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

by Heng Ou (Author), Amely Greeven (Author), Marisa Belger (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

2,161 ratings

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After labor, it’s time for rest: A gentle guide to zuo yuezi, the ancient Chinese practice of postpartum self-care, including sixty simple recipes.

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 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. This 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 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. Fully illustrated, it is a practical guide and inspirational read for all new mothers and mothers-to-be—the perfect ally during the first weeks with a new baby.

“Bringing our attention back to the importance of the postpartum period for new mothers helps to create space for this essential period of integration and recovery . . . an invaluable companion during the first 40 days and beyond.” —Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein, filmmakers, The Business of Being Born

From the Publisher

The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

Women are beginning to see the range of choices they have during pregnancy and birth, but the journey isn’t over when the baby arrives. Bringing our attention back to the importance of the postpartum period for new mothers helps to create space for this essential period of integration and recovery. The First 40 Days is an invaluable companion during the first 40 days and beyond.―Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein, Filmmakers, The Business of Being Born

About the Author

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

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

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01C78JS64
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stewart, Tabori & Chang; Illustrated edition (April 26, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 26, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 23.7 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 424 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #57,411 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8 in Postpartum Depression
- #11 in Pregnancy & Childbirth (Kindle Store)
- #23 in Motherhood (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
2,161 ratings

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Heng Ou
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Amely Greeven
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Marisa Belger
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Marisa Belger is a life coach supporting women through the big questions of parenthood and partnership. She is co-author of The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother; Awakening Fertility: The Essential Art of Preparing for Pregnancy; and Nine Golden Months: The Essential Art of Nurturing the Mother-to-Be. Learn more at marisabelger.com.
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2,161 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this postpartum book life-changing and filled with wisdom, particularly appreciating its detailed advice and traditional postpartum practices. Moreover, the recipes are easy to follow, and customers consider it essential for postpartum thriving, with one customer noting how it helped them have their best postpartum experience. Additionally, the book features beautiful pictures and provides wise words about rest, making it a great baby shower gift. However, the writing quality receives mixed reviews, with some customers finding it great while others describe it as disheartening.

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Information quality Readability Recipes quality Postpartum care Beauty Comfort level Gift value Writing quality

107 customers mention "Information quality"107 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and filled with wisdom, describing it as life-changing and a much-needed resource.

"...They’ve done their best to create an inclusive and affirming book to help you nourish yourself and recover completely, and it’s a favorite reference..." Read more

"...incredible time this is for mothers to nourish themselves, be nourished and heal. I have bought copies for every pregnant friend since reading this...." Read more

"...homemade products; for nourishing her body in labor, with nutrient-rich labor drinks; and for nourishing her spirit, with wise words about rest,..." Read more

"...This book dove into other cultures and how they care for new mothers, unlike the US when mothers are expected to be back to normal and running the..." Read more

81 customers mention "Readability"81 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and wonderful, describing it as an amazing resource about postpartum care that is important for new mothers. One customer mentions it should be read early in pregnancy.

"...Great book overall" Read more

"...It was such a warming, comforting, honest book. All of the recipes are simple and she tells you where to source everything...." Read more

"...Nevertheless very good book and great reminder to all moms how and the importance to take care of herself the months after birth." Read more

"What a remarkable book, rare in its beautiful writing and artful photographs, designed to help pregnant women, their partners and extended families..." Read more

65 customers mention "Recipes quality"53 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy the recipes in the cookbook, finding them wonderful and easy to follow, with one customer particularly praising the C-recovery vegetable stew.

"Great for new moms to be. Good recipes that I will be trying out...." Read more

"...It was such a warming, comforting, honest book. All of the recipes are simple and she tells you where to source everything...." Read more

"...My favorites were specifically the smoothie recipes, I had my husband make me one everyday for the first month after birth...." Read more

"...It also includes recipes for nourishing her body from the outside, through homemade products; for nourishing her body in labor, with nutrient-rich..." Read more

52 customers mention "Postpartum care"52 positive0 negative

Customers find the book essential for postpartum care, serving as a daily guide through the recovery period and helping customers have their best postpartum experience.

