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MOTHER NURTURE
A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships
Mothers today juggle more tasks, work longer hours, and sleep less than their own mothers did. Yet the self-healing revolution has overlooked the most significant issue in the lives of some twenty million women:
how to cope with the relentless, sometimes overwhelming, stresses of
raising young children in the twenty-first century.
Only Mother Nurture:
considers the long-term well-being and health of mothers
explains how women can become physicially depleted and actually ill as a result of the demands and stresses of raising a family today
identifies the Depleted Mother Syndrome many women experience
presents a comprehensive, integrated program of care for a mother's body, mind, and intimate relationships
tells in detail how a mom and dad can work together and share the load fairly
integrates the perspectives of a psychologist, acupuncturist/nutritionist, and obstetrician/gynecologist.
This is more than another self-help book. With compelling evidence (see references below), clear logic, and
heartfelt personal testimony, it is a manifesto for an idea whose time has come: that
our society absolutely must take better care of its mothers - and by doing so, take
better care of its fathers, children, and families.
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Book Review
By Karen Benson
Mother Nurture: a Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate
Relationships
By Rick Hanson, Jan Hanson, and Ricki Pollycove
As a bibliophile, I believe that when I walk into a bookstore or
library, the exact book that I most need at that time will make itself
known to me. So I was not surprised when this book arrived in the mail
for me to read and review, a mothering day like so many others,
punctuated with fatigue, toddler chasing, and a terse exchange with my
husband. I sighed as I sank into the couch and hopefully read the book
cover: "you can lower your stress, lift your mood, regain your energy,
prevent depleted mother syndrome, build teamwork and intimacy with your
spouse, solve health problems, balance home and work... and so much
more!" More? It was hard for me to believe that this book could
accomplish even one of these goals...and yet it has done that and more.
The book begins with focusing on the mother's physical and emotional
well-being, including concrete suggestions for reducing stress,
processing negative emotions, and staying well. The first part includes
specific medical suggestions for determining the basis of Depleted
Mother Syndrome, including an appendix in the back that outlines the
vitamin and mineral guidelines for mothers. As a daily supplement
disciple, I was surprised to see how different these dosages are from
the RDA. I took this list into my doctor, and she agreed that I should
increase everything I had been taking. My corresponding increase in
energy alone is worth the price of the book.
The next three chapters are devoted to the partner relationship,
including communication, partners in parenting, and partners in
intimacy. My husband and I read the communication chapter together,
chuckling and grimacing to see ourselves so aptly described. Their
suggestions really work. My husband was more willing to read and follow
the suggestions because one of the authors is a man, and his sensibility
really shines through. I, too, felt especially nourished by the words of
a man who clearly advocates for the daily support of mothers by their
partners, and vice versa.
The final section discusses specific problems associated with mothers
who work inside the home and mothers who work outside the home. It is a
refreshing acknowledgement of the rigors of both, without pitting one
against the other.
I wish that every mom and dad I know would read this book. I honestly
believe it will make the world a safer, more caring place to be for
children and their parents. I applaud the authors for their sentiments,
their efforts and their results. Treat yourself to this book. You
deserve it.
Karen Benson is a SRMC member and the mother of Luc, age 20 months. She
is busy balancing first time motherhood with a long distance marriage
(her husband lives in Seattle, Washington.)
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Reviews from Amazon.com
This book is a rare find! After years of desperately searching for answers to why I was feeling so exhausted, depressed, physically sick, and stressed in motherhood and marital relationship, this book has pulled all of these aspects together and given it a name. I had visited many different doctors who focused on single complaint areas (physical and psychological) but never thought that all of the symptoms could be causal and interrelated. The authors beautifully discuss everything from hormone balance, nutritional deficiencies, external stressors, and relationship/gender differences. They then offer a myriad of recovery/replentishment suggestions encompassing both western and alternative methods, along with a comprehensive appendix of how to find the support you need to overcome Depleted Mother Syndrome. I bought 2 other copies for my sister and a friend.
- A reader from Buffalo, NY
The authors have provided not only new and new-to-be mothers with a trusted guide in the difficult challenge of self-care but have managed to offer a great support for all women in how to nurture and care for themselves. The book is a great read for fathers as well who want to be active participants in the support of caring for the women in their lives. Rick, Jan and Ricki offer practical, caring, and well-researched advice about everything from nutrition to the risk of depletion that especially new mothers face. I reccommend this as am important read for therapists and mental health professionals as well.
- Michael Simon, MFT from Oakland, CA United States
This book deserves a place of honor on your bookshelf along with the other books that every new or expectant mother should own: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, The Mother of All Pregnancy Books by Ann Douglas, The Mother of All Baby Books by Ann Douglas, The Baby Book by Dr. Sears, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child by the American Academy of Pediatrics, The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins, Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields, and Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott. The book is every bit as groundbreaking and life-changing as these other titles. Highly recommended.
- Lynette O'Meara from USA
I've read scores of baby-related advice books, but until now have never come across a book that is so directed at helping the mother. It's such a relief to read in Mother Nurture that much of a mother's exhaustion and depression has very real, physiological problems that can be corrected. The authors help direct women towards solving whatever mom-related problem they're experiencing. It's a wise, sympathetic, and intelligent book.
- A reader from San Francisco, CA USA
This is a fantastic resource for all Moms and Dads. As a mother of a 21 month old I found this book to be an invaluable resource on taking care of myself. Mother Nurture really teaches you in a very sensible way with easy to incorporate solutions how to take care of yourself so that you can be a healthier Mom, friend and partner. Every parent needs this book! You couldn't ask for a better Mother's Day Gift!!
- Jennifer Parks from San Francisco, CA United States
About.com - Marriage
Book Endorsements
"Mother Nurture is a treasure trove of information . . . Everyone who is
a mother or loves a mother should read this book."
-Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies , Women's Wisdom
"At last! A book that shows mothers how to care for themselves and their
relationships while they are caring for their children. Mother Nurture
is brimming with practical, life-saving information that is new to most
of us. A must-have for every mom...and most old moms too!"
- Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., bestselling author of Kitchen Table Wisdom
and My Grandfather's Blessings
"You've already bought the books on childcare. Now buy the book on
mothercare. You'll learn that doing the right thing for yourself is the
best thing you ever did for your family."
- Dr. Susan Maushart, author of The Mask of Motherhood
"Through interesting examples and scientific research, the authors
adeptly examine the complex challenges facing mothers today. They are
able to reassure mothers that their problems are not "just in their
head," but shared by others and solvable. I recommend this book to every
mother."
-Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D., President of Postpartum Assistance for Mothers
"This book not only helps with recognizing the potentially significant
problems of motherhood, but provides a roadmap for engaging them in ways
that lead to improvement."
-Robert D. Truog, M.D., Professor of Anaesthesia and Pediatrics, Harvard
Medical School; Director, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children's
Hospital, Boston
References of Mother Nurture:
A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships
(The References are in a PDF file; if you do not have a PDF reader on
your computer, please click the link below. The file is 244K, which will
take about one minute to download on most 56K modems.)
NOTE: Please use your browser's back button to return to this page when done reading the references. Thank you.
NurtureMom.com © 2002
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