This is a must read book for any expecting mother. The authors do a wonderful job of explaining the emotional roller coaster that accompanies pregnancy. They are honest in their explanations and back up their claims with factual data while reassuring the mother that what they are experiencing is normal. We need more books like this to address uncomfortable topics and help validate an expect mother's feeling.

There's no shortage of pregnancy books on the market, covering what to eat, what to expect and what to sing to your baby over the course of nine months. But few address the emotional wellbeing of pregnant people--a gap What No One Tells You aims to fill with a comprehensive, scientific account of the emotional journey from pregnancy through early motherhood. Reproductive psychiatrists Dr. Alexandrea Sacks and Dr. Catherine Birndorf set out to debunk the "hazardous" and "dangerous" myth that babies and motherhood equate to the "ultimate happiness," acknowledging instead the emotional ups and downs that come with pregnancy, and the many ways new parenthood might leave individuals "feeling lost between who they were before and who they think they should be now."

Sacks and Birndorf break matrescence--the act of becoming a mother--down into trimesters, with additional chapters on labor and delivery, and the first year of parenthood beyond the so-called "fourth trimester." Each section provides explanations of what expecting mothers might feel, coupled with practical advice on how to manage those feelings (and when it might be appropriate to seek additional medical support from a doctor or therapist). Written in a personable style, What No One Tells You is packed with science but never reads like an academic text. Instead, it's like getting support from a trusted friend who's finally willing to clue you in to what pregnancy is really like, imperfections and all, so expecting parents might be better equipped to figure out "how to hold on to [themselves] along the way."

What No One Tells You by Alexandra Sacks and Catherine Birndorf is a very helpful book, as the authors state, for women who are pregnant with their first child. I personally asked for the copy of the book in order to research the subject better before becoming pregnant.
I learned a great deal of helpful information. Some of the topics, that were brought up in the book, came up to me as something I never thought about but was glad to learn. One of the examples is the choice of the name. As a mother, one wants to choose a perfect name for the future baby. It might be difficult to listen to "family name" ideas if they contradict with mother's view. What is the right way to resolve that kind of situation without hurting anyone's feelings? The authors provide a great selection of scenarios about changing the shape and growing bigger; how to tell people about your pregnancy; how to tell people if there is no more baby? I am happy that I got to read this particular book before I am actually in need of the advice. I would recommend this book to all expecting and soon to be expecting mothers in order to have some mental peace when it will be needed.

"What No One Tells You" is an outstanding, comprehensive book written by two cutting-edge perinatal experts.I know! I wish I had this book before my first pregnancy in 2004—it would've answered some key questions and brought me comfort and confidene as I faced the birth of my first daughter. I will recommend this book to every expecting (or possibly expecting) mother

I really enjoyed this mental health aspect of pregnancy and being a new parent. I felt it was a lot of great information that I had not previously heard or read about in other pregnancy books. I liked the q&a pieces throughout the book. I like that there is a resources section in the back of the book to reference and it is broken up by different categories, i.e. moms of multiples, moms with babies who have medical issues, etc. I would recommend this book to anyone who who is a mom or dad to be, new mom or dad or even a caregiver as if gives good insight that may help.

This book will be a good addition to the parenting section at my public library. We have many books that address the physical side of pregnancy, so I'm glad that there is no a book addressing the emotional side as well. I wish I could have read it while I was pregnant!

Your guide to the emotions of pregnancy and early motherhood, from two of America’s top reproductive psychiatrists.

When you are pregnant, you get plenty of advice about your growing body and developing baby. Yet so much about motherhood happens in your head. What every pregnant woman really wants to know: is this normal? Is it normal for my sex drive to disappear or to go into overdrive? Is it normal to have nesting urges or an overloaded “mommy brain”? Is it normal for my parents to be acting out? Is it normal not to feel love at first sight for my baby? Is it normal to argue with my partner? For Dr. Sacks and Dr. Birndorf, the answer is yes.

I found this book to be a big help, I feel like it explained how every pregnancy and emotions from that pregnancy is different. It goes through all the things that most pregnancy books don't focus on and helps take the anxiety of it away. This is a great book for expectant mothers and moms that have had multiple pregnancies.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of What No One Tells You by Alexandra Sacks; Catherine Birndorf
Pub Date: 23 Apr 2019

I really liked how they spoke in this book. It felt like it was with empathy, not just telling you things and giving you anxiety which I think a lot of pregnancy books do. Being pregnant and having suffered postpartum depression in the past I really liked this book. I felt that they did a good job of helping you see that every pregnancy is different and yes, your hormones maybe raging, but try not to see it as a competition and try to enjoy the time you have.
This second pregnancy has been harder for me, I weigh more, I am more active but still feel huge. And it isn't great when strangers tell you you look huge. I liked some of the mantras in this book and it helped me to see that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am carrying a child my husband and I made out of love, and it is beautiful.
This is a great guide for new moms or repeat moms.

Like a conversation with a reassuring friend, this book will be comforting and helpful to expectant mothers and new moms alike. The authors focus on emotional and hormonal changes as well as the physical ones. I plan to buy a copy for my sister who just had a baby.