"Great for new moms to be. Good recipes that I will be trying out...." Read more

"...empowering way and provide so many ways that you can care for yourself postpartum no matter what your family unit or maternity leave looks like...." Read more

"I found this book invaluable for my time postpartum, particularly the recipes...." Read more

"...offering wise words about placenta power, transitions, basic wisdom about new baby visitors, when to utilize professionals in your support system,..." Read more

36 customers mention "Beauty"36 positive0 negative

Customers find the cookbook beautiful, appreciating its great pictures, and one customer notes how it paints a clear picture.

"...The authors address womanhood and mothering in a beautiful, empowering way and provide so many ways that you can care for yourself postpartum no..." Read more

"...My expectation of this book was that it would be a beautiful cookbook, and it is! But it is so much more...." Read more

"...The first 45 days can be such a beautiful and magic time... this book just makes sure you are intentional." Read more

"What a remarkable book, rare in its beautiful writing and artful photographs, designed to help pregnant women, their partners and extended families..." Read more

21 customers mention "Comfort level"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book comforting, particularly appreciating its wise words about rest. One customer mentions it provides peace during sensitive days, while another notes it offers calmness during sleepless nights.

"...It was such a warming, comforting, honest book. All of the recipes are simple and she tells you where to source everything...." Read more

"...Book lovers especially will delight in the look and feel of this book....the Yin and Yang of its texture and smooth spaces...." Read more

"...This book is deeply respectful of the importance of rest, warmth, support and ritual and gives insightful tips and practical guidance for how to..." Read more

"...paper stock, to the photography... everything about this book feels so intentional." Read more

14 customers mention "Gift value"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great baby shower gift.

"...wonderful book is not a book ahead of its time; rather, it is a long-awaited gift that has finally arrived for mothers everywhere...." Read more

"...I highly recommend buying this item or is also a great baby shower item to gift someone." Read more

"...Great as a baby shower gift or just to send to someone who is expecting and you know could use some ides for after the birth of the baby." Read more

"Wonderful book! Every mother needs it!!! Great baby shower gift because many suggestions relate to what one can do before delivery...." Read more

30 customers mention "Writing quality"17 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it great while others describe it as disheartening.

"What a remarkable book, rare in its beautiful writing and artful photographs, designed to help pregnant women, their partners and extended families..." Read more

"...fish head broth which looking back was time consuming but also very unappealing and the whole fish head thing, eyes staring back at you no thank you...." Read more

"...This is exactly the book I had been looking for. It's very well written, provides incredibly helpful framework for understanding postpartum, and is..." Read more

"Sooo many words and is not easy for the postpartum mom to get through. Wish it was more recipes." Read more

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Cristal Rodriguez
good detailed advices
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2025
Verified Purchase

Great for new moms to be. Good recipes that I will be trying out. I think would work better for people with lot of friends and family close to help you carry it out I will try to do everything for myself as I don’t have people close to me. Great book overall

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2 people found this helpful

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Kay
Excellent Resource!
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2022
Verified Purchase
I put off reading this book because the reviews were so bad, but I’m so glad I finally read it! It was such a warming, comforting, honest book. All of the recipes are simple and she tells you where to source everything. There’s some specialty ingredients that need to be sourced online or at an Asian grocery store (I grew up visiting those stores with my mother and always find one in each new town I move to), but she makes it very clear that they can be left out of the recipes if you can’t find them or don’t have them on hand.

The authors address womanhood and mothering in a beautiful, empowering way and provide so many ways that you can care for yourself postpartum no matter what your family unit or maternity leave looks like. They’ve done their best to create an inclusive and affirming book to help you nourish yourself and recover completely, and it’s a favorite reference book of mine now. I highly recommend it and will be handing it to my husband when the time comes!

