How to Survive Your First Six Weeks as a Mother The first six weeks are a crucial time for mothers and their newborn babies. Maternity Leave: A New Mother's Guide to the First Six Weeks Postpartum contains essential information for the new mother. It is a comprehensive book that addresses issues that may arise affecting mothers' and babies' physical and emotional well-being. Maternity Leave provides vital information for new mothers, their partners, and their families about what to expect in the first six weeks postpartum, and how to ease the transition into new motherhood.