The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother

Heng Ou · Amely Greeven · Marisa Belger

Dec 2019 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Emily Durante

About this audiobook

The first forty days after the birth of a child offer an essential and fleeting period of rest and recovery for the new mother. Based on author Heng Ou's own postpartum experience with zuo yuezi, a set period of “confinement,” in which a woman remains at home focusing on healing and bonding with her baby, The First Forty Days revives the lost art of caring for the mother after birth. As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely “bounce back” after deliver­ing their babies, and are often left alone to face the physical and emotional challenges of this new stage of their lives, the first forty days provide a lifeline-a source of connection, nourishment, and guidance. The book includes sixty simple recipes for healing soups; replenishing meals and snacks; and calming and lactation-boosting teas, all formulated to support the unique needs of the new mother. In addition to the recipes, this warm and encouraging guide offers advice on arranging a system of help during the post­partum period, navigating relationship challenges, and honoring the significance of pregnancy and birth.

About the author

Heng Ou is the founder of MotherBees, a food and lifestyle company supporting women through every stage of motherhood.

Amely Greeven is coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Clean.

Marisa Belger is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in numerous magazines and websites, including Natural Health, Prevention, Travel + Leisure, and New York.

Emily Durante has been narrating audiobooks for over ten years and is also an AudioFile Earphones Award-winning audiobook director. She has been acting since the age of seven and has performed in a number of stage productions at the professional, collegiate, and regional levels.