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The Birth of a Mother - Book Review |
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Book Reviews -
Women's Health and Psychology
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Written by DivaTribe Member Lara
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 The Birth Of A Mother, by Daniel N.Stern et. al.
If you're a mother then you'll know what I'm talking about when you describe the chronological events of your life in 2 sections: pre baby and post baby. Dates cease to hold any meaning. I was once in the doctor's office and when trying to pin down the exact time I started feeling a certain pain I answered, "Well, I was about 5 months pregnant at the time," instead of claiming the actual date.
The Birth Of A Mother takes you on a psychological journey, embarking into the territory of 'post baby'. It follows several mothers who are either expecting their first child or who have given birth to their first child. It's an emotional ride of many questions and fears.
- What will happen if my baby is sick?
- What will I do if I just can't cope with a new child in the house.
- Will I be a good mother, will my husband be a good father?
From creating an imaginary baby to holding your own real baby, Stern explores the feelings of inadequacy, fear, joy and contentment that come with and after birth. There are many books out there to help mothers cope with the changes in her body and her mind as she goes from a single woman - to a carrying a human being - to caring for an infant but this book, although thin in length, speaks volumes in insight.
Part of this book that struck me was knowing I was not alone in my thoughts and feelings during and after my pregnancy. At times I remember being afraid to discuss what was going on inside my head. My paranoia level rose to new heights and it frightened me, not knowing if it was normal or not. At one point Stern explores the phenomenon of developing an imaginary baby and went into depth describing the imaginary baby meeting the real baby and how to cope with subsequent feelings of confusion. This touched a chord with me. How many women do this? All of them I expect. It takes you 9 months to create the idea of your child and precisely 1 day for your actual child to undo it all and leave you no less satisfied but definitely more daunted.
This is not just 'another baby book'. It won't tell you how to cook your food while pregnant or how much exercise is too much but it does take you down the psychological journey of becoming a mother and then after becoming a mother, creating yourself again.
Whether you are newly pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant or have long since passed your pregnancy this is a book to read.
This review is available for reprint.
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