THE MOTHERHOOD COMPLEX does for mothers what INVISIBLE WOMEN did for women as a whole: it reveals the many ways the system is against us while simultaneously celebrating the strengths and successes we achieve despite the obstacles.

Melissa Hogenboom explores how the changes we experience during pregnancy and motherhood affect our sense of self, both physically and by the wider world. From how our brains change during pregnancy and the psychological impact of our changing bodies, to the real cost of the “punishment” mothers face in the workplace and the intrusion of technology in family life, Hogenboom reveals how external conditions and society as a whole shape how we see ourselves and affect the choices we make.

Interweaving her personal experience as a mother of two young children with the latest research, Hogenboom tackles the modern myth of maternal perfection and emphasizes the importance of understanding how and why we change for our physical and emotional health.