Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom: Tools for Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Mood Swings During Your Pregnancy

by Alice D. Domar, Sheila Curry Oakes

Overview

This invaluable resource shows moms-to-be how to manage stress during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is exciting and exhilarating, but it can also be physically and psychologically demanding. The myth, perpetuated by social media, says that you should be “glowing,” but in reality, you may be anxious and find yourself on an emotional roller coaster. And that is okay. Feeling stressed and moody are very normal reactions to the changes your body is going through, the thoughts you might have about how your pregnancy will impact your career and relationships, and the social pressure to have a perfect pregnancy. High levels of stress and anxiety are not good for you or your baby, but there are ways to cope with and counteract these feelings, put them in perspective, and bring peace to your pregnancy. It is indeed possible to learn new skills that will enable you to glow and thrive.

In addition to featuring fun quizzes, stories of women with whom Dr. Alice Domar has worked, and information, advice, and encouragement, Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom includes mind-body techniques that can relieve stress, anxiety, and moodiness. With the tools and problem-solving approach presented here, you can adjust your expectations, restructure negative thought patterns, cultivate resilience, and not only meet the challenges of pregnancy, but happily anticipate the most amazing experience of your life: becoming a mother.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399173134
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/30/2016
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	923,540
Product dimensions:	5.49(w) x 8.26(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Alice D. Domar, PhD, is the founder and executive director of the Domar Centers for Mind/Body Health and conducts groundbreaking research on the relationship between stress and various women's health conditions. She is an associate clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, part-time, at Harvard Medical School, director of integrative care at Boston IVF, and a senior staff psychologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and two children.

Sheila Curry Oakes is a writer who has collaborated on books with numerous experts in the fields of women's health and wellness, parenting, and personal growth. A former publishing professional, she lives with her family outside of New York City.

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Chapter 1
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Excerpted from "Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom"
by .
Copyright © 2016 Alice D. Domar.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Foreword Hope A. Ricciotti, M.D. xi

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Am I Crazy, or Am I Just Pregnant? 1

Chapter 2 Pregnancy Perfection 30

Chapter 3 Pregnancy Survival Kit 55

Chapter 4 The Pregnant Brain 93

Chapter 5 High-Octane Prenatal Self-Care 115

Chapter 6 Belly Support 142

Chapter 7 Talking Your Way Through Pregnancy 175

Chapter 8 The Fourth Trimester-the Bump Is Now a Baby! 208

Notes 225

Acknowledgments 229

Appendix I The Calm Mom-to-Be: Mind/Body Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety 233

Appendix II Resources 247

Index 251

Editorial Reviews

Essential reading for all pregnant women who are anxious about labor and birth. And that’s the vast majority in today’s fear-based medical environment.”
—Dr. Christiane Northrup, New York Times bestselling author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom

"An essential book for all pregnant women. Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom provides indispensable tools that women can use to find balance and joy throughout their pregnancy, rather than the often unexpected reality of anxiety, fatigue, and lethargy."
—Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D., author of Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night’s Sleep and associate director of the Sleep Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

"Every expectant mother wonders what is normal, what to do with the mood swings and the never ending things to watch out for. In short order what should be one of the great experiences in life can be filled with stress. But there is no reason to worry because Dr. Domar is with you every step of the way. Just hearing her say, 'stop, breathe, reflect, and choose' lets you know that Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom is going to be a great companion."
—Nancy L Snyderman, MD, FACS, consulting professor of global health at Stanford University

“While there is a lot of information out there on how expectant moms can stay physically healthy, this invaluable book helps women navigate the many emotional stresses of pregnancy. Dr. Domar has an innovative approach; she reassures, normalizes, and comforts with compassion and plenty of practical, research-based remedies for dealing with pregnancy-related anxiety. I just wish this book had been written when I was having my babies!! This is a must-read for every expectant mom!”
—Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D., author of Strong Women Stay Young and director of the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire

From the Publisher

07/01/2016
Domar (founder, executive director, Domar Ctr. for Mind/Body Health; obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biologist, Harvard Med. Sch.; psychologist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Ctr.) provides a real—and often miserable—look at pregnancy and postpartum depression. This book will calm worried mothers-to-be with its conversational tone, quizzes, relatable anecdotes, and funny tales. The author consistently reminds readers that body changes are indeed only temporary, offering hope and compassion to pregnant women. Domar shows that pregnancy isn't a perfect time for all. She destroys the supermom "mother superior ideal" and views both pregnancy and motherhood through a practical lens. She is critical of the media's portrayal of glowing stars with baby bumps and celebrity mothers, reminding us that they have help to look as good and put together as they do. She includes tips on self-care and mind/body techniques, which are helpful for relief during stressful, anxious, or difficult pregnancies. These coping techniques will be highly valued, especially by those who have struggled with fertility issues (and feel that now they cannot complain). VERDICT Helpful for pregnant women and new moms experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, moodiness, or ambivalence.—Cheryl Yanek, Brooklyn

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