"People have probably told you (usually over and over) that having a baby can be hard. Pregnancy can be uncomfortable, birth almost unbearably painful, breastfeeding challenging and nights long and sleepless. And while some of these were sometimes true and there were many dirty diapers and hours of cluster feeding early on, I found that knowing some of the why behind the sensations in my body and my baby's behavior helped me foster tolerance, respect and patience. Coming back to the foundations of this book-movement, nourishing food, supportive communities and taking care of our shared environment-helped guide and ground my choices as a new parent. Understanding my invaluable, incredible, monumental role in the development of my son's inner ecology built within me a sense of wonder and confidence in my new job as his mother. My desire to learn what science and research had to teach me about growing my baby acted as a bridge to accepting the multitudes of unknown complexities the art of growing a person requires"-- Provided by publisher.

Prologue -- Getting ready to grow your baby. New beginnings ; Movement & the mighty pelvis ; Cultivating baby's microbiome ; A sperm's tale -- Conception, growing your baby & birth. The 1st trimester ; Endocrine changes & avoiding toxins ; The 2nd and 3rd trimester ; Birth! -- Growing your baby on the outside. Rest, recovery & gentle movement ; Feeding your baby ; Your brain on baby ; Family planning -- Epilogue.