190,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Come visit us in-store this weekend! 📚 Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

The First Forty Days

The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother
4.11 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 4,600 ratings, 413 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The First Forty Days by Heng Ou, Amely Greeven, and Marisa Belger is a parenting guide focused on the postpartum period. It draws upon ancient traditions to offer a supportive framework for new mothers. The book includes nourishing recipes, self-care strategies, and advice on building community, aiming to ease the transition into motherhood with holistic care and comfort.
Read More
Format: Hardback
$5699
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're interested in nurturing and supporting new mothers during the initial postpartum period. It provides valuable insights and traditional wisdom on recovery, alongside nourishing recipes and self-care tips, making it a comforting guide for embracing motherhood's early days.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A gentle, nurturing guide for new mothers, filled with encouraging and essential advice for the early postpartum weeks

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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.

The book includes 60 simple recipes for healing soups; replenishing meals and snacks; and calming and lactation-boosting teas, all formulated to support the unique needs of the new mother. In addition to the recipes, this warm and encouraging guide offers advice on arranging a system of help during the postpartum period, navigating relationship challenges, and honouring the significance of pregnancy and birth.

The First Forty Days, fully illustrated to feel both inspiring and soothing, is a practical guide and inspirational read for all new mothers and mothers-to-be - the perfect ally during the first weeks with a new baby.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The First Forty Days is praised for highlighting the critical postpartum period, offering guidance on recovery and integration for new mothers. It is considered an essential companion for navigating the initial stage after childbirth.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781617691836

Publisher: Stewart, Tabori & Chang Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 26 April 2016

Country: United States

Imprint: Stewart, Tabori & Chang Inc

Illustration: 50 colour photographs

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 185.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 640g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Heng Ou is the founder of MotherBees, a food and lifestyle company supporting women through every stage of motherhood.

Amely Greeven is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Clean.

Marisa Belger is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in numerous magazines and Websites, including Natural Health, Prevention, Travel + Leisure, and New York.

Also by Amely Greeven

View all
  • Nine Golden Months
    The bestselling authors of The First Forty Days encourage mothers-to-be to care for themselves—and not just their babies—during pregnancy. There is so much noise surrounding pregnancy and birth. There are countless books teeming with information—what test does what, the "rights" and "wrongs" of eating, and "safe" or "risky" lifestyle choices—but few that hold a woman through the experience, acting as...
    Hardback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Awakening Fertility
    The path to motherhood is a deep and transformative process. It can also include unexpected twists and turns. Awakening Fertility is a loving companion to accompany you along the journey—whether your desire to become a mother burns fiercely today or is a future calling just beginning to stir. Intended for women at every stage of the preconception process, this book...
    Hardback
    Sold Out

Also by Heng Ou

View all
  • The First Forty Days Journal
    This guided journal, based on Heng Ou’s bestselling book The First Forty Days, will offer tips and prompts to encourage new and expectant mothers to slow down, reflect, and reenergizeFollowing the success of Heng Ou’s The First Forty Days, this guided journal is an essential companion to the original, with prompts for mothers to process their pregnancy and birth in...
    By Heng Ou
    Diary or journal
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Nine Golden Months
    The bestselling authors of The First Forty Days encourage mothers-to-be to care for themselves—and not just their babies—during pregnancy. There is so much noise surrounding pregnancy and birth. There are countless books teeming with information—what test does what, the "rights" and "wrongs" of eating, and "safe" or "risky" lifestyle choices—but few that hold a woman through the experience, acting as...
    Hardback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Awakening Fertility
    The path to motherhood is a deep and transformative process. It can also include unexpected twists and turns. Awakening Fertility is a loving companion to accompany you along the journey—whether your desire to become a mother burns fiercely today or is a future calling just beginning to stir. Intended for women at every stage of the preconception process, this book...
    Hardback
    Sold Out

Also by Marisa Belger

View all
  • Nine Golden Months
    The bestselling authors of The First Forty Days encourage mothers-to-be to care for themselves—and not just their babies—during pregnancy. There is so much noise surrounding pregnancy and birth. There are countless books teeming with information—what test does what, the "rights" and "wrongs" of eating, and "safe" or "risky" lifestyle choices—but few that hold a woman through the experience, acting as...
    Hardback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Parenting & Family

View all
  • Raising Human Beings
    Raising Human Beings by Dr. Ross W. Greene, renowned child psychologist and bestselling author of Lost at School and The Explosive Child, presents a transformative approach to parenting that helps foster strong parent-child relationships while nurturing key traits such as empathy, honesty, resilience, and independence. This insightful guide is not only a manual for good parenting but also a roadmap...
    Paperback
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story (Expanded Edition)
    Honour his legacy with the greatest gift of all—his story. The Official Hear Your Story Collection Your dad's story is more than just memories—it's a journey filled with wisdom, experiences, and defining moments that shaped his life. Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story is a guided journal that gives him the chance to share those stories in his own...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Explosive Child [Sixth Edition]
    The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD, now in its revised and updated sixth edition, delves deeply into a revolutionary, research-based approach to understanding and parenting children who frequently display severe fits of temper and other challenging behaviours. Penned by a distinguished clinician and pioneer in addressing the needs of children with social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties, this ground-breaking...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Mum, I Want to Hear Your Story
    Give Your Mum a Beautiful Gift of Legacy, Love, and Lasting Memories Mum, I Want to Hear Your Story is the fun and delightful way for you to discover everything from your mother's childhood memories to the profound turning points in her life. Featuring specially selected questions in an easy-to-use layout, each intentional section gives Mum a place to share...
    Paperback
    $2099
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Whole-Brain Child: 12 revolutionary strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind
    Are you often left bewildered by your child's outbursts or stubborn behaviour? Do you find it challenging to understand why they seem to act irrationally? The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by esteemed neuropsychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson provides enlightening answers to these common parenting dilemmas. This groundbreaking and...
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Good Inside
    ‘The voice of reason for a generation of… mums and dads’ – The Guardian Wildly popular parenting expert Dr Becky Kennedy shares her groundbreaking approach to raising kids in a way that feels good. Over the past several years, Dr Becky Kennedy—known to her followers as ‘Dr Becky’—has been sparking a parenting revolution. Millions of parents, tired of following advice...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Matrescence
    A revelatory account of the transition into motherhood and how it affects the mind, brain and body A New Statesman and Daily Mail Book of the Year During pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood, women undergo a far-reaching physiological and psychological metamorphosis. There is no other time in a human's life course that entails such dramatic change—other than adolescence. And yet,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Attached
    Is there a science to love? In the revelatory book Attached, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Amir Levine and psychologist Rachel S. F. Heller delve into the world of attachment theory, offering illuminating insights and practical advice on navigating relationships. Pioneered by psychologist John Bowlby in the 1950s, attachment theory posits that our behavioural patterns in relationships stem from one of three...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Cribsheet
    Emily Oster is the non-judgemental girlfriend holding our hand and guiding us through pregnancy and motherhood. She has done the work to get us the hard facts in a soft, understandable way. — Amy Schumer Parenting is full of decisions, nearly all of which can be agonised over. There is an abundance of often-conflicting advice hurled at you from doctors,...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)
    The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Perry is a profound and insightful guide that addresses the complexities of human relationships. Drawing from her extensive experience as a psychotherapist, Perry delves into the intricacies of how we connect with others, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Modern Dad
    A love letter to modern fatherhood and being a stay-at-home dad by one of NZ's most popular storytellers. Louis Davis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) is one of Aotearoa's most popular storytellers, with a combined global audience of three million people tuning in to see his heartfelt and funny videos about fatherhood, fishing, and whānau life. But even with three young children—and...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • He'll Be OK
    Paperback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 190,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.