More Testimonials...
”Part best-friend-telling-it-like-it-is, part expert-practitioner-advising-you, To Carry Wonder is a beautifully crafted pregnancy-through-postpartum guide. Packed with practical and professional advice, tools, and resources, enchanting artwork, and must-have appendices, Emese Parker has created something unique—a relatable, information-packed book that will leave readers feeling understood, educated, and wishing they could meet up with Emese for lunch, or perhaps, a playdate.
Christina G. Hibbert, Psy.DClinical psychologist, maternal mental health expert, #1 best-selling author of This is How We Grow & 8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise
”Informative, with up-to-date medical information, yet lighthearted with plenty LOL moments. You will feel like you are in a book club with your best pals while gaining valuable knowledge. . . . I will definitely encourage my patients to read this book, not only for the educational value but to assure them that their symptoms are experienced by many and overcome by most. Wish I had this book when I was expecting!
Lexie Morales, MDObstetrician-Gynecologist
”Parker's is a supportive and encouraging voice to have on your ever-changing pregnancy journey.
Miriam Schultz, MDClinical Associate Professor, Stanford School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
”To Carry Wonder is a unique blend of earnest memoir and technical week-by-week pregnancy guide. [Parker’s]ambitious compendium is packed with tips and resources and is especially useful for the person navigating pregnancy for the first time. [It] acknowledges the vast spectrum of feelings and experiences women may have as they go through the prenatal stages, and . . . makes accessible some critical topics around body image, sex, and mental health. Parker’s is a supportive and encouraging voice to have along on your ever-changing pregnancy journey.
Miriam Schultz, MDClinical Associate Professor, Stanford School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
”Informative and poignant. With humor and candor, Emese walks readers through the weeks of pregnancy in an easy-to-read format. This is an invaluable book for those who are pregnant and their partners.
Heidi Collins Fantasia, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANUniversity of Massachusetts, Lowell, School of Nursing
”This is a great resource for mothers and partners . . . [and] could be useful to doulas, student midwives, and antenatal teachers. While aimed at a U.S.-based audience, much of the content could easily be transferred to other countries.
Dianne Garland, FRCM, SRN, RM, ADM, PGCEA, MScMidwifery Today
”A well-written guide . . . filled with colorful illustrations depicting diverse women and babies. I felt like the author was sitting beside me sharing her personal pregnancy and early motherhood journey with grace, humor, and style. I found myself laughing out loud and my eyes filling with tears as she experienced this process. The stories are interspersed between evidenced-based nursing and medical knowledge that all women making this journey need. As an women’s health nurse practitioner with 25+ years of experience providing care to women, I highly recommend both the book and guide.
Allyssa L. Harris, RN, PhD, WHNP-BCDean and Professor, Prairie View A&M University, College of Nursing
”[Parker shares] the experience of pregnancy and postpartum . . . [with] a whimsical and personal tone [and] valuable educational content that is well-researched and up-to-date. She takes complex topics and illustrates them for readers in an approachable way. . . . I was particularly pleased and impressed to see both the breadth and depth of information on mental health topics that are frequent during this vulnerable perinatal time. I would highly recommend this as reading for anyone planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or in the early postpartum stage.
Anna Glezer, MDCertified Integrative Psychiatrist Associate Professor of Psychiatry, UC San Francisco Founder of Women's Wellness Psychiatry
”This is a must-have . . . A treasure trove of valuable information, resources, and references that focus on the physical and mental health of women during each stage of pregnancy and the first months after giving birth.
Cheryl Tatano Beck, DNSc, CNM, FAANDistinguished Professor, University of Connecticut, School of Nursing
”I felt like the author was sitting beside me sharing her personal pregnancy and early motherