The first 40 days after the birth of a child offer an essential and fleeting period of rest and recovery for the new mother. Based on author Heng Ou's own postpartum experience with zuo yuezi, a set period of "confinement," in which a woman remains at home focusing on healing and bonding with her baby, The First Forty Days revives the lost art of caring for the mother after birth. As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely "bounce back" after delivering their babies, and are often left alone to face the physical and emotional challenges of this new stage of their lives, the first forty days provide a lifeline-a source of connection, nourishment, and guidance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heng Ou is the founder of MotherBees, a meal delivery service for new mothers. Amely Greeven is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Clean. Marisa Belger is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in Prevention, Travel + Leisure and New York magazines.
