Village for Mama
Beth Ryan
2021
Part recipe book, part postpartum care guide, this beautifully presented resource encourages a village-based approach to supporting mothers after birth. It includes simple, warming meals, and encourages families to gather practical help in the form of food and presence. Designed by a postpartum doula and nutritionist, it honours rest, softness, and nourishment — without pushing bounce-back culture or rigid expectations.
Why It’s Included:
This book aligns closely with slow postpartum values, grounded in community and care. It is practical and beautiful, supporting both the mother’s nutritional needs and her emotional wellbeing — without promoting scheduling, weight loss, or routine-based thinking.
Who It’s For:
Expectant parents, support people, postpartum doulas, and those coordinating meal trains or care circles.
“Our modern society has seemingly forgotten the long-practiced nurturing of the mother-baby dyad in the first 40 days of life. This book offers practical information and resources to support communities and parents to resestablish this important cocooning period for post-partum families”
Further Reading:
The Fourth Trimester – Kimberly Ann Johnson
The First Forty Days – Heng Ou
Nourishing Newborn Mothers – Julia Jones
