Postpartum: From Pregnant to Parent

Once again, Injoy strikes the right balance between useful information and understated compassion with this look at postpartum depression that combines honest parent interviews, dramatic (and often humorous) vignettes, simple yet effective coping strategies, and excellent production values. Divided into five sections, Postpartum: From Pregnant to Parent covers handling the first few exhausting days at home with a new baby, recognizing the differences between normal feelings and signs of postpartum depression, learning how to take care of one's self, working out a balanced routine with a spouse/mate, seeking help from friends and family, and preparing for childcare and returning to work. In one segment, for example, an interviewed mother thought she could “do it all”—in her case, cook a gourmet meal, watch her neighbor's child, and handle her own new baby, all at the same time—but the realistic yet amusing dramatization that accompanies her story illustrates why this was an unrealistic expectation. An excellent resource for parenting collections, this is highly recommended. [Note: Recognizing & Treating Postpartum Depression: A Practitioner's Guide, priced at $299 for VHS or DVD, is also newly available.] Aud: C, P. (A. Cantú)