The Mindful Mom-To-Be: A Modern Doula's Guide to Building a Healthy Foundation from Pregnancy Through Birth

by Lori Bregman, Stefani Newman, Molly Sims (Foreword)

Strengthening your own foundation is one of the very best beginnings you can give your child. In The Mindful Mom-to-Be, doula and pregnancy coach Lori Bregman guides you in your journey toward motherhood by empowering you to find what works best for you and your baby. In addition to concrete, prescriptive health information, including nutritional advice, natural remedies, developmental milestones, and techniques for labor, she offers simple and enjoyable spiritual and emotional exercises to help you prepare for motherhood. As Lori explains, you're not just birthing a baby; you're birthing yourself as a mom, too. With month-by-month advice, comprehensive checklists, and customizable birth plans, this is your indispensible, holistic companion for pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Education

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2015

Reviews

[Meish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There are all sorts of yoga and meditation exercises, journaling exercises, healthy recipes, DIY ointments, and great advice for self-reflection and personal growth throughout your pregnancy, birth planning, and more.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! I think it helps that it aligns with the type of pregnancy and birth that I am trying to have. There were a few minor details that I questioned the accuracy of, only because they go against things that my midwife has told me, but they weren't anything that would be life threatening. Otherwise, I found it to be chock-full of practical advice and tips!

[Valerie Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this was the perfect balance of spiritual/“natural” and grounded/medical/safe. Includes tons of practical tips and recipes and brands etc. Goes month by month too. Will definitely re-listen if/when pregnant.

[Meghan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

She didn’t discuss the downsides of anything she recommended. A lot of the recommendations were really difficult to envision implementing. If you take this as an experienced granola doula’s perspective and not any sort of bible, then I’m sure you can get good things out of it. Personally, I found myself cringing much of the time.

[Sarah Moon]

I finished this, but it wasn't for me. If you're the type of person who is throwing your guts up in the first trimester and thinking, "I should be mixing my own all-natural cleaning supplies and making my own body cream," you may enjoy this. For me, it was a list of foods I'm too nauseous to eat and things I'm too tired to do, all wrapped up in some mildly shame-based wellness pseudoscience

[Nicole Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This lady is nuts. But some of her advice is good. This book is more of a spiritual coaching tool, rather than offering practical tips. Just remember folks: homeopathy isn't real.

[Amanda Burczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book should be given out along with What To Expect While expecting, or maybe even in its place

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the information in this book is available via other sources that have better coverage of each topic.

[Olivera Vukašinović · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upravo sam završila sa čitanjem. Interesantno je da je ova knjiga posebno povezana sa mojim porođajem. Nekoliko sati pred sinovljevo rođenje, ušuškana u toplo ćebence, posle dana par sata provedenih na snegu, čitala sam njene stranice i šalila se sa mužem povodom stepena minfulnesa koji procenjujemo da imam u ovoj trudnoći. Nisam ni slutila da je neću završiti pre nego se porodim.

Smešno mi je bilo, da me je posle par dana jedna čitateljka pitala za utiske o knjizi, jer je videla stori na kome sam objavila da je čitam. Naime, htela je knjigu pokloniti svojoj prijateljici koja je trudna. Rekla sam joj da je sjajna, ali da ima nuspojavu, da čitateljka postane toliko svesna trudnica, da se instant posle čitanja porodi :)

Šalu na stranu, knjiga je pun pogodak. Napisala ju je jedna svestrana dula i to na veoma pitak način. Pristup joj je potpuno holistrički i sveobuhvatan. Svako poglavlje prati po jedan mesec trudnoće. I u njemu vas čeka mozaik od praktičnih saveta, recepata za obroke, smutije, sokove, predlozi vežbi i aktivnosti, razliite meditacije, vizualizacije, vežbe disanja, preko osveštavanja želja i potreba svake žene pojedinačno, podrške, informisanja do dubokog rada na sebi kroz kombinaciju najrazličitijih učenja od čakri, unutrašnjeg deteta, porodičnih konstelacija, predačkog nasleđa do onoga što je ovde i sada.

Jedan širok dijapazon znanja i veština, kombinovan sa inspirativnim citatima poznatih ličnosti. Ovo je knjiga koju bi volela da sam pročitala u prvoj trudnoći. Sada mi je većina stvari iz nje bila poznata s nekih drugih strana i izvora, ali sam neizmerno uživala u njenoj kompoziciji. Mislim da je dragocenija od klasika “Šta da očekujete dok čekate bebu” koji se fokusira na fiziologiju i razvoj fetusa. Ovde je fokus na mami. Na maminom unutrašnjem stanju, spiritualnosti, emocijama i namerama. Zaključak je da ako je mama dobro, beba će definitivno biti dobro.

“Worry is misuseof your imagination.”

“You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are fullof yesterday’s junk”

“Let’s raise children who won’t have to recover from their childhoods.” Pam Leo

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, one of my favorite I’ve read during my pregnancy. The meditations and journaling prompts are lovely, but easy to skip if not your thing. I did think there were tons of helpful, real tips for the fun issues and challenges your body faces during pregnancy (nausea, aches, carpal tunnel, constipation). I find myself using the recommendations and referring back to the book often. It also incorporates some stretches and yoga poses for each month, and I think it does a wonderful job of building your confidence and calmness leading up to labor and birth.

[Samantha Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Bregman's approach to childbirth, that it need not be a harrowing and brutal experience, but can be beautiful. Of course, sometimes the practical reality of that may be different from person to person. I like the breakdown of information, starting with a few hints for conception but focusing mainly on pregnancy and birth. It is evident that Bregman is speaking from experience and wisdom.

[Janelle Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite pregnancy/birth preparation books! Very well structured and not too repetitive. I especially loved the pick-and-choose template for a birth plan at the end. The book made me want to take things slower and be more present. It would be a good one to get and read chapter by chapter as pregnancy progresses because the chapters go month by month.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good enough. I felt it had some good information, but a lot of it was centering your mind around the present. I was hoping for more in other realms, so this book wasn't that helpful for me.

[Kurtbg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference for pregnant mothers to think about the entire process and how to mentally deal with it. I pair this this with Great Expectations: Pregnancy and childbirth” as two many references for the experience of pregnancy.

[Amanda (barefootmamabookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh this book is amazing. It has everything I am wanting in a pregnancy/birthing book to feel calm and confident and prepared. It’s tabbed up the whazoo with so many things I want to go back to lol. Highly recommend this book to anyone pregnant even if you’ve already been pregnant before!

[Eleanor Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

borrowed the audiobook version from library. some positive vibes, but lacking in science/evidence. some parts contain self-promotion and are especially distracting... moreover, I would read books on mindfulness (e.g., Thich Nhat Hanh) to get more in-depth instructions on how to be mindful.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not going to make a "baby altar" or drink tap water while pregnant, among some of the other things the author suggests. Very basic info that's helpful if you're just starting out on a low-tox journey, but a fall from grace if you've read Nourishing Traditions or anything by Ina May Gaskin.

[Laura Duskey Rardon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was set up much better than What to Expect When You're Expecting, and included tons of natural remedy options for pregnancy ailments.

[Tiffany Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

I feel more prepared going into labor. Great tips on how to get in the right mindset. I plan on having an epidural, however, this book leaves me feeling very empowered.

[Stella Maris Sumaylo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comforting

If you are a first time mom and you need that tips on what to do when you are probably panicking? This is the book.

[Saeeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has lots of great tips for new moms wanting a more holistic, natural birth while remaining nonjudgmental and impartial for those that opt for medical interventions.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one I wish I had read at the start of pregnancy. Lots of journaling and mindfulness activities, but also practical tips, tricks, recipes, and asanas.

[Tim Habert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book from a goodreads giveaway.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

The first time I heard about this book was through Audible and I loved it so much that I decided to get the kindle version so I could read the chapter I wanted whenever I wanted.

[Mateja Lončar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book saved my pregnancy.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful along the way, with a good perspective. Stretches and recipes along the way for the right time. A good, natural guide.

[Chelsea Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good foundation of mindfulness around pregnancy and birth - - but she makes it sound easier than I bet it is!

[Kristina Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I like that it focuses more on the mental/emotional aspect of pregnancy.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and fun, but somewhat contradictory.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite pregnancy book I read! Cant believe it only has 4 stars.