Presents a guide for new moms coping with the demands of the real world after childbirth, offering advice on everything from returning to work and maintaining a work/life balance to breastfeeding and obtaining childcare.

"The Fifth Trimester is your new best friend: a brilliant, tells-it-like-it-is guide to help moms cope with all the demands of the real world after Baby arrives. The first three trimesters (and the fourth--those blurry newborn days) are for the baby, but the Fifth Trimester is when the working mom is born. No matter what the job, you're bound to have questions: When should I go back? Flex-time or full-time? How do I manage an "I want to quit" attack? Can I really get to 50/50 at home with my partner? What's the best option for childcare, minus the mom guilt? Where will I pump? What if my colleagues don't have kids? How do I ask for a raise now that I'm back? And--is it possible to look (and act) as if I slept for eight hours instead of three? Whether you're pregnant and preparing or hitting the panic button after returning from leave, The Fifth Trimester is your blueprint for honest, funny, and judgment-free tips, to-do lists, and take-charge strategies. The bighearted mentorship on these pages will help you embrace your new identity as a working parent--and set you up for long-term work/life success. Oh, and a happy bonus! You'll modernize your workplace along the way. Based on interviews and insight from more than seven hundred uncensored moms in wildly varied fields, plus top-notch expert advice, The Fifth Trimester tackles every personal and professional detail with the wit, warmth, and inspiration you need to win this whole back-to-work transition."--Jacket.