Birth without fear The judgment-free guide to taking charge of your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum

Mom-of-six Harshe knows how to connect with pregnant women and newbie mothers. Nearly 400,000 people like her Facebook page, Birth without Fear, and more than 149,000 people follow her Instagram, Take Back Postpartum, which celebrates moms' bodies after childbirth. So it makes sense that she would write a book organized into three sections: pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Harshe gives sensible advice throughout. For example, she recommends that pregnant women write a birth plan. For Harshe, it's all about what she calls self-care and self-love. She admirably helps new moms realize that lots of women feel lonely during motherhood, which is ironic, she notes, given that they never get to go to the bathroom alone. She also advises women not to care what others say or think; instead, she advises, they should take a deep breath and choose what's best for them, from where to give birth to breastfeeding or not and beyond. She also gives women permission to feel depressed, providing key resources because, as Harshe notes, she can only hold their hands in theory. Practical, positive, and empowering.--Karen Springen Copyright 2010 Booklist