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The Fifth Trimester by Lauren Smith Brody
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The Fifth Trimester

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The Fifth Trimester by Lauren Smith Brody
Paperback $18.00
Mar 06, 2018 | ISBN 9781101971888

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  • $18.00

    Mar 06, 2018 | ISBN 9781101971888

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  • Apr 04, 2017 | ISBN 9780385541428

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  • Apr 04, 2017 | ISBN 9781524750602

    648 Minutes

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Praise

“Brody gets the challenges of going back to work as a new mom. . . .  She explains how to tackle it all.” —PeopleStyle

“A book you MUST read if you are returning to work after the birth of a child. . . . I loved it and you will too.” —Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D., author of the New York Times bestselling Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office  

“[This] practical and entertaining read covers everything.” —The Seattle Times
 
“[Brody] is a passionate advocate. . . . She provides tangible tips and helpful advice from women who have been there and who more than survived, they thrived.” —CNN.com
 
“[A] no-BS guide to help moms, particularly new moms, cope with all the demands of the real world . . . like how the hell do you return to work, take care of another life, and somehow carve out time in the day for, you know, yourself?” —Shape.com

“An invaluable guide. . . . Brody’s book shows that the absolute lack of public policy to support working families makes an already tough situation worse. And while we need to work to change that, in the meantime, she makes clear: you’re not alone, you’re not crazy, and she’s got your back.” —Brigid Schulte, author of the New York Times bestselling Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time
 
“The women featured in Brody’s book offer advice for coping emotionally that runs the gamut from learning how to not blame yourself for mistakes to not make any major career decisions in your first few months back to work.” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Fantastic.” —Good Morning America
 
“Returning to work can be challenging, but Brody is a friendly and reassuring guide with a simple message: You can do this. It will get better. Packed with helpful tips and inspiring stories, The Fifth Trimester is the manual new moms need for succeeding on the job and in life.” —Laura Vanderkam, author of I Know How She Does It

“[Brody] cover[s] the frustrating realities of working-mom life in a chipper, big-sisterly voice.” —The Cut
 
“Brody writes nimbly and wisely about a subject she is well versed in: the conflicts, struggles, and triumphs of returning to work after having a baby. . . . Working moms will find a wealth of ideas to help navigate the challenging transition period in this friendly and practical guide.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Like having a well-trusted friend impart bits of wisdom before a meltdown occurs.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“The working mom bible. The perfect gift and sanity-saver.” —GoodHousekeeping.com
 
“Told with insight and witty turn of phrase, this account also draws on [Brody’s] personal experience of momming in the magazine world.” —The Times of Israel
 
“Brody takes on the role of a wise mentor who’s just a bit more chic than most of us but who takes us under her wing nonetheless.” —Booklist (starred review)

Author Q&A

What is the Fifth Trimester?
It’s when the working mom is born. The first three trimesters are pregnancy, of course, and the fourth is the newborn haze/phase, but the Fifth Trimester is the transition back to work after maternity leave. The majority of new moms in the U.S. have to return to work several months before they’re physically and emotionally ready, so the transition is fraught and tricky. But with the right approach and support, it can set women up for lifelong career and family satisfaction.

How is this book different than other books about becoming a parent?
There’s so much information out there about pregnancy and babycare, and there are good work/life balance books too, but there’s nothing else that gives advice from the trenches about this specific, crucial time in a mom’s life in such a judgement-free way. Pump, don’t pump. Go back full time, part time, work at home. It’s all good! I interviewed waitresses, doctors, CEOs, police officers, and found a through-line of camaraderie and just great advice. Whatever works for your family is the right answer. My job is simply to give new moms the tools and options they need, to show them that they do have choices, and that new moms come back to work with incredibly applicable skills that they can be proud of.

What real life events inspired The Fifth Trimester movement, for you?
I was executive editor at Glamour magazine when I had my two boys (now 8 and 5), and it was a delightfully supportive environment. And yet, the transition back was brutally hard for me. I knew, even back then, that there was a book and a movement to be made to make things easier.  The book was born out of a desperation, but its message is one of optimism and teamwork. I wish I had had this book when I needed it!

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