Becoming a mother is probably the most life-changing experience any woman goes through and the first weeks after giving birth is a period of huge adjustment for both mother and baby. Many cultures recognise this with a period of 'lying in' but in the West we have lost this, pressuring women to get 'back to normal; as soon as possible after birth. We need to rediscover the art of mothering the new mother. We expect new mothers to carry on as before, as quickly as possible, and in minimising the time they need to recover from the birth and get to know their babies, we trivialise the event. Not surprising then that ten percent of women in the UK have severe postnatal depression and many more feel they 'can't cope'. NCT counsellor, psychologist and bestselling author Caroline Deacon explores how we can prepare for, and enjoy, an ideal babymoon and make the most of this most precious and vital time. The book offers a reassuring, affirming, entertaining and informative guide to babymooning and takes the reader through pregnancy, birth and those key first weeks of a newborn's life.