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28 people found this helpful

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shkbclimber
A beautiful guide for new moms (and those supporting her)
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
I found this book invaluable for my time postpartum, particularly the recipes. My favorites were specifically the smoothie recipes, I had my husband make me one everyday for the first month after birth. I also appreciated the wisdom of what many cultures do during the first 40 days after birth and what an important and incredible time this is for mothers to nourish themselves, be nourished and heal. I have bought copies for every pregnant friend since reading this. Highly recommend!

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One person found this helpful

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Kathie
Capturing the Wisdom of the Old Ways for the Modern Mother
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
What a book! Loved this book is an understatement! Often I peruse a book when I first receive it, glancing through the images and chapter titles. With this one, however, I was captured by chapter one and could not put it down. The voice of this book is that of a mother…of many mothers…in the language of intimate kitchen table conversation.

My expectation of this book was that it would be a beautiful cookbook, and it is! But it is so much more. Emerging from the “institution of postpartum care that dates back centuries“ with “global grandmotherly” wisdom from China, South America, India, Korea and the Native American traditions, this wonderful book is not a book ahead of its time; rather, it is a long-awaited gift that has finally arrived for mothers everywhere.

The sub title, The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother, expertly describes the delicious food recipes (visual works of art) offered to replenish a mother’s body after pregnancy and birth. It also includes recipes for nourishing her body from the outside, through homemade products; for nourishing her body in labor, with nutrient-rich labor drinks; and for nourishing her spirit, with wise words about rest, retreat and ritual. Ten wisdom pages are interspersed throughout offering wise words about placenta power, transitions, basic wisdom about new baby visitors, when to utilize professionals in your support system, and more.

Book lovers especially will delight in the look and feel of this book....the Yin and Yang of its texture and smooth spaces. Perfect pregnancy gift for mothers as there is much to ponder in advance that our fast moving culture has no clue about.

Buy this book as soon as possible. It is a treasure.

Read more

Kathie

Capturing the Wisdom of the Old Ways for the Modern Mother

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2016
What a book! Loved this book is an understatement! Often I peruse a book when I first receive it, glancing through the images and chapter titles. With this one, however, I was captured by chapter one and could not put it down. The voice of this book is that of a mother…of many mothers…in the language of intimate kitchen table conversation.

My expectation of this book was that it would be a beautiful cookbook, and it is! But it is so much more. Emerging from the “institution of postpartum care that dates back centuries“ with “global grandmotherly” wisdom from China, South America, India, Korea and the Native American traditions, this wonderful book is not a book ahead of its time; rather, it is a long-awaited gift that has finally arrived for mothers everywhere.

The sub title, The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother, expertly describes the delicious food recipes (visual works of art) offered to replenish a mother’s body after pregnancy and birth. It also includes recipes for nourishing her body from the outside, through homemade products; for nourishing her body in labor, with nutrient-rich labor drinks; and for nourishing her spirit, with wise words about rest, retreat and ritual. Ten wisdom pages are interspersed throughout offering wise words about placenta power, transitions, basic wisdom about new baby visitors, when to utilize professionals in your support system, and more.

Book lovers especially will delight in the look and feel of this book....the Yin and Yang of its texture and smooth spaces. Perfect pregnancy gift for mothers as there is much to ponder in advance that our fast moving culture has no clue about.

Buy this book as soon as possible. It is a treasure.

Images in this review

37 people found this helpful

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Gilliane
Beautiful book & much needed for every new mother
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
Verified Purchase

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I purchased this book before I had my twins as I loved everything it represented. Nourishing the new mother and taking that time to recover is so important! This book dove into other cultures and how they care for new mothers, unlike the US when mothers are expected to be back to normal and running the next day. I am obsessed with all things nutrition, rituals and cooking. This book encased everything I am passionate about and it made me so happy. I have gifted this book to every new mother to be I know. I also make the Gooey Chocolate Brownies & Vanilla Coconut Haystacks for every mother after birth.
The book is beautiful and even though my kids are now 4, I keep it on my shelf displayed proudly. I still use some recipes and just appreciate all of the information I find myself still checking it for things. My sister just had a baby a few weeks ago and I read it again as well as gifted her a copy. I showed up with a basket of goodies from the book and the knowledge of how to support her. The first 45 days can be such a beautiful and magic time... this book just makes sure you are intentional.

