Mother Matters: A Holistic Guide to Being a Happy, Healthy Mom

(Paperback)

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Millions of mothers are born each year. From the moment a baby is born, the world seems to focus on childcare, but what about mothercare Enter Dayna Kurtz, the brains behind Huffington Post's Mother Matters blog. From postpartum depression and "baby blues" to healing meals and postnatal exercise, Kurtz guides new and veteran mothers alike through the best practices to care for themselves during their first year of motherhood. Her unique approach also includes less common methods like acupressure, expressive arts therapy, and more to help mothers boost their mental health and reclaim their identity. Backed by irrefutable research and personal anecdotes, Mother Matters is the guide every mother needs to not only survive but thrive!

Reviews

"Modern life means so many new mothers struggle to find their footing alone, without the community support, wisdomor even the bathroom breakthat a village would have once provided. New moms often don't how to make this transition easier. This book is a tremendous resource that offers something rare: a beautifully written mix of sage advice, personal and professional experience, and scientific evidence. It's a gift all moms should have."Tina Cassidy, author of Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Bornand former reporter and editor at The Boston Globe"Having anewborn is hard work and while new mothers strive to provide the best possible care for their babies, it is also imperative that they take care of their own well-being. Finally, there is a guidebook for new mothers about how to nourish not only their children, but alsothemselves. A must read!"Dr. DinaDiMaggio, MD, pediatrician and coauthor ofThe Pediatrician's Guide to Feeding Babies Toddlers"MotherMattersis a sensitive, gentle, easy read for anyone who has a mother, is a mother, or wants to be a mother. Ms. Kurtz sprinkles interesting anecdotal examples and light research statistics into her down-to-earth, folksy style of writing, which makes this book an easy must-read for all!"Dr. Fran Walfish, Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist and author ofThe Self-Aware Parent"Where has this book been hiding all these yearsall these generations With a remarkable ability to observe what is obvious but has remained unseen, Dayna Kurtz shares personal and professional insights in this thoughtful, practical and cogent guide to mastering the challenges of motherhood. She speaks to the reader in an honest, authentic and deeply personal voice offering practical and scientifically validated interventions that can readily be implemented.

In the introduction Dayna captures the demanding and emotionally painful transition that motherhood often entails. She poignantly notes that after birth, just the babys needs are attended to in our healthcare system: 'the only cries being heard were the ones from their babies.' And because, 'Every year, millions of mothers are born,' she proposes a new concept in maternal healthcare: The Maternal-Care Practitioner.

The birth of the Maternal-Care Practitioner is the baby Dayna is giving to every new parent, mothers and fathers. Men should read this book to know more about what their partners are experiencing. Dayna provides excellent advice for new parents: adapting to an expanded family, having productive conflict, creating safe emotional space and nurturing the marital relationship while mastering the parental relationship. To the question, what can fathers do in the realm of mother-care, she says, 'Like baby, mom needs to be held and cradled too.'
Reading this book and applying its philosophy after the birth of their first child and each one that follows will enhance every parents experience. As Dayna concludes, 'A better nourished mother will make for a better nourished baby.' And I would add, a better nourished couple relationship."Michael D. Zentman, PhD,Adelphi UniversityAssociate Clinical Professor of Psychology,Postgraduate Program in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, andDirector of Postgraduate Program in Couple Therapy
"Today's mother gets pulled in so many directions, it's no wonder so many put their own self-care on the back burner. Mother Matters guides you, the ever-sacrificing mom, through the essential steps of keeping yourself healthy, strong, and sane through the joyful madness we call motherhood."
Dan DeFigio, founder of BeatingSugarAddiction.com and author of Beating Sugar Addiction for Dummies

"Drawing upon her experience as a seasoned psychotherapist and a dedicated mother, Dayna Kurtz's book, Mother Matters, is deeply compassionate yet imminently practical, and an essential addition to anyone seeking a more profound, rich, and evocative understanding of motherhood."
Sebastian Zimmermann, MD, author of Fifty Shrinks

"MotherMatters is a warm, witty, and practical guide to helping new mothers navigate the often breathtaking, but sometimes difficult, and rarely perfect transition into motherhood. Bolstered by the latest findings in scientific research and her own training as a clinical social worker and certified pre- and postnatal fitness trainer, author Dayna Kurtz offers practical 'how-to' advice, illustrative real-life vignettes, and her own poignant reflections on the vicissitudes of motherhood. Kurtzs writing style is clear, pragmatic, and to the point. Recognizing the societal pressures women face to do it all and to do it flawlessly, especially when it comes to motherhood, Kurtz emphasizes the importance of making room for imperfection, and of caring for mother as well as baby. This book will be invaluable to new moms, and to those who love them."
Karen Starr, PsyD,Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst

"Its refreshing and empowering to have resources that are available to everyone. I appreciated that each chapter began with a new mothers story, which helped make the information relatable."
Tulsa Book Review

Author Bio

Dayna M. Kurtz, LMSW, CPT, is a leading authority on the subject of women transitioning to motherhood and serves as Director of the Anna Keefe Women's Center at the Training Institute for Mental Health in Manhattan. She is a licensed social worker and NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) Certified Personal Trainer with an additional certification in training pre- and postnatal clients. Dayna is a contributor to The Doctor's Book of Natural Remedies (Rodale, 2017). Dayna also serves as a Real Answers expert on TheBump.com. She has written or been consulted on articles for the websites of The Today Show, Pregnancy & Newborn, Big City Moms, Pregnancy Corner, and WAGmagazine among others, and writes the Mother Matters blog for the Huffington Post. A sought-after speaker, Dayna regularly presents on the subject of mothercare.