Table of Contents
Part 1 Living on Baby Time
Introduction: My New Center 11
1 What's Normal: Adjusting Your Expectations 13
2 Spin Cycle: Taking Life One Load at a Time 17
3 Offbeat: Doing What Works for Your Family 23
4 Staying Flexible: What Rattles Your Rhythm 27
5 Tears and Fears: Coping with Crying 39
6 Just One More Thing: Leaving the House 44
7 Two Jobs to Do: Rhythms of a Working Mom 52
8 Permission Granted: Time for Mom 62
9 Daddy Dish: Living in Different Daytime Worlds 67
Making Sweet Music: The Changing Melodies of Motherhood 71
Part 2 Your Body after Baby
Introduction: We're in This Together 75
10 Whose Body Is This? Navigating and Accepting Change 77
11 Breast-Feeding Bumps: Being Someone Else's Refrigerator Isn't Always a Picnic 88
12 Coming Out of the Closet: Weight and Clothes 102
13 Downpour: Weathering Your Emotional Storms 111
14 Daddy Dish: A New Day for Both of You 130
Happy Mothering: Embracing Your New You 134
Part 3 Dealing with Dad
Introduction: Joining Forces 137
15 Asking for Directions: Letting Dad Find His Rhythm 139
16 Riding Shotgun: Strapping Yourselves Together 146
17 Table for Two: Ideas for Staying Connected 150
18 Wanted: Diaper-Changing Mind Reader Able to Function on Little Sleep 157
19 Lobbying for Hobbies: Finding Peace in What's His, Mine, and Ours 163
20 Overstuffed: The Dollars and Sense of Providing 167
21 Private Time: Intimacy after Baby 172
22 Cleanup: Making Your House Work 182
Looking Ahead: Who Do You Want to Be? 189
Part 4 Finding Your Own Mothering Style
Introduction: Feeling Comfortable in Your New Role 193
23 Rearview Mirror: What You Bring with You 195
24 It's All Relative: Dealing with the Grandparents 201
25 A Discerning Ear: Hearing Your Inner Momma 212
26 Friends: Finding Companionship and Support in Other Mothers 221
27 Keeping Perspective: The Woman behind the Mother 231
28 Sitter Savvy: Finding Child Care You Trust 236
The Bottom Line: Staying True to You 243
Acknowledgments 247
MOPS: A Place to Belong 249