I Wish Someone Had Told Me--: Comfort, Support, and Advice for New Moms from More Than Sixty Real-Life Mothers

Freelance writer Barrett has written the book any woman might wish to have consulted when she was pregnant with her first baby. Drawing on more than 60 interviews with new mothers, Barrett helps put things in perspective for the woman whose labor was a nightmare rather than a painless Lamaze breeze, whose postpartum body didn't bounce right back into shape or who is lost in the contradictory maze of child-care books. Motherhood is a mixed bag, the author concludes, when set against the contemporary myths of easy childbirth, perfect children and good (i.e., perfect) mothers, and, therefore, women with realistic expectations and self-confidence will enjoy motherhood the most. Each chapter states the ideal and then presents the actuality, offering honest and comforting stories from the women Barrett interviewed. The book also is well organized for use as a reference in troublesome moments; a recommended reading list is valuable, too. Barrett delivers on her promise to debunk the Superwoman myth in a work that entertains as it serves up effective advice. Author tour. ( May )