How to Grow a Baby: A Science-Based Guide to Nurturing New Life, from Pregnancy to Childbirth and Beyond

Product Description

Written by a nurse, this holistic guide for pregnancy and the postpartum experience provides foundational knowledge and intuitive wisdom to help new mothers support the optimal health of their baby and their own bodies.

Get the answers to the big questions about pregnancy:
  
•  What kinds of foods should you eat and how do you prepare your body for labor and birth?
  
•  How does movement impact pelvic health and the baby’s position in the womb?
  
•  How does the endocrine system and your brain change throughout pregnancy?
  
•  How does the microbiome influence your and your baby’s health?

Packed with practical information and helpful infographics, Amy J. Hammer helps you create the optimal environment for growing a baby and navigating the major transitions in a pregnancy—including nurturing pelvic floor health, the fetal and parental microbiome, and the science behind the stages of pregnancy from conception to postpartum.

By providing vital and often ignored information about reproductive science, movement, and nourishment, this book empowers parents to make informed and personal choices about their pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Review

“This is a rich and comprehensive resource for new parents on how to create a healthy and holistic environment from conception to birth for your growing baby. I wish I had read this fascinating book when I was going through my pregnancies!”– Angela Hanscom, Author of
Balanced & Barefoot, Founder of TimberNook 
 
“
How to Grow a Baby is a wonderful guide for pregnancy. We happily share it with all our clients now and are thankful there is such a well-rounded holistic guide available. It’s truly a gem of a book!”–Morgan Miller CPM LDM LM Midwife at Soft Corner Midwifery
 
“
How to Grow a Baby is one of the best modern preparing-for-parenting resources I’ve seen in a long time. Amy has struck the perfect balance of artistry, science, and storytelling to create a book that will help all families start right where they are on their parenting journey. I love that she created space to speak about the importance of processing and sharing your birth story, listening to your body as you heal during the postpartum season, and how you can be gentle with yourself and others as you navigate the rhythms of new parenthood. The 4th trimester is often overlooked, but not in this book. I’m excited to offer this amazing resource to midwifery clients here in Puerto Rico!”–Anjelica Malone, MSM, CLEC, CPM, Midwife
 
“
How To Grow a Baby is a beautiful and truly holistic touchstone for any birthing person on the journey from conception to parenthood. It was a trusted companion during my evolution into motherhood and it is a pleasure to share the wisdom in this book with others who are navigating this incredible path.”–Lizzy Moran, Certified Hormone Health Coach, RYT 200, Founder of Well Women, LLC
 
“In a time when much of the advice aimed at new parents is either driven by fear or informed by outdated studies,
How to Grow A Baby is a refreshing alternative—an honest and reassuring read that pulls equally from modern science, personal experience, and the time-honored practices of cultures around the world. Reading this book is like having a knowledgeable friend guide you with humor and aplomb through the changes, challenges, and joys of parenthood.”–Krista Langlois, journalist and
Outside magazine contributor 
 
“Engaging, intelligent, illuminating, and entertaining, this book provides a wealth of practical information for readers embarking on the exciting but often intimidating journey of pregnancy and childbirth. Expertly braiding candid personal narrative with reliable science and seasoning her stories with humor and genuine insight, Amy Hammer is the most supportive and companionable guide imaginable. Anyone interested in walking a healthy path through the physiological, emotional, and psychological landscape of pregnancy will find this work indispensable.
How to Grow