The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother Hardcover – Illustrated, April 26, 2016

What a book! Loved this book is an understatement! Often I peruse a book when I first receive it, glancing through the images and chapter titles. With this one, however, I was captured by chapter one and could not put it down. The voice of this book is that of a mother…of many mothers…in the language of intimate kitchen table conversation.My expectation of this book was that it would be a beautiful cookbook, and it is! But it is so much more. Emerging from the “institution of postpartum care that dates back centuries“ with “global grandmotherly” wisdom from China, South America, India, Korea and the Native American traditions, this wonderful book is not a book ahead of its time; rather, it is a long-awaited gift that has finally arrived for mothers everywhere.The sub title, The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother, expertly describes the delicious food recipes (visual works of art) offered to replenish a mother’s body after pregnancy and birth. It also includes recipes for nourishing her body from the outside, through homemade products; for nourishing her body in labor, with nutrient-rich labor drinks; and for nourishing her spirit, with wise words about rest, retreat and ritual. Ten wisdom pages are interspersed throughout offering wise words about placenta power, transitions, basic wisdom about new baby visitors, when to utilize professionals in your support system, and more.Book lovers especially will delight in the look and feel of this book....the Yin and Yang of its texture and smooth spaces. Perfect pregnancy gift for mothers as there is much to ponder in advance that our fast moving culture has no clue about.Buy this book as soon as possible. It is a treasure.

I put off reading this book because the reviews were so bad, but I’m so glad I finally read it! It was such a warming, comforting, honest book. All of the recipes are simple and she tells you where to source everything. There’s some specialty ingredients that need to be sourced online or at an Asian grocery store (I grew up visiting those stores with my mother and always find one in each new town I move to), but she makes it very clear that they can be left out of the recipes if you can’t find them or don’t have them on hand.The authors address womanhood and mothering in a beautiful, empowering way and provide so many ways that you can care for yourself postpartum no matter what your family unit or maternity leave looks like. They’ve done their best to create an inclusive and affirming book to help you nourish yourself and recover completely, and it’s a favorite reference book of mine now. I highly recommend it and will be handing it to my husband when the time comes!

The media could not be loaded. I purchased this book before I had my twins as I loved everything it represented. Nourishing the new mother and taking that time to recover is so important! This book dove into other cultures and how they care for new mothers, unlike the US when mothers are expected to be back to normal and running the next day. I am obsessed with all things nutrition, rituals and cooking. This book encased everything I am passionate about and it made me so happy. I have gifted this book to every new mother to be I know. I also make the Gooey Chocolate Brownies & Vanilla Coconut Haystacks for every mother after birth.The book is beautiful and even though my kids are now 4, I keep it on my shelf displayed proudly. I still use some recipes and just appreciate all of the information I find myself still checking it for things. My sister just had a baby a few weeks ago and I read it again as well as gifted her a copy. I showed up with a basket of goodies from the book and the knowledge of how to support her. The first 45 days can be such a beautiful and magic time... this book just makes sure you are intentional.

Great for new moms to be. Good recipes that I will be trying out. I think would work better for people with lot of friends and family close to help you carry it out I will try to do everything for myself as I don’t have people close to me. Great book overall

What a remarkable book, rare in its beautiful writing and artful photographs, designed to help pregnant women, their partners and extended families prepare for the remarkable transition of birth. This book is deeply respectful of the importance of rest, warmth, support and ritual and gives insightful tips and practical guidance for how to integrate all these components into the first 40 days after birth. I plan to give this book to my friend who is expecting her first baby and will eagerly share it with anyone wanting to learn more about what women should expect and what friends and family can do to support them.After my daughter was born, my neighbors and friends organized a month's worth of meals... the beauty of this book is that I now see how this practice fits into a history of such supportive rituals from ancient cultures... and then updates them to fit into our busy, modern culture.The recipes look incredible, easy, healthful and delicious.And what a powerful and beautiful argument for maternity leave! :)