The best friends' guide to surviving the first year of motherhood - Vicki Iovine

There's no magical formula for new mums, but The Best Friends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhoodcan help you to cope - and to enjoy yourself.

When it comes to your new baby, everyone from Dr Spock to your mother-in-law has an armful of advice. But no one is delivering any tips on how you can care for yourself. Now, four-time delivery-room veteran Vicki Iovine answers your questions, calms you fears and cracks you up as only a friend can with straight advice and hilarious observations on:

Baby euphoria: is it a mind-altering drug?

'Partner? What partner?': taking care of the big baby as well as the little baby

'I want my old body back!': what you can fix and what you can't

The droning phenomenon: the inability to discuss anything but your baby for more than thirty seconds

'Do I have to become Penelope Leach?': conquering your fear of becoming a less than perfect mother

Competitive mothering: coping with know-it-alls, finger pointers and others who try to 'Out-Mum' you