https://birthandbeyond.com/blog daily 0.75 2023-11-26 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2020/9/8/my-babys-ok-im-not-traumatised-am-i monthly 0.5 2020-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1599748025378-YS3XCED4OJ56O0SK9L67/image-asset.jpeg Thoughts for parents - My baby's OK, so why don't I feel OK? https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2020/5/25/breaking-the-rules monthly 0.5 2020-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1590418611822-6T2ZPKO7VQ04I2Y8K5TZ/Rule+breaker.jpeg Thoughts for parents - Breaking the Rules Photo by Clive Varley, used under a Creative Commons license. https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2020/3/23/youve-washed-your-hands-now-its-time-to-clean-your-mind monthly 0.5 2020-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1584980235067-T9E3VKQ53JLK5HNEH9ZR/2020-03-21+05.44.58.png Thoughts for parents - You've washed your hands, now it's time to clean your mind. https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2020/3/20/the-positives-of-staying-inside-with-a-new-baby monthly 0.5 2020-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1584728750075-K7DA100JFPREQGIL1OXA/How+to+cope+when+you+are+stuck+inside+with+a+new+baby_+%281%29.jpg Thoughts for parents - The positives of staying inside with a new baby https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/familyecosystem monthly 0.5 2020-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1584035914670-P7AA7RDRBP79FRIY3W0R/noth-garden-blog-terrarium-la-gi-lich-su-terrarium-1.jpg Thoughts for parents - Why it can be helpful to think of a family as an ecosystem Picture courtesy of Self Sustaining Ecosystems https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2019/5/21/why-getting-good-at-failing-will-help-you-succeed-as-a-parent monthly 0.5 2019-05-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1558433782654-U497RB8O9J6TYRY5WWJT/43525760554_4279c02f26_z.jpg Thoughts for parents - Why getting good at failing will help you succeed as a parent Image courtesy of creditscoregeek.com https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2019/3/26/is-you-baby-hard-work monthly 0.5 2019-03-26 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2019/2/1/do-you-feel-trapped-by-motherhood monthly 0.5 2019-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1549042609642-Q1NLXJPBUT7EKWYQL77V/cage%2B-%2BNicko%2BWitjatmoko.jpg Thoughts for parents - Do you feel conned by motherhood? Image courtesy of Nicko Witjatmoko under a Creative Commons license https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2018/12/13/are-you-nailing-it-or-do-you-feel-scared-of-getting-things-wrong monthly 0.5 2019-02-01 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2017/8/29/what-creates-connection-and-why-does-it-matter monthly 0.5 2018-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1544008076072-GO8SUBWPFDFRRRA1AQCJ/Helped+me+to+realise+why+i+was+%25C2%25A0feeling+so+nEgative+about+becoming+a+mum+%286%29.jpg Thoughts for parents - What creates connection and why does it matter? https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2018/8/2/the-liminality-of-new-mothers monthly 0.5 2018-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1533206178983-CB43VKV2QXAX9JSKWTNM/liminal%CB%88l%C9%AAm%C9%AAn%28%C9%99%29l%252FSubmitadjectivetechnicaladjective_+liminal1.relating+to+a+transitional+or+initial+stage+of+a+process.2.occupying+a+position+at%2C+or+on+both+sides+of%2C+a+boundary+or+threshold..jpg Thoughts for parents - The liminality of new mothers https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/whattodowhensomeoneclosetoyouhasanxiety monthly 0.5 2018-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1533051416404-E6O1FRAJNJBKQSSXWI3H/courtesy+of+first+aid+warehouse Thoughts for parents - What if you're coping with someone else's anxiety? image courtesy of First Aid Warehouse https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2018/4/18/how-to-cope-when-infertility-affects-your-relationships monthly 0.5 2018-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1528992905452-L628M76V9J0NELQ0UI3T/wheat+.jpg Thoughts for parents - How to cope when infertility affects your relationships? image reproduced under a creative commons license from Richard BH https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2018/5/2/some-unacceptable-thoughts-on-world-maternal-mental-health-awareness-day monthly 0.5 2018-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1525265170050-42OHQCYOOC4RQY4GZ6GQ/mmh_logo_1-e1459259264798-297x300.gif Thoughts for parents - Some Unacceptable Thoughts on World Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2018/4/18/how-does-your-grandmother-affect-you-as-a-mother monthly 0.5 2018-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1524055789246-U1U272BRAR74LK95GA6V/grandmother.jpg Thoughts for parents - How does your grandmother affect you as a mother? 