The Top 5 Books Every Mum Should Read About Postpartum Recovery
Gentle wisdom to prepare your mind, body, and soul for the fourth trimester
If you’re pregnant and planning for postpartum, you’ve probably been reading everything about birth, baby sleep, and feeding.
But here’s what many women miss:
👉 Preparing for your own recovery is just as important.
These five books have guided thousands of mothers (and inspired my own work) to understand postpartum not as a time to “bounce back,” but as a sacred window to rebuild, replenish, and be cared for deeply.
Here are my top recommendations and why they deserve a spot on your bedside table.
The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother
By Heng Ou
Why this book is essential:
✔️ This is the modern classic on postpartum care rooted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wisdom.
✔️ Heng Ou shares the philosophy of zuo yuezi (坐月子) — the sitting month — where mothers rest deeply, eat warming, mineral-rich foods, and receive care to rebuild their strength.
Inside you’ll find:
Recipes for every stage of early recovery (congee, broths, teas, herbal tonics)
Practical ways to create a restful postpartum environment
Emotional reflections that validate why slowness and warmth matter
Why I recommend it:
Many Western mums are unfamiliar with intentional postpartum nourishment. This book reframes food as medicine and emotional care, not just calories — a core pillar of The Strong After Birth Method™.
The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality
By Kimberly Ann Johnson
Why this book is essential:
✔️ Kimberly Ann Johnson is a bodyworker, doula, and somatic practitioner who offers clear, practical guidance on physical and emotional postpartum recovery.
Inside you’ll find:
Explanations of pelvic floor anatomy and why it matters
Strategies to rebuild your core safely
Emotional support for identity shifts, boundaries with visitors, and intimacy postpartum
Why I recommend it:
This book bridges the gap between body-based wisdom and emotional reality, teaching mums that recovery is not just about “doing your kegels,” but about integration, rest, and nervous system support — pillars woven into my method.
The Postnatal Depletion Cure: A Complete Guide to Rebuilding Your Health and Reclaiming Your Energy for Mothers of Newborns, Toddlers, and Young Children
By Dr. Oscar Serrallach
Why this book is essential:
✔️ Dr. Serrallach coined the term “postnatal depletion” to describe the nutrient, hormonal, and energetic deficiencies that can persist for years if ignored.
Inside you’ll find:
The science of postpartum nutrient depletion and brain fog
Symptom checklists to assess your own recovery needs
Clear protocols on nutrition, sleep rhythms, and supplements to rebuild
Why I recommend it:
Many mums blame themselves for feeling tired, moody, or foggy. This book shows it’s not their fault — it’s physiological depletion. His recommendations align with the therapeutic nourishment and mineral restoration focus of The Strong After Birth Method™.
Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood — and Trusting Yourself and Your Body
By Erica Chidi Cohen
Why this book is essential:
✔️ Erica Chidi Cohen, doula and founder of LOOM, writes with inclusivity, warmth, and deep respect for women’s intuition.
Inside you’ll find:
Gentle postpartum planning prompts
Recipes for each trimester and early recovery
Honest discussions about sex, relationships, and mental health postpartum
Why I recommend it:
This book helps first-time mums feel guided rather than lectured. It includes postpartum alongside pregnancy and birth — showing recovery is part of the whole journey. It’s ideal if you want an empowering, compassionate voice alongside your technical guides.
Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth
By Marshall H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, Phyllis H. Klaus
Why this book is essential:
✔️ Although birth-focused, this classic introduced the West to the concept of continuous mother-centred care, which extends into postpartum.
Inside you’ll find:
The emotional and physiological impacts of being supported
How doula-style care shortens labour, reduces interventions, and improves maternal outcomes
Stories illustrating why mothers heal better when they feel safe, seen, and held
Why I recommend it:
It reframes care as a basic human need, not an indulgence. If you’re deciding whether to invest in postpartum support, this book will validate that you were never meant to do this alone.
How These Books Support Your Postpartum Plan
Together, these books will:
✔️ Teach you what your body really needs to heal
✔️ Help you plan for nourishment, rest, and support — not just baby supplies
✔️ Empower you to ask for help without guilt
✔️ Inspire you to see postpartum as a sacred window, not a hurdle
How The Strong After Birth Method™ Integrates This Wisdom
In my signature postpartum care program, I bring together:
Traditional belly binding to support your core and womb
Therapeutic nourishment rooted in food therapy and mineral restoration
Sacred rest rituals to soothe your nervous system and stabilise hormones
So you don’t just “survive” the fourth trimester — you emerge feeling strong, nourished, and deeply cared for.
You May Also Like