Read more

Gilliane

Beautiful book & much needed for every new mother

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
I purchased this book before I had my twins as I loved everything it represented. Nourishing the new mother and taking that time to recover is so important! This book dove into other cultures and how they care for new mothers, unlike the US when mothers are expected to be back to normal and running the next day. I am obsessed with all things nutrition, rituals and cooking. This book encased everything I am passionate about and it made me so happy. I have gifted this book to every new mother to be I know. I also make the Gooey Chocolate Brownies & Vanilla Coconut Haystacks for every mother after birth.
The book is beautiful and even though my kids are now 4, I keep it on my shelf displayed proudly. I still use some recipes and just appreciate all of the information I find myself still checking it for things. My sister just had a baby a few weeks ago and I read it again as well as gifted her a copy. I showed up with a basket of goodies from the book and the knowledge of how to support her. The first 45 days can be such a beautiful and magic time... this book just makes sure you are intentional.

Images in this review

11 people found this helpful

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gt
Great book even for second time moms! Just a little too wordy though.
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
Great book and good reminder for preparing for the “fourth trimester.” I got it because I was preparing for my “sitting moon month” with my second kid, but couldn’t read the Chinese books my mom gave me. Wish I started reading it earlier (like say end of second trimester to start preparing for the final trimester) because there is a lot of information in it and my baby arrived several weeks early! Great tips that go beyond Chinese custom and reminded us the importance of taking care of mom after baby birth is international custom-not just Asian.

My only issue with this book is that it almost has too much info and I don’t have the luxury of time to fully READ the entire book (as I have an toddler already to care for while preparing for my new one). It would be great to have a shorter “cliff notes” version for those of us moms who just don’t have the time. Just because you’re a second time or multi time mom doesn’t mean you don’t need this info or reminder to take care of you after baby comes, but it’s just too wordy to get through the whole thing. Maybe if you’re a first time mom that has time to read through a bunch of baby prep books but not one that already has kids.

Nevertheless very good book and great reminder to all moms how and the importance to take care of herself the months after birth.

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64 people found this helpful

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Alexandra Madar
Highly recommend it
Reviewed in Mexico on April 21, 2021
Verified Purchase

I loved reading the book and cooking the recipes.

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Amazon Kunde
soul warming
Reviewed in Germany on July 18, 2023
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Beautifully written and talking to the heart. Every new mothers best bible! Not only when it comes to food. Excellent. Nourishing. Soul warming.

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Andrea
Great book!
Reviewed in Spain on February 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
Very informative and useful book for postpartum!

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Alexandra Kerekes
Great book to gift a pregnant lady
Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
I got this for my family to understand what postpartum was like and to know how to best support me during this period. It’s a great book with helpful insights and I’m glad more people (from western culture) are starting to recognize the importance of this time

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Cliente Amazon
Best book for mums to be
Reviewed in Italy on September 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Tutte le future mamme dovrebbero avere questo libro. Ottime ricette per nutrire la mamma e quindi il suo bambino. O

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

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Heng Ou

Amely Greeven

Marisa Belger

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Beautiful book & much needed for every new mother

Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars good detailed advices

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource!

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful guide for new moms (and those supporting her)

5.0 out of 5 stars Capturing the Wisdom of the Old Ways for the Modern Mother

Capturing the Wisdom of the Old Ways for the Modern Mother

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5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book & much needed for every new mother

Beautiful book & much needed for every new mother

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4.0 out of 5 stars Great book even for second time moms! Just a little too wordy though.

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend it

5.0 out of 5 stars soul warming

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to gift a pregnant lady

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for mums to be

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good detailed advices

Excellent Resource!

A beautiful guide for new moms (and those supporting her)

Capturing the Wisdom of the Old Ways for the Modern Mother

Beautiful book & much needed for every new mother

Great book even for second time moms! Just a little too wordy though.

Highly recommend it

soul warming

Great book!

Great book to gift a pregnant lady

Best book for mums to be