Your Maternity Leave: The Ultimate Practical Guide (1st UK Edition) by Nathalie Koren is a non-fiction parenting book that would appeal most to an audience of working women in the UK who are or will be on maternity leave. The book offers eight chapters, with numerous sub-sections, that cover topics from preparing for delivery and child care, to one’s own objectives during your maternity leave, and managing one's own health. The book provides tips, checklists, practical examples, and advice on transitioning in and out of the workplace. Are you ready to learn about your own legal maternity rights and work responsibilities that can have an impact on your maternity time?

Your Maternity Leave: The Ultimate Practical Guide (1st UK Edition) by Nathalie Koren is a well-written book with a well-chosen cover image. I liked the way the cover image showed the progression from pregnancy to maternity. I personally found this book to be a gold mine of information on how to handle maternity in the UK. I liked how the book did not focus on just one aspect but instead covered every aspect from the relevant laws to the importance of managing one’s own health. I really liked how the author wrote using plain language that did not require any additional legal or medical education to understand and backed up the book’s claims with research. I personally believe that this book should be given out by doctors to all expectant mothers as it includes everything an expectant mother needs to know before giving birth in terms of her own rights, financial management during leave, and the importance of prioritizing one’s own health before, during, and after the birth.

Your Maternity Leave by Nathalie Koren provides a comprehensive, helpful, and detailed guide for expectant mothers from how to plan for their maternity leave, through how to manage many changing needs and priorities in the weeks after the birth of their child. Important topics such as understanding the mother’s rights during maternity leave and how to delegate and organize work and pay during maternity leave will go far in relieving a new mother’s mind and empowering her with knowledge and guidelines to know which questions to ask before the baby is born and maternity leave begins. The author further empowers the mother by encouraging her to consider the cost of having a child and how to adjust one’s budget and personal expectations accordingly. Having a plan for spending time in the hospital and what changes to expect post-birth both emotionally and mentally is highlighted in this book.

Nathalie Koren writes a supportive, well-researched guide in Your Maternity Leave. Each detail she covers is comprehensive and relevant to what a parent would need to know, remember, and prioritize. I appreciated the tone of authority throughout the book. It puts the reader’s mind at ease with the security that the author knows what they are talking about. The book is very well organized and reflects a deep well of wisdom within the author. Every expectant or new parent can benefit from reading this book. I love how honest the author is with the reader, laying the groundwork of the importance of preparation from the very beginning and encouraging the parent along each part of the process. This is an excellent and vital resource!

Your Maternity Leave: The Ultimate Practical Guide by Nathalie Koren is a non-fiction self-help book for individuals, partners, and families who are expecting the arrival of a baby, or babies, and are looking for help to prepare. The book is broken down into eight distinct and interconnected chapters that cover a multitude of topics that include, but are certainly not limited to, laws regarding leave time, pay, entitlements and rights, budgeting, birth plan and delivery preparation, what to have ready at home, creating a strategy, boundaries and support system, the physical, biological and mental post-birth considerations, making time for yourself and romance, and the possible return to work, among other areas. Koren is concise in the delivery and provides comprehensive checklists and highlighted “Top Tips” to round the book out.

As an American who moved to the UK in the birthing years, I was woefully unprepared for the vast differences in how everything—and I do mean absolutely everything—was done here. I ended up spending thousands on a consultant because I also had no friends or family here at that time, and Your Maternity Leave would have saved me time, money and hours of tears. Nathalie Koren writes in a conversational style that conveys empathy and compassion, blended with a vast wealth of knowledge that equally conveys authority and understanding. Some of the inclusions were never suggested to me before and if I could go back they would be implemented immediately. Koren taught me there is such a thing as KiT [Keep in Touch] days where you can legally stay connected to work, and even be paid, for 10 days of your maternity leave. I also did not know that dental care was NHS covered during this time, as are prescriptions. I would imagine this book will be a real gem for those who need it, and helpful even for those who believe they have it all figured out. Very highly recommended.

Your Maternity Leave by Nathalie Koren is an essential guide for pregnant women to assist them in preparing for maternity leave. The book contains all the information required for effective preparation before the birth of your baby. In addition, the guide assists in returning to normal and introducing the reader to parenthood. The book makes a fantastic companion for new parents and the format is easy to read, divided into manageable sections including your rights, managing finances, a birth plan, how to manage relationships, and managing your personal time. While the book focuses mainly on women living in the United Kingdom, the advice given applies internationally. Navigating parenthood can be complicated and stressful. Parents have to make important and sometimes tough decisions. This book encourages women to plan their maternity leave carefully, taking full advantage of the time made available to them.

I wish Your Maternity Leave: The Ultimate Practical Guide was available when I was pregnant for the first time. My approach to maternity leave and the birth of my first child would have been completely different and could have saved me a mountain of stress and regrets. I mostly enjoyed the format, layout, and information. Author Nathalie Koren has clearly done her research and took the time to gather all the relevant information, presenting it in the most practical way. Nathalie also emphasizes that we are all responsible for understanding our government and company rules around maternity/paternity leave and benefits. One of the most valuable sections is The Cost of Having a Baby. Whatever you think it may be, in reality, it will cost at least double your estimate. The Birth Plan contains vital information to assist the parents and medical staff, as does the list of items to be packed in preparation for the hospital stay. The author also includes a list of useful resources for further reading. All-round, a fantastic guide and highly recommended to all new parents.