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Five top tips to stop you going mad... https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2017/10/12/why-does-the-why-matter-so-much monthly 0.5 2017-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1507845692761-M0H0HZN26LFCM8L9YAW9/stories.jpg Thoughts for parents - Why does the 'why' matter so much? https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2017/9/22/jump-that-gate monthly 0.5 2025-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1506090738836-G8B870431TBGQWAKA6WY/3577004472_136cdcef51_o-780x387.jpg Thoughts for parents - Jump that gate https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2017/8/21/the-return-to-work monthly 0.5 2018-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1503583447007-N4POUTFK2NUXA1V3URPY/Horia+Varlan.jpg Thoughts for parents - The return to work... 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Christmas https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/2016/10/7/minutiae-matters-1 monthly 0.5 2017-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1481800955456-1O98WP05511KOSDO228H/image-asset.jpeg Thoughts for parents - Minutiae Matters https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/category/mental+wellbeing monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/category/parenthood monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/disconnect monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/new+parent monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/mummy monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/PND monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/fertility monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/sadness monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/compassion monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/motherhood monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/counselling monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/bonkers monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/mother monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/relationships monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/mothers monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/who+am+i monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/connection monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/introvert monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/perinatal+mental+health monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/parenting monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/expecting monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/new+mum monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/risk+factors monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/new+motherhood monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/pregnancy monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/postnatal+anxiety monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/perfectionism monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/anxiety monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/getting+it+wrong monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/failure monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/maternal+gatekeeping monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/love monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/Christmas monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/mum monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/babies monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/psychotherapy monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/perinatal+health monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/postnatal+depression monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/self+care monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/worries monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/attachment monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/low monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/miscarriage monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/Baby monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/myths monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/infertility monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/families monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/bonding monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/baby monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/self monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/Crying+baby monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/depression monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/breastfeeding monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/blog/tag/mums monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeyond.com/location daily 0.75 2014-08-05 https://birthandbeyond.com/home daily 1.0 2025-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1482261806825-3F7GV9YEGX0IYZF5W72C/image-asset.jpeg Home Postnatal Depression https://birthandbeyond.com/sarahwheatley daily 0.75 2025-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/cfc4013f-ced9-4df3-a3ef-74bd46f8082c/Sarah_1.jpg Sarah Wheatley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/54d1b28a-328e-482a-84bf-e5496d69d807/Screenshot+2022-04-07+at+14.56.45.png Sarah Wheatley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1596742002848-OY3PIQLX95M23SEJ00GO/BACP+Logo+-+95490.png Sarah Wheatley BACP Counsellor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1536322464972-LFZWF79N3F4N08PUSHZG/EBB-Logo-RGB.jpg Sarah Wheatley A collective of professionals supporting families in Edinburgh and the Lothians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1485204522836-O2PIWJMECJS9ZUEWIPE7/BB_pink.jpg Sarah Wheatley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1485204535641-3NUYHO6BCOQSKPIYJQXJ/logo.jpg Sarah Wheatley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1485204964142-TIZLNV0CLG3WII2HGIGS/juno.jpg Sarah Wheatley Providing peer support to women with perinatal mental health issues in Edinburgh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1485205020467-4ALCKAX6YD6HFZQ35FMX/CANparent+QM+-+High+Res.jpg Sarah Wheatley https://birthandbeyond.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1481753392893-YUOASTRMNI1U4PB8PD9S/front+door.jpg Contact Birth and Beyond https://birthandbeyond.com/baby-kind-newborn-observation-sessions daily 0.75 2024-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1481752855447-VWWV66MQRAF4W3YWJFW3/image-asset.jpeg Baby Kind Newborn Observation Sessions https://birthandbeyond.com/ion daily 0.75 2016-12-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1481725953662-JV4K79UONEKJ32E28GBO/ion-edinburgh-jan-16-page_13.jpg i-on Lifestyle Magazine January 2016 https://birthandbeyond.com/potowski-av daily 0.75 2016-12-15 https://birthandbeyond.com/holloway-rd daily 0.75 2017-11-28 https://birthandbeyond.com/smallish-magazine-july-2015 daily 0.75 2017-11-29 https://birthandbeyond.com/testimonials daily 0.75 2020-07-26 https://birthandbeyond.com/counselling daily 0.75 2026-02-25 https://birthandbeyond.com/thoughtsforparents daily 0.75 2023-08-16 https://birthandbeyond.com/in-the-press daily 0.75 2024-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1511863502789-Z20JTM4MUA3XGEU8Q8ZS/woman%27s+hour.jpg In the Press https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/a441b449-dbb4-419f-b966-be069dd2d3cc/p0hv18hp.jpg In the Press https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1511958659419-DP1ALLUVFXMQECN1FCTB/Smallish+July+APP.jpeg In the Press https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1511958758595-JPI2YOGBO3Y4JB7DLSTB/logo.png In the Press Click the image to see Sarah quoted in Smallish Magazine, July 2016 https://birthandbeyond.com/recommended-reading daily 0.75 2024-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/b40fd252-864d-4f4a-809a-fedf7fb23c5e/71cggtC99aL._SL1500_.jpg Recommended Reading - Make it stand out Parenting For Humans - Emma Svanberg Dr Emma Svanberg has a wonderfully compassionate and wise take on how to be both an imperfect human being and a good-enough parent. She has a wonderfully warm and well evidenced take on some of the difficulties of being a parent, and I think a lot of people will feel reassured by reading it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/d77c9bd6-ad85-4de5-926d-30cfeef77e86/81RjY-eTs9L._SL1500_.jpg Recommended Reading - Make it stand out Matrescence - Lucy Jones Another brilliant book to come out in 2023, this book thinks about motherhood from a variety of lenses, helping mothers understand why their experience might be so confusing or discombobulating. She explains why our systems do mothers (and fathers) an injustice and how we might want to think about modern parenthood differently… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/f0223650-86dc-4a79-b9cc-57959b02e5f3/IMG_1248.jpg Recommended Reading - Make it stand out Mindful New Mum - Dr Caroline Boyd In this gently reassuring book, psychologist Caroline Boyd explains psychological models and research around motherhood, in a really useful and engaging way. She provides an explanation of why mindfulness can be so helpful at this stage and gives examples both of how to do it and also some lovely affirmations and visualisations to use. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/a9a51dbc-d770-440d-9c14-2483640741aa/IMG_4276.jpg Recommended Reading - Make it stand out How to Heal a Bad Birth - Melissa Bruijn and Debby Gould This book contains a lot of reassurance, wisdom and useful tools for those who have experienced difficulty, disappointment or trauma as a result of their birthing experience. It can really help reduce feelings of isolation, failure or guilt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1557837941778-UAGC0QDGM4KD21SF52AL/IMG_5450.jpg Recommended Reading Finding your way with your baby - Dilys Daws and Alexandra de Rementaeria This is a lovely, reassuring book, which includes a lot of research to back up their years of experience. It helps normalise some of the experiences of new parents in a way that is both reassuring but also gives you ideas of when you might want some extra support (and where from). It doesn’t shy away from the difficult emotions of parenthood, but offer a curious and compassionate stance. Well worth a read. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1557837430530-KSVH4MN01G40VSAQ9XII/IMG_5451.JPG Recommended Reading The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read - Philippa Perry A very readable and enjoyable way of looking at some of the taboos of parenthood. It’s a very different book to many of the parenting manifestos, and moves past seeing behaviour as something to be ‘trained’ into (or out of ) children and more as an aspect of communication. This allows for a very different dynamic than maybe we’re used to experiencing… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026265961-9B76P1SQH4OS0EB33SPA/IMG_0460.JPG Recommended Reading What Mothers Do - Naomi Stadlen Naomi Stadlen is a Psychotherapist and counsellor who runs the 'Mothers Talking' group at the Active Birth Centre in London. Her book, "What Mother's Do", is one of the best known books talking about the experience of being a mother and how difficult it is to pinpoint what mother's actually do. It's a wonderful and compassionate read, as it can help normalise many of the emotions and experiences of mothers, especially in the early days. It can be very reassuring, especially if you're not sure if other mums feel the same things. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026281997-8MAUDM3TSM6SVA12TW7L/IMG_0463.JPG Recommended Reading How Mothers Love - Naomi Stadlen Another book by Naomi Stadlen (yes I like her work!), this time discussing the business of what it is that mothers are actually 'doing' by doing all the things discussed in her previous book. It's a look at connection and attachment and how mothers are creating a loving relationship with their baby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026296593-4N4WTC4C299TPXT058MH/IMG_0458.JPG Recommended Reading The Birth of a Mother - Daniel Stern and Nadia Bruschweiler-Stern Again, this book is written about the psychological changes and challenges that a woman experiences as she becomes a mother. It can be really helpful to normalise some of your experience and put it in context. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516034043447-FK4K0GSSJ6JAOW90ERCF/download.jpeg Recommended Reading Why love Matters - Sue Gerhardt This is a really accessible book, but it discusses some really important science about how loving interactions shape our babies' brains. It's definitely worth a read, but if you feel as though you're struggling with being 'good enough', it might be worth waiting until you feel more confident as otherwise it might be anxiety provoking if you're not able to feel as though you're able to love your baby right now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026351275-GDOP5ML2P0IEFNE7JP8U/IMG_0455.JPG Recommended Reading The Psychology of Babies - Lynne Murray If you want to know more about what your baby might be 'up to', this is a really lovely book. Lynne Murray is a developmental psychologist who has studied babies for decades and she has a wonderful way of helping you see things from your baby's perspective. This book can be useful if you want to reassure yourself that your baby is a co-partner in this new stage of your life, and that you can trust them to help you learn what they need. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026373150-OU1X0J4G5NGKK5X9I2N5/IMG_0461.JPG Recommended Reading How Infants Know Minds - Vasudevi Reddy Unfortunately this is not cheap, but it is again a fascinating look at what your baby might be up to. If you wonder whether babies have a sense of humour, you might find this interesting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026450720-NM74042ULN4LK31UXQN5/IMG_0457.JPG Recommended Reading Dream Babies - Christina Hardyment This is a fascinating look at how childcare advice has changed through the ages. If you are struggling to find your own way as a parent, and feel bombarded with different approaches, this might be a bit of an antidote as it shows how varied (and at times contradictory) different childcare approaches are. Combined with 'The Psychology of Babies', this can be really helpful in learning to trust in the relationship between you and your baby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026744477-4S9QTKFI2FDIBXEZT05F/IMG_0456.JPG Recommended Reading Birth Crisis - Sheila Kitzinger This book talks about traumatic births and came about as a result of Sheila's experiences listening to women with birth trauma. If you are still finding your birth difficult, whether or not it was described as traumatic, this book might help you feel less isolated and more able to move forwards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516034148350-SFI40ZJJ9QHE0XHOYTEV/51a5LfrJrHL._SX331_BO1%2C204%2C203%2C200_+%281%29.jpg Recommended Reading The Basic Needs of Woman in Labour - Ruth Ehrhardt This is a concise read, but elegantly describes some of the work of Michel Odent, talking about what supports a woman giving birth. I am not a specialist on the mechanics of birth. However, I recommend this book to women who are struggling to come to terms with their birth, as sometimes understanding something about your needs in labour can be really helpful when looking at how those needs were or weren't met and how that made you feel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1519746535763-ZU4O9FRNNF054L2CKMLB/IMG_1253.jpg Recommended Reading Dropping the Baby - Karen Kleinman and Amy Wenzel A great book if you are scared about your thoughts - contains really useful and reassuring information, a good self-help section, an explanation of different treatments and also discusses what others can do to help. If you are too scared to talk to someone about how you are thinking, I'd recommend reading this first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026519010-0QCRD0BTHRHR744QNW9G/IMG_0453.JPG Recommended Reading Another Twinkle in the Eye - Elaine Hanzak Contemplating another baby, especially after having a mental health issue with a previous baby, can be daunting. This book is useful to help learn about other people's thoughts and give you some things to consider. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026589954-RU14146M783A0CXRWHF5/IMG_0469.JPG Recommended Reading A Life's Work - Rachel Cusk If you're struggling as a mother, it can be useful to hear that others have struggled and survived. This is a pretty frill-free account of new motherhood, where Rachel describes her own experience. Many new mothers have enjoyed reading this book, and found it a refreshing take. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516026618743-RK764RQVPNOMXTNAPZEG/IMG_0459.JPG Recommended Reading Shattered: Modern Motherhood and the Illusion of Equality - Rebecca Asher I thought twice about including this one, as I don't like to provoke gender wars. However, the truth is that often motherhood is the first time for many people that gender issues become so obvious. If you feel as though you are struggling to understand how your relationship with your working identity and your partner have changed, this book might help give some insight and some food for thought. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516027063143-IX6GJRLNQRHSRBR454SR/IMG_0471.jpg Recommended Reading Life after Birth - Kate Figes If you are not feeling the way you would like after having a baby, this book might be helpful. It is slightly one sided, in that it doesn't necessarily talk much about the joys of parenthood, but if you're struggling it can be very helpful as she has a great way of describing some of the hardships of new motherhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1519746869042-Q913MZY7S21S26HCXFE9/IMG_1254.jpg Recommended Reading Nobody Told Me - Hollie McNish Not really a therapy book as such, but a collection of thoughts and poems about pregnancy, motherhood, relationships, the NHS... A wonderful read, and very refreshing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516027124329-FZPXUIJDO9JXB4QCRE7C/IMG_0465.JPG Recommended Reading The Mother Book - Molly Gunn This is a series of blog posts taken from the 'Selfish Mother' blog site. It is a snapshot of essays from (mostly) new mothers, talking about their experiences. Can sometimes just be useful to hear. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1519746884515-379WT33LPI3QKYIQWK8P/IMG_1255.jpg Recommended Reading Quiet - Susan Cain If you are an introvert, it can sometimes make motherhood hard, as you might find it hard to build new relationships in settings such as mother and baby groups, or else you might find it a real struggle to get the quiet that you need. This book might help you understand a wee bit more about how you are feeling, and have more confidence to approach motherhood in a way that suits you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/390114ab-b1ce-48fe-ac01-ef101e138c02/41abF45imuL._SX324_BO1%2C204%2C203%2C200_.jpg Recommended Reading - Make it stand out Why Baby Loss Matters - Kay King A very tender book about Baby Loss, aimed at supporting people who have to go through this awful experience. It can be hard for parents who have lost babies to find sympathy for the enormity of what they have lost, and this book really helps to explain and validate those feelings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/14ec1585-fcef-449d-9dad-a73acd959ac3/41bEL7c02bL._SX327_BO1%2C204%2C203%2C200_.jpg Recommended Reading - Make it stand out Why Birth Trauma Matters - Emma Svanberg Yet another important (and easy to read) book on Birth Trauma. This book doesn’t take long to get through, but provides useful insights and ideas to help with recovery from Birth Trauma. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/0c7e7b49-8f7f-4505-b76b-d876eee2f5fe/41fwdXf79rL._SX323_BO1%2C204%2C203%2C200_.jpg Recommended Reading - Make it stand out Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter - Amy Brown Like many of the Pinter and Martin Books in this series, it’s a short and easily accessible read that helps people to understand their feelings better and also to validate how strong these feelings can be. We don’t hear a lot of information about breastfeeding grief and trauma, yet this has a massive impact on so many families. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/1516034278963-2RRLYRSYUDM0AQMB3KWF/71EvIEKvihL._SX522_.jpg Recommended Reading The Connected Baby - Suzanne Zeedyk If you haven't seen the Connected Baby, I highly recommend it. It beautifully illustrates how geared our babies our to connected with us, right from the word go. If you are struggling with worrying about whether you are 'getting it right' as a mother, it can be really helpful to know that your baby will be trying to help you. https://birthandbeyond.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2018-05-22 https://birthandbeyond.com/video-interaction-guidance daily 0.75 2019-01-31 https://birthandbeyond.com/counselling-for-dads daily 0.75 2024-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57f500939f74563d2dc15560/ccb2dd15-0467-4f6c-b8fe-f96282c66e5f/What+if+being+a+dad+doesn%E2%80%99t+feel+good.jpg Counselling for Dads - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://birthandbeyond.com/all-styles daily 0.75 2025-05-09 https://birthandbeyond.com/relationship-counselling daily 0.75 2025-08-12 https://birthandbeyond.com/store daily 0.75 2025-10-22