsharers/co-sleepers out there it has a LONG article about it in this month's issue (in favor). i just really like it because it makes sense to me. maybe i'm just touchy feely though
After the Baby's Birth
i wish i had bought this book sooner. i actually wish i had it before sabine was born so i could prepare for the post-partum a bit more. the book comes from a health perspective looking at the entire well being of the mother in the first weeks and months after the baby is born. there are suggestions about meals, exercise, posture, and nurturing yourself during this time. it is an easy read and includes yoga and ayurvedic suggestions for enhancing your life. it also has a section on tracking your cycles if you want to do that.Baby Om
I like this one because it is for new mothers who want to keep a yoga practice going. it is divided into sections of yoga practices to do for the first year of baby's life. so it will have 0-3 months and has poses that are good for mom to do in this time, poses and exercises for baby and mom together, and then some massage or developmental tips for baby. i have to admit, yoga time is ME time right now and i haven't taken enough advantage of the suggestions in the book and included Sabine in my practice... but i will in the future. the pictures and suggestions are good. and i like that the poses aren't all just neck rolls... they even include handstands in later months.Everyday Blessings: The inner work of mindful parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn
This is about using a mindful approach to every interaction with your children. i mean, what if, every time your child was upset you looked past the fact that you are stressed and exhausted and want to do your own thing and instead see just what the child is really asking for and needing from you in that moment. it isn't a tantrum over a book... it is that she needs some mommy child bonding time. this book includes sections from birth, to toddlers, to teenagers. i haven't gotten far into this one. i've read maybe two chapters but it has NOT left my mind. i've thought about it quite a bit and it already has a positive influence on 1. how i interact with Sabine and 2. my plans for the future of our family. So i highly highly highly recommend this one to parents who want to really truly engage with their children as much as possible.Boys may want to stop reading here.
but For the women of childbearing age:
Taking Charge of Your Fertility
So this one was a recommendation from Nancy at my 6 week post partum appointment. it teaches you how to track your cycles. it can help with getting pregnant or NOT getting pregnant. and it can help with confusion about what is going on in your body, understanding irregular cycles things like that. i've only gotten half-way through but i SO wish i'd had this for the last 10 years. the writing is excellent and it feels just like what Nancy would tell me. and whether you use it for natural family planning (as is recommended by the book) or not, how great would it be to know when to expect your "friend" and to know when to go to the doctor? anyway. i won't go into serious detail but i think it's DEFINITELY worth looking at especially if you have an irregular cycle or want to get pregnant one day. (they even claim to be able to help you choose the sex of your child)and what i'm supposed to be reading for book group is called Lush Life, but i haven't even checked to see if they have it at the library yet. oh well.
these books are all on my recommended reading list for new moms, and dads for that matter. let me know if you've read any of them and Enjoy!
(and we'll be out of town for a few days, probably no new posts until afterwards. wish us luck on the plane!)
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