It’s time to reclaim the lost art of caring for a mother after birth.

The first forty days after the birth of a child are an essential and fleeting period of rest and recovery for the new mother. In The First Forty Days, MotherBees founder Heng Ou, along with co-authors and fellow mothers, Amely Greeven and Marisa Belger, channeled their own experience with the Chinese practice of zuo yuezi—a period of postpartum confinement in which a woman remains at home focusing on healing and bonding with her baby—into a guide for the modern mother and her support team.

The book includes 60 simple and delicious 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—and to feed hungry partners, too.

This warm and encouraging guide also offers advice on securing help during the postpartum period, navigating inevitable relationship challenges, and honoring the rites of passage that are pregnancy and birth.

As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely “bounce back” after delivering their babies, and often feel alone in facing the physical and emotional challenges of this radically new chapter of their lives, The First Forty Days stands as a lifeline—a source of connection, nourishment, and guidance. It is the perfect ally for the first few weeks with a new baby… and beyond.