Best books about postpartum depression according to redditors

My guess is The Birth Partner: Birth Partner 5th Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions https://www.amazon.com/dp/1558329102/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pEAXDbDNWHMB4

For the birth process, I found Penny Simkin's The Birth Partner incredibly helpful.
During the first year, I also got a lot out of Baby 411.

As others have said, it's common but definitely something to talk with your doctor about. So many people experience depression or anxiety in pregnancy or postpartum. You are part of a big sisterhood. Speak up and seek help. It will take strength, and you can do this.

The book Strong as a Mother is wonderful, helpful, and judgment-free. It's like the "What to Expect" (or "Expecting Better") of mental health. It will help you see you're not alone. Your local library might have a free ebook or audiobook version available through Overdrive or Libby.

It might also help you to read about matrescence. Pregnancy and early parenting, like adolescence, involve huge hormonal and physical changes. Becoming a mother for the first time is a major identity shift. In adolescence you wondered, "Who am I as an adult, and what happened to the child I used to be?" In matrescence you wonder, "Who am I as a mother, and what happened to that care-free, independent woman I used to be?" People recognize that adolescence is a rocky time and that teens are likely to be cranky and emotional. But they expect new mothers to be radiantly happy all the time. Let's all set more realistic expectations for pregnancy and early parenthood.

People love to give advice on sleeping patterns, how to take care of baby, what baby needs and they love to build diaper cakes. But no one really prepares you for how to take care of yourself and I’ve found that’s where my biggest deficits are despite months of meticulous planning. So the books I like focus on pregnancy and post partum transitions as well. Happy healthy momma, happier healthier baby.

The Fourth Trimester

The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality https://www.amazon.com/dp/1611804000/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sT1wCbXZWZY32

And I’m currently reading Strong As A Mother. I really like it so far. It has three sections, pregnancy, the first year, and continuing motherhood. I’m having some struggles with mood and having a two week old alone since my husband is always on trips for work and that I didn’t have a great birth experience. Lots of help from other moms and their stories

Strong As a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and (Most Importantly) Sane from Pregnancy to Parenthood: The Only Guide to Taking Care of YOU! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250105587/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TW1wCb8KTC08A

I got the expectant father for my husband. He referenced it a lot the first half of my pregnancy when doctors appointments were more spread out and he was like wtf is happening to your nipples, why are you eating that, why are you crying? You know, stuff that you don’t always anticipate or think about

The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be https://www.amazon.com/dp/0789212137/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mY1wCb9XR6Q7P

Good luck and congratulations!

The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

Birth Partner 5th Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions https://www.amazon.com/dp/1558329102/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OiKSCbG0B4CCY

Hi!! Congratulations mama! My partner and I are TTC and I’m currently reading Like a Mother by Angela Garbes Im learning SO much about my body, pregnancy and how society’s views and reactions to pregnant women have evolved.

With my first I chose unmedicated and had a very poor support system. This time I have an amazing support system but still worry.

If you have a strong support system it will make all the difference in the world. Attend birthing classes with your partner and/or watch birthing class videos. Commit to practicing the comfort techniques shown in the classes with your partner. Research the hospitals available to you and what they allow. Some hospitals really want you to stay in bed, which makes it harder to perform many pain management techniques. Some encourage a more ambulatory labor approach. Also see what they have available, do they have a shower or tub (birthing centers often have the big birthing tubs that many women swear by if that is an option for you), do they have a birthing ball, will they allow you to dismantle the bed to facilitate a wider range of positions to ease and manage pain. Get your partner familiar with many counter-pressure and massage techniques. Create a soothing playlist for the big day and bring a speaker in your hospital bag to play it. If you have mood lighting that you’d prefer to the harsh hospital lights, bring along led candles or whatever you have that will create the ambiance you want. It’s as much about psychological calming measures as it is about physical comfort measures. Combine the two for your best possible unmedicated experience.

