Teresa Palmer - The Zen Mama Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond

From bruised bottoms to breastfeeding success, Teresa and Sarah always keep it practical, purposeful, and very, very real. Zen Mamas is a great guide to hold in your handand inspire youas you begin along the path of new motherhood.

Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, inventor of SNOO

Before I had a baby of my own, I had certain ideas about the kind of mama I wanted to be. But when my baby came along, I found that almost all of it went out the window. I started following the Your Zen Mama blog because Sarah and Teresas style really resonated with me. This beautiful book aligns with my own mothering style of meeting the needs when they arise, and I couldnt put it down. I can see this book soon being a staple on all new mamas nightstands.

Krysten Ritter, actor and author

The cover is idyllic but dont let it, or the title, fool you. This isnt a book about fairy-tale babies and perfect earth mothers. While there are plenty of pretty photos of hippie-chic coauthors Sarah and Teresa with their towheaded tots walking along beaches and playing in gardens, its the personal insights on tough mothering issues these good friends share with readers that makes The Zen Mama Guide so special. The two address such sensitive topics as infertility, miscarriage, postpartum depression, difficulties with breastfeeding, sleep problems, discipline, and more in a reassuring, straightforward, and nonjudgmental way. This is the perfect gift for your expectant sister, friend, coworker, or daughteror even you!

Glynis Costin, West Coast Bureau Chief, InStyle magazine

The Zen Mama Guide offers expecting and new parents practical, evidence-based information in a casual, down-to-earth, and inspiring format. Teresa and Sarah share openly, and it makes the reader experience a beautiful connection with the writers.

Ana Paula Markel, birth doula trainer and former DONA International president

Sarah and Teresa did a magnificent job of capturing the pregnancy journey. They thoroughly and accurately detailed prepregnancy issues, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. They left no stone unturned. I especially liked the attention placed on mental well-being.

Jay M. Goldberg, MD

Sarah and Teresa are refreshingly real, open, and honest about the ups and downs of pregnancy from start to finish. In addition to their personal experiences, they have compiled a comprehensive reference guide with expert resources to help you navigate with confidence through lifes most unique journey.

Dr. Elliot Berlin, DC

Dedicated to our children,

Wyatt, Bodhi, Esm, Forest, Poet, Winter & Isaac.

In loving memory of

Robert L. Wright and Dora Sanders.

Copyright 2021 by Your Zen Mama LLC

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published by Harper Horizon, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC.

Any internet addresses, phone numbers, or company or product information printed in this book are offered as a resource and are not intended in any way to be or to imply an endorsement by Harper Horizon, nor does Harper Horizon vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers, companies, or products beyond the life of this book.

The information in this book has been carefully researched, and all efforts have been made to ensure accuracy. The authors and the publisher assume no responsibility for any injuries suffered or damages or losses incurred during or as a result of following this information. All information should be carefully studied and clearly understood before taking any action based on the information or advice in this book.

ISBN 978-0-7852-4151-5 (eBook)

ISBN 978-0-7852-4150-8 (HC)

Epub Edition February 2021 9780785241515

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020944902

Printed in the United States of America

2122232425SAM10987654321

Ahhh, Zen. Not a word that springs to mind for most parents! That elusive state of being seems to exist only in the dreamiest versions of ourselves. So, what exactly is Zen? And what images are conjured up when you hear this word?

Do you see a group of serene people dressed in white, bathed in the hue of gentle sunshine with their hands held together in prayer, melodically omming to the same note? Do you imagine children frolicking through fields of poppies as their mothers pick berries and weave flower crowns to lay on their heads? Does living a Zen life sound like some hokey LA thing where communes of patchouli-scented vegans brew their own kombucha and create space to process their emotions? Where a lush willow-filled forest provides the backdrop to an orgasmic birth, followed by a gentle landing in a postpartum bed of rose petals?

Despite what Instagram might have you believe, this beautiful yet somewhat puke-inducing bubble of bliss doesnt actually exist. Any seemingly perfect snapshots like these are just small snippets from peoples lives (or marketing campaigns), and not at all reflective of the daily grind taking place in all kinds of households all over the world. So how has the word Zen become so wildly misused and misunderstood?

In its purest form, the word Zen comes from a Mahayana Buddhist movement, a centuries-old practice focusing on meditation as a way of achieving enlightenment. Over the years the term Zen has become synonymous with feelings of presence, acceptance, self-realization, peace, and balance. This vast definition means the philosophy can resonate with everyone. Its flexible and inclusive. To us, Zen is about working toward a feeling of alignment, balance, and self-care, setting us up for more positive, fulfilling, and grounding relationships with ourselves, our children, and those around us. We find that when we are doing the work to live more consciously, we are less triggered by the array of lifes colors, some more challenging than others.

So, whats our reality as Zen mamasand how Zen is it really? Well, a lot of the time its messy homes, frazzled parents, crazy kids, dirty diapers, fighting siblings, piles of laundry, garbage-filled cars, late school drop-offs, forgotten everythings, last-minute homework, TV binges, plastic toys, tantrums, all the ice creams one can possibly find, and the array of other chaos and corner cutting that comes with having kids. Phew!

But then, on the flip side, theres also sleeping babies, blissful breastfeeding, lazy beach days, camping adventures, giggle fits, nature play, homemade food, meditation, kids yoga, and happy, loving, card-making, conscious-minded children. With peaceful mamas, happy papas, and those pinch-me-Im-dreaming moments... Lets be honest: motherhood doesnt exist in the highlights reel of life, but finding a fleeting semblance of calm, acceptance, and presence among the inevitable pandemonium is what we try to do. We try to embrace the realness, the not-going-to-plan-ness, and the imperfectness of our picture. Being Zen(ish) is what we call itand its the