Useful Books for Mothers
I have listed a few books that I really enjoyed reading and helped me a lot.
West Sussex Counselling Home Page
Books
What Mothers Do - espcially when it looks like nothing. Naomi Stadlen
Written in a warm and compassionate style Naomi Stadlen a mother of three, breastfeeding counsellor, psychotherapist and group facilitator describes in detail what makes mothering such an important, demanding. and fulfilling relationship.
Over years she has listened to mothers describing what they do and how they feel. She has put these accounts together to make sense of motherhood. She shows us how there is no language to describe what mothers do and so how difficult it is to convey to others where our energies go. She points out how demoralised mothers can feel when they do not see the value or meaning in their day to day lives. She weaves together the stories of mothers illustrating the difficult decisions and differences we have and creating a context in which we are encouraged to feel confident in our choices.
Through reading this book I felt recognised for doing an important job and was reminded how much motherhood has enriched my life.
Click on the image if you wish to buy this through Amazon. Take a look at the reviews that people have written about this book.
Life After Birth. Kate Figes
This book breaks through the fairytale of being a mother and presents an account of early motherhood that conveys the intensity of change and adaptation that is required. Many readers have found this book very useful and some have disliked. In fact it created quite a stir when it first came out. Read the reviews in Amazon to get more of an idea of how people received it.
Click on the image if you wish to buy this through Amazon.
Out of Me - The Story of a Postnatal Breakdown. Fiona Shaw.
I really enjoyed this book but it has pretty bad reviews on Amazon. I liked it because although it tracked a horrendous experience of a mother after the birth of her second child the writing of the book enabled her to make sense of the experience. When I read it I was reminded of the healing capacity of human compassion - in this case compassion she found for herself. Fiona Shaw did not understand what was happening to her after the birth of her second child and the whole experience was terrifying. Slowly she pieced together an understanding of how her earlier life and unresolved issues came to the fore to the extent that her identity and the reality that she had created in the interim was blown apart.
Click on the image to buy this book through amazon.
Madonna and child. Melissa Benn
I read this book before I had my child and when I was pregnant. I loved it because it helped me step back and think about my life from a different perspective. This book talks about how our private lives are influenced by societal and political values and policies. I think that it helped me look beyond the messages that we are fed and offered a licence to plan my future according to my (and my family's) needs and wants.
Click on the image to buy this book through amazon. At the moment (February 05) there are a number of copies used and new for just 1p!! This doesn't include postage and doesn't do justice to the book.
Antenatal and postnatal depression - practical advice and support for all sufferers. S Curham
I have included this book for those who are looking for answers to a diagnosis of antenatal or postnatal depression. It is easy to read and practical with lots of advice and information to help you.
Click on the image to buy this book through amazon. For people in West Sussex this book is held in the Library and by the Worthing NCT group.
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