Mother Nurture: A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relat

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. Psychologist Rick Hanson, Nutritionist Jan Hanson, and Obstetrician Ricki Pollycove offer hundreds of practical ways a mother can lift her mood, stay energetic and healthy, build teamwork and intimacy with her partner-and be at her best for her family, during the stressful and crucial first three to five years of her child's life. Plus they explain how the strains of motherhood can literally deplete a woman's body, draining it of important nutrients such as minerals and amino acids-sometimes so severely that she experiences the Depleted Mother Syndrome (DMS) that affects at least one mother in ten. Covering everything from stress relief in the middle of a crazy day to getting more sleep, eating better, balancing home and work, sharing the load fairly, and keeping a strong love alive with her partner, Mother Nurture is the first book to present a comprehensive program that helps a mom take care of herself while she takes care of her family.

The first book to teach stressed-out new mothers how to heal themselves. Women raising young children in the twenty-first century face relentless, often overwhelming stress. Today's mothers juggle more tasks, work longer hours, and sleep less than their own mothers did. Mother Nurture is the first book to address these issues with a comprehensive program of physical, psychological, and interpersonal care methods for a mother during the first three to four years of her child's life.

Rick Hansen, Ph.D, is a clinical psychologist and an expert on the effects of motherhood on women. In addition to making regular appearances on radio and in print publications, he has made presentations to thousands of parents and professionals.

Jan Hansen, La.C., is a licensed healthcare practitioner trained in nutrition, homeopathy, and Chinese modern medicine.

Ricki Pollycove, M.D., is an experienced OB-GYN with twenty-five years of clinical practice.

Contents

Introduction, 1

Part One: Understanding the Challenges of Motherhood, 5

1. Refilling Your Cupboard, 7

How Your Cupboard Can Become Bare, 8

The Effects on a Mother's Body, 13

The Effects on a Mother's Mind, 18

The Effects on a Mother's Marriage, 22

Your Path Toward Well-being, Health, and Support, 27

Part Two: Nurturing Your Mind, 31

2. Reducing Your Stress, 33

Short-term Stress Relief, 34

Long-term Stress Relief, 37

3. Transforming Painful Emotions, 59

Turning Sadness into Contentment, 60

Turning Anxiety into Security, 71

Turning Shame into a Sense of Worth, 76

Turning Anger into a Peaceful Heart, 85

Part Three: Nurturing Your Body, 93

4. Staying Well, 95

Getting Enough Sleep, 96

Eating Right, 107

Exercising Regularly, 126

Keeping a Basic Balance in Your Life, 130

Avoiding Health Hazards, 134

Having Regular Checkups, 145

5. What to Do if You're Getting Depleted, 149

Jan's Story: "I'm Going to Get Better!", 151

The Spectrum of Care, 156

Your Gastrointestinal System, 159

Your Nervous System, 169

Your Endocrine System, 176

Your Immune System, 189

Part Four: Nurturing Your Intimate Relationship, 199

6. Communicating with Your Partner, 203

A Civil Tongue, 204

Empathy, 214

Translating Mom-Speak and Dad-Speak, 222

Speaking Your Mind, 227

Positive Support, 228

Making Repairs, 230

7. Partners in Parenthood, 232

Parenting from the Same Page, 232

Sharing the Load, 247

8. Staying Intimate Friends After Becoming Parents, 261

Understanding and Overcoming Blocks to Intimacy, 264

Finding Time for Your Relationship, 270

Asking Three Questions a Day, 273

Healing Bruises to Your Relationship, 277

Sex After Children, 281

Part Five: Managing the Marathon of Motherhood, 305

9. Juggling Motherhood and Work, 309

Making Choices About Working, 311

Making It Work to Stay Home, 322

Making It Work to Work, 325

Afterword, 333

Appendix A. Defining Depleted Mother Syndrome, 335

Appendix B. Resources for Your Health and Well-being, 339

Appendix C. A Safe Room in Your Mind, 351

Appendix D. Mother's Suggested Daily Values, 354

Appendix E. The Insider's Guide: Finding the Right Practitioners and Procedures for Your Unique Health Care Needs, 357

Index, 365