Heading Home with Your Newborn: New Life Birth Services Book Club
Book Review by: Postpartum Doula & CLC Rebekah Martinez
The book options out there for guidance with a newborn baby are endless. There are so many to choose from that it can feel overwhelming. Do you choose one from a professional that contains evidence-based information, but lacks solidarity and empathy or do you choose one from the mom that really gets it, but doesn’t necessarily have that scientific support that helps you feel like you’re making an informed decision? What if you could have both? Well, now you can.
Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality by Dr. Laura A. Jana and Dr. Jennifer Shu is an excellent option for getting all of those little questions answered and nuanced concerns addressed. It was written by two women who are both MDs and mothers, and it has a very warm and realistic approach to the challenges of parenting a newborn. Plus, it is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), so there is that little extra benefit of trustworthiness for parents and providers alike. On the back cover, it says “Offering ‘parent-tested, pediatrician-approved advice’.” I would wholeheartedly agree with this statement.
Some of the topics covered by this book include feeding (both breast and formula), bodily functions (pee, poop, spit-up…you get the gist), and day-to-day things like sleep, bathing, crying, and even clothing. They help you understand the basics of infant development and how babies’ brains develop through interaction, the senses, and other aspects of the world around them. They even help parents feel comfortable getting out of the house by sharing information on topics like car seats to flying on an airplane, and everything in between. This is just a brief list of the many wonderful things in those first precious months through which Dr. Jana and Dr. Shu help guide us. They somehow manage to cover each topic in the most easy-to-read, thoughtful, and fun way possible.
The book is broken down into bite-sized, easily digestible sections so that tired parents don’t have to feel the daunting pressure of finishing a chapter or risk losing their place. The language is accessible and smooth, making it easy to understand and easy to retain. I enjoyed reading this as both a parent and a doula, and have taken away valuable lessons for each aspect of my life. I feel that this book could be equally appreciated by partners and other family members alike. If you are looking for a great option to help you through the fourth trimester with very real, very gracious advice, Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality is my go-to choice.