04/03/2023

Singer Trainor debuts with an empathetic program for expecting mothers. She provides advice on keeping up one’s mental and physical health while expecting and recounts anecdotes from her pregnancy, discussing her fear of miscarriage, decision to stay on antidepressants, disappointment at finding out she was having a boy instead of the girl she had been imagining, as well as what it was like to get a C-section. Checklists outline how to prep for each trimester; Trainor recommends that mothers in their first trimester ask their health insurance providers what kinds of appointments are covered and that mothers in their third trimester babyproof their house and tour the maternity ward where they plan to give birth. She also provides exercises from her personal trainer, such as how to properly do dumbbell squats and reverse lunges, alongside recipes from her dietitian, which include sweet potato quiche, Mongolian beef and broccoli, and kale and cannellini bean soup. Though Trainor’s advice sometimes feels more applicable to pop stars than ordinary people (she counsels readers that they don’t “have to go all out for your pregnancy announcements”), the compassionate tone (“I insist you become your biggest fan”) feels like chatting with a good friend. Expecting mothers will find this a plucky companion. (Apr.)

05/01/2023

Mother and Grammy Award—winning singer/songwriter Trainor says she's been obsessed with motherhood from the time she "accidentally" witnessed her aunt giving birth when she was 12 years old. In this book, she gets expert insight from her fitness expert, dietitian, obstetrician-gynecologist, and her husband, actor Daryl Sabara. The book is centered around Trainor's primary "mama rules," which urge readers to avoid judging themselves or others, to trust their own decision-making abilities, and to give themselves credit for trying their best. Readers may appreciate Trainor's brutally honest perspective on the timing of getting pregnant, her gestational diabetes, her changing body, her mental health, and even her sex life while trying to conceive. The author doesn't shy away from exploring such topics as miscarriage, infertility, and postpartum depression. The book also includes advice from experts on how to navigate one's own struggles and how to help a friend in need. VERDICT Written in the tone of a best friend offering recommendations, this book is a quick and easy read. New and aspiring parents and Trainor's many fans will likely devour this comprehensive guide.