Jill Simonian - The Fab Moms Guide: How to Get Over the Bump & Bounce Back Fast After Baby

Praise for

I dont know anyone else more passionate about helping women keep it together in the throes of new motherhoodJill cracks the code for any new mom who wants to bounce back!

Ali Landry, actress, television host, and cofounder of Celebrity Red Carpet Safety Event

In this book, Jill offers creative suggestions for new moms that make us feel like us again. Her humor, refreshing honesty and personal stories will stick with you.

Debbie Matenopoulos, cohost of Hallmarks Home & Family , cohost of The Insider on CBS, and bestselling cookbook author

The FAB Moms Guide solves the challenging issues for first-time mothersthings I wish I wouldve read about when I was pregnant. Its a must-read for any new mom!

Jenn Brown, two-time Emmy Award winning sportscaster & television host

We had so much fun reading The FAB Moms Guide . Jills warm charm jumps right off the page.

Erin & Ian Ziering, AtHomeWithTheZierings.com

Jill Simonian always manages to be totally honest, hysterically funny, and inspirational when shes talking about babies, parenting, and getting your mom groove back.

Rebecca Dube, NBCs TODAY Show parenting team editor

Jill Simonian is the girlfriend every new mom needswith helpful tips and her trademark humor, shell get you through the first few months of parenting in style.

Megan Sayers, senior editor at Babble.com

Jill has a special and very approachable way of connecting Her willingness to share real-life experiences really empowers new moms.

Becky Talley, editorial and social media manager for Right Start Baby

The FAB Mom is an honest and hilarious book that feels like it was written by your best friend If theres anyone who can make wearing a postpartum diaper feel fab, its Jill!

Emma Bing, lifestyle editor at WhatToExpect.com and daughter of What to Expect book series author Heidi Murkoff

Authentic, approachable, and encouraging, Jill provides comfort (with a side of humor!) as we face pressures and the sometimes challenging decisions we must make as new moms. I wish this book was around when I became a mom six years ago! This is a perfect read for any new mom who needs to be reminded that she is doing her very best and that she too will bounce back!

Lindsay Pinchuk, founder and CEO of Bump Club and Beyond

Jill Simonian is one of very favorite mom writers! Shes funny and smartthe kind of woman you want to sit down and have a glass of wine with. She dishes on motherhood in all its awesome craziness and we so appreciate her honesty.

Cerentha Harris, editor of Mom.me

Copyright 2017 by Jill Simonian

Illustrations 2017 by Anne Higgins Clark

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Jane Sheppard

Cover photo credit: Anne Keenan Higgins

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-1516-5

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1518-9

Printed in China

To

Leah and Samantha (my girls),

You are the most fabulous little women I know.

Bonnie (my mom),

Youre the most FAB of all and always keep my head on straight.

CONTENTS

NOTE TO READERS

T his book is designed to help you make informed decisions about your lifestyle. Information given here are the ideas of its author, who is not a trained medical, health, fitness, psychology, or psychiatric professional. The ideas in this book are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of medical or psychiatric problem or condition. If you have a condition that requires care, please seek treatment from your healthcare provider.

The opinions provided in this book are not intended to replace the advice of qualified health professionals in any way, but are rather provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The author and experts featured in this book disclaim all responsibility for, and are not liable for, any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application in any of the contents of this book.

Products featured in this book are copyright and trademarks of their respective owners. None of these owners have sponsored, authorized, or endorsed this book in any way. Unless noted, author and experts are not affiliated with brands or products mentioned in this book.

AN INTRODUCTION

C ongratulations! Youre having a baby. (Or maybe youve just had a baby?) Cheers. Well done. Get it, girl. Im guessing you want to bounce back fast? Welcome to the club, ambitious woman. Between high-powered working moms, new celebrity moms on Instagram, rock star homemaker moms, and that random chick from your gym who was exercising up until the very day of her own delivery, bouncing back fast after having a baby is something a lot of us fantasize about during the nine months leading up to the big reveal (I did, anyway). Bouncing back fast can also be a realistic and empowering thing if you opt to do it without hesitation.

As someone who now finds herself working as a parenting lifestyle contributor and expert in media, Im the first to scream about how easy it is to get confused and frustrated with todays overabundant advice about how to have our babies and raise our kids and the best ways to take care of ourselves. Thanks to social media, theres this crazy notion that we all live the most fabulous lives without much fault. (Spare me the facade.) Since were going to spend serious time together and spill secrets for how to truly become a fab mom, I need to come clean: being a FAB Mom doesnt mean looking like a zillion bucks all the time (like the fab nickname leads you to believe).

The key to being a FAB mom and feeling more secure and happy the first year with baby depends on readjusting and recentering your focus . Bouncing back and conquering new motherhood on a day-to-day basis depends on a new moms ability to think clearly from the inside, rather than just looking fabulous on the outside. About 80 percent of new moms experience natural baby blues and mood swings after having a babymany of these feelings are linked to a change in identity. (Im a mom now?! What the heck am I supposed to do? Who am I?) So yes, the big aha -moment here is that FAB is actually an acronym: Focused After Baby. (Get it? F-A-B! Ha.) Dont feel trickedand please dont take this book back! Were going to have a blast.

The focus, moxie, and directions to a more fulfilled sense of self you will discover and hopefully follow in this guide will lead to surprising revelations, inspired perspective, and practical know-how thats going to rock your new life as a mom. Hell, its going to rock your life as a woman . Im betting right now that youre soon going to be very impressed with yourself after having a baby regardless of how organized and together you may already be.