AAAAND...don’t feel ashamed if, even with all of the above measures, you cave and get the epidural. You may check with your insurance, but it may be partially or even fully covered. If not...oh well, you can worry about that later. You do what you need to do to have a calm, fulfilling birth experience. No one will judge you if you choose to manage your pain with technology.

Also a book I see recommended a lot is “The Birth Partner”. Having your partner read this, or reading it with them may give you a lot of insight as to how to manage an unmedicated birth as a team.

Good luck?

Unfortunately you can do everything you can think of and she can still have PPD, but there are things that you can do to help. Knowing what's normal and expected by reading helpful books and evidence based research can help you both to know what to look for and feel more prepared which can help with postpartum stress. Making sure she has time and space to bond with the baby early and well can help her more connected to baby, more like a "good mum". Reassuring her in those early hours and days that she's doing well and that things are normal (normal is a pretty huge range of things). Sometimes having a few close people to help at home after birth is really beneficial to protect mum's space and time with the baby, but some people find that harder- feeling bad for not doing it on their own.
Don't feel like you or she have failed if either of you feel like you have no idea what you're doing or life is impossible or like you aren't as connected as you want to be. That first month is gonna be ridiculous and be overwhelming at times. It's OK. And get help from a professional if she needs it.

We did a four night birthing class spread across a month, which our hospital offered. It was taught by a retired doula who had great anecdotes and wisdom to share. We got The Birth Partner (your local library probably has one), which has a lot of great information. A lot of doulas are trained from this book and you see it frequently recommended. It's a lot to read; jump to the yellow pages and then dive into sections you want to know more on.

I believe this is the latest version: https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Partner-5th-Childbirth-Companions/dp/1558329102/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=the+birth+partner&qid=1562434106&s=gateway&sprefix=the+birth&sr=8-1

See if your local library has it.

Hey! My partner and I have a three week old. I'm definitely not qualified to offer advice yet (or caught up on sleep), but here are three books that I'm very thankful to have read.


Great advice on how to keep your relationship healthy:

And Baby Makes Three


How to be awesome during pregnancy/labor/delivery:

The Birth Partner


Evidence-based info on how to calm an infant--don't let the cheesy title fool you. I can't imagine what the last couple weeks would've been like without reading this:

The Happiest Baby on the Block

I really enjoyed "Nurture" by Erica Chidi Cohen. It takes you through pregnancy and the 4th trimester, with meditation & yoga exercises, as well as recipes and journal prompts, and straightforward info.

Got it. Getting it in the different trimesters is interesting. I wonder what the reason is for waiting.

This subreddit does make it seem like everyone who ever looks at the baby needs the shot. My doctor hasn't said anything about that (yet!) and from what I've read in books like "The Informed Parent", there isn't really enough evidence to support such practice.

EDIT: Just read some of the reasons above for waiting. Learning so much today!

https://www.amazon.com/Informed-Parent-Science-Based-Resource-Childs/dp/0399171061/

I'm not 100% sold on their ideas about nutrition/supplementation, but that's because that's my background. All pretty solid stuff though.

I love
https://www.amazon.com/Informed-Parent-Science-Based-Resource-Childs/dp/0399171061

The ultimate practical guide, and on the note of being practical, buy and read it sooner rather than later: The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin.

https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Partner-5th-Childbirth-Companions/dp/1558329102/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+birth+partner&qid=1572410841&sr=8-1

It is laser-focused on what you need to know as the support person at a birth. Doesn't speak down to men. If anything,it is already ready for you/everyone else to get over yourselves and get down to it. Will enable you to be what your wife needs during an extremely stressful period in her life.

I suggest you pay particular attention to the section on postpartum. The doctors will drag your wife/baby through the birth no matter what the situation, but postpartum is where you can all get extremely screwed without prior preparation. Good luck.

Check out "Like A Mother" by Angela Garbes. It's similar to Cribsheet, but more of a story of one woman's path through pregnancy.

https://www.amazon.com/Like-Mother-Feminist-Journey-Pregnancy/dp/0062662945