To Have and to Hold by Molly Millwood PhD

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About the Book

To Have and to Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma is a compassionate and deeply validating book by clinical psychologist Dr. Molly Millwood, exploring the complex, often unspoken emotional realities of new motherhood. While countless books exist to prepare women for pregnancy and childbirth, Dr. Millwood points out that far fewer resources address what happens after the baby arrives, when new mothers must navigate profound shifts in identity, relationships, and mental wellbeing, often while feeling ashamed for struggling at all.

Drawing on her own personal experience of early motherhood, extensive scientific research, and stories from her clinical psychology practice, Dr. Millwood explores the loss of identity that so often accompanies new motherhood, from personal freedom and professional ambition to one's fundamental sense of self. She examines difficult, rarely discussed themes such as self-worth, autonomy, and dependency, and how these issues frequently play out within the context of marriage, adding layers of tension and conflict at an already overwhelming time. The book also offers practical guidance for understanding why so many couples struggle in the wake of a new baby, along with tools for repairing and strengthening the relationship, as well as compassionate insight into the shame and guilt that so often accompany postpartum mental health struggles. Blending personal narrative, psychological research, and real clinical stories, Dr. Millwood's central message throughout is one of reassurance: readers are not alone, and what they are feeling is normal.

Why Read To Have and to Hold?

• Addresses a genuine gap in resources: Focuses specifically on the emotional realities after birth, an area often overlooked compared to pregnancy-focused books.
• Grounded in clinical expertise and research: Written by a licensed psychologist with published research on marital distress and women's wellbeing.
• Explores identity, marriage, and mental health together: Recognizes how these areas are deeply interconnected during the transition to motherhood.
• Deeply validating and compassionate: Offers reassurance and normalization for common but rarely discussed struggles.
• Praised by experts and readers alike: Received a starred review from Booklist and endorsements from respected voices in psychology and relationships.

About the Author: Dr. Molly Millwood

Dr. Molly Millwood holds a PhD in clinical psychology with advanced specialized training in marital therapy and intimate relationships, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford. She is a tenured professor and clinical supervisor at Saint Michael's College in Vermont, and has published research on marital distress and women's wellbeing in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Dr. Millwood is also a licensed psychologist in private practice, particularly known for her work with couples and women navigating the transition to parenthood, and was a founding member of Vermont's Postpartum Wellness Project, a community initiative supporting the mental and physical wellness of new mothers.

Who Should Read This Book

• New mothers navigating identity shifts, guilt, or postpartum emotional struggles
• Couples experiencing relationship strain after the arrival of a baby
• Partners wanting to better understand what new mothers are experiencing
• Therapists and healthcare providers working with postpartum families
• Anyone interested in the psychology of motherhood, marriage, and gender roles

Why Buy From Us?

• ✅ 100% original, high-quality print
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• ✅ Cash on delivery available
• ✅ Secure packaging, guaranteed quality
• ✅ Easy return and exchange policy

Order now and find the compassionate, research-backed guidance every new mother deserves.