The Modern Midwife's Guide to the First Year cover art

The Modern Midwife's Guide to the First Year

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The Modern Midwife's Guide to the First Year

By: Marie Louise
Narrated by: Marie Louise
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The positive, evidence-based book you can trust to guide you through the highs and lows of parenting in your baby’s first year, from a Senior Midwife and bestselling author.


Senior Midwife Marie Louise has spent years working with families, supporting new parents through pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period.

In her bestselling book, The Modern Midwife's Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, she guided new parents through the journey of what to expect during pregnancy and birth.

Following from where her first book left off, The Modern Midwife’s Guide to the First Year is the empowering and practical guide to the first year of parenthood, taking you through the first 48 hours after birth up until your baby's first birthday.

Packed with interesting facts, up-to-date insights and bringing together a whole host of childcare experts, you'll find everything you need to feel calm and confident at each stage of your baby’s development, including guidance on:

  • Postpartum recovery and self-care for new parents
  • Establishing a routine – for you and your baby
  • Baby sleep training
  • Knowing when to start weaning
  • Learning to celebrate your wins


Whether you're preparing for your baby to arrive, have just welcomed your little one into the world, or are well into the fourth trimester, this nurturing guide will ensure you feel supported and informed throughout your baby's first year.

‘Marie Louise is a dream come true for any parent with her uncanny ability to simplify the most important and complicated questions’ Emma Bunton, Spice Girls singer and co-founder of Kit and Kin

‘Marie is so informative and taught me so many things I had NO idea about!’ Zoe Sugg (Zoella), award-winning vlogger and author

©2023 Marie Louise (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Hygiene & Healthy Living Infants & Toddlers Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Sexual & Reproductive Health Pregnancy
All stars
Most relevant
So so useful for a new mum - giving so much info on the first year

Such a great collection of useful advice

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Sets your mind at ease told with humour as well as cold hard facts. What’s not to love?!

Just what we needed.

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I loved her guide to pregnancy, so I wanted to give this book a try too. It was such a helpful and reassuring guide to my baby's first year, and I loved listening to the relevant chapters along with my baby aging.

The most helpful book for new parents

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I had the chance to read her pregnancy book, which I found very helpful.
Same with this one, it speaks about the reality of every stage of the mum and baby's first year. She also touches base on many important topics, such as mental health, returning to work, etc.

Very helpful and real, I could relate to it

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The book is kind, supportive and honest and offers some useful practical advice. I bet it’s a great relief to struggling mums, and I would recommend it to anyone who needs reassurance they are doing great paired with some science-backed ways out (not always though, sometimes the book just says essentially “it happens, I know and I’m sorry you’re facing it”). However, I would avoid listening to it while pregnant with your first baby, as the book focuses on problems and potentially traumatic experiences quite heavily. It paints a rather grim picture of motherhood as an uphill battle of suffering and despair, which I hope is not all that bad after all. On the bright side, it sets your expectations really low, so it is unlikely that a real experience of motherhood, ever if it horrible, disappoints or shocks you.

Not the most positive perspective

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