Postpartum Books and Products I Love:
Must-Have Support for Overwhelmed Moms
Being a new mom is beautiful—and overwhelming.
As a perinatal mental health therapist and mom, I know firsthand how heavy this season can feel. Between sleepless nights, shifting identity, and mountains of laundry, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning.
This list of postpartum essentials includes items that brought me comfort, saved time, and helped me care for myself in small, meaningful ways. Whether you're recovering from birth, adjusting to life with a newborn, or supporting a loved one, these are my go-to tools for navigating the messy magic of early motherhood.
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The Postpartum Husband by Karen Kleiman:
This short, easy-to-read guide is perfect for partners who want to be truly supportive after birth but aren’t sure how. It offers practical, compassionate advice for navigating the emotional and physical changes of the postpartum period—without overwhelming them. I recommend it often to help partners show up with empathy, patience, and understanding when moms need it most.
Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson
Becoming parents can bring couples closer—but it can also create distance, stress, and miscommunication. Hold Me Tight offers a compassionate, research-backed approach to strengthening emotional connection through the ups and downs of new parenthood. I recommend it to new parents who want to deepen their bond, improve communication, and feel more secure with each other during this major life transition.
It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine
Grief doesn’t just follow loss—it can show up in the postpartum season, in identity shifts, birth trauma, or unmet expectations. It’s OK That You’re Not OK offers a powerful, honest look at what it means to hurt without needing to fix or minimize it. I recommend it to new moms who feel unseen in their struggles and need permission to feel exactly what they’re feeling, without judgment or pressure to “get over it.”
How To Keep House While Drowning
by KC Davis
This book is a game-changer for overwhelmed moms. KC Davis offers a compassionate, shame-free approach to care tasks like laundry, dishes, and tidying—reminding us that a messy house is not a moral failure. Her practical strategies and gentle mindset shifts are especially powerful in the postpartum period, when everything feels like too much. It’s like a warm hug and a deep breath for your nervous system.
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Motherhood often comes with an overwhelming amount of pressure—from family, friends, work, and even ourselves. Set Boundaries, Find Peace is an empowering guide that helps new moms identify their needs, communicate clearly, and protect their energy without guilt. I recommend it because setting boundaries is not just helpful in postpartum—it’s essential for your mental health, relationships, and sense of self.
Life With Baby: A Pregnancy and Postpartum Workbook
It offers practical tools and guidance to navigate the emotional and logistical challenges of parenthood. With mental health planning templates for both birthing parents and their partners, it addresses often-overlooked essentials like self-care, building a support network, sleep, and nutrition. The workbook also provides education on perinatal mental health conditions, coping strategies, and communication prompts, making it a comprehensive guide to support emotional well-being during the perinatal period.
The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner
For new moms experiencing postpartum rage or feeling overwhelmed by unspoken resentment, The Dance of Anger is a powerful resource. It helps women understand their anger as a signal—not a failure—and offers tools to express it in healthy, productive ways. This book is especially helpful for navigating shifting roles, relationship dynamics, and boundary-setting in the intense postpartum season.
The Postpartum Depression Journal by Katie Joy Wells
This guided journal offers a compassionate space for new moms to process their thoughts and emotions during one of the most vulnerable times in life. With thoughtful prompts, mood trackers, and affirmations, it helps make sense of the overwhelm while reducing shame and isolation. I recommend it as a supportive companion for moms navigating postpartum depression, anxiety, or simply needing a place to be honest and seen.
The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
This groundbreaking book explains how trauma lives in the body and how healing is possible through body-based and therapeutic approaches. I recommend it to new moms processing birth trauma, past experiences, or intense emotional responses in postpartum. It offers deep insight into why you might feel the way you do—and what you can do to begin healing.