The Fifth Trimester

December 5, 2016
Veteran women’s magazine editor 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. Brody was an editor at Glamour when the first of her two children was born, and, like many working mothers in the U.S., she returned to her office at the end of her 12-week leave, just when “baby wakes up to the world.” The timing, argues Brody, is unfortunate, but working women must nevertheless find ways to cope with the transitional period that she calls the fifth trimester. In 12 solution-packed chapters, Brody covers (among many other topics) childcare, sleep deprivation, wardrobe, breast-pumping, and dad’s involvement, basing her advice not only on her own experiences but on input from more than 700 survey respondents. In addition to discussing solemn subjects such as postpartum depression, Brody makes her readers laugh with commentary on subjects such as preparing for the inevitability that “your baby will puke on you.” The meatiest chapter is the last, in which Brody provides tips for communicating with employers. Working moms will find a wealth of ideas to help navigate the challenging transition period in this friendly and practical guide.

February 15, 2017
How professional women can "make those first three months back more than just an exercise in treading water."After the birth of her first child, former Glamour executive editor Brody took 12 weeks of maternity leave. At the end of that time, however, she quickly discovered she was unprepared for the physical and emotional toll that came with her return to work. After her second child, she was a bit more prepared but still wished there was a helpful guide to aid her during the transition. Seeking to help other soon-to-be and new mothers, the author interviewed more than 700 women via a 50-question survey and compiled the results and her own experiences into this book. Brody discusses the pros and cons of hiring a nanny versus sending your infant to day care and points out to parents what to look for in both situations. She discusses the practical and emotional ups and downs of having to pump breast milk at work and offers useful suggestions on the type of clothing to wear, how to store the milk, and how to continue to work efficiently while pumping. She analyzes the emotional distancing necessary to return to work after such a short span of getting to know your new child, how to avoid resenting your male partner for his seemingly easier role in the process, and how to juggle the workday and an infant if you work at home. Throughout, Brody's advice is sound and easily assimilated, like having a well-trusted friend impart bits of wisdom before a meltdown occurs. She also instructs readers how to look presentable at work even when exhausted and still carrying extra pounds and how to carve out some much-needed alone time to recuperate and relieve stress. A candid, straightforward, and helpful guide for mothers returning to work.

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Starred review from March 1, 2017
The fourth trimester is often used to refer to the 12 weeks after a baby is born, and Brody, former executive editor of Glamour magazine and mother of two, brings us the fifth trimesterthe period when American working moms often return to the workplace. It can be a hectic and difficult period of adjustment physically, mentally, and emotionally, and Brody's goal is to help women navigate the return to work with confidence. Each chapter covers a different aspect of working motherhood, including choosing child care, pumping, finding time for yourself, and coping with workplace stress exacerbated by a lack of sleep. A final chapter provides scripts and suggestions for essential conversations working moms may want to have with their bosses or their partners, including suggestions for requesting flextime, discussing postpartum mood disorders, and tactfully asking well-meaning relatives to stop offering unwanted advice. Stories from a variety of working moms are interspersed throughout the book, providing added perspective and insight as well as a view of working motherhood outside of a major metropolitan area. Millennial moms are the target audience of this practical guide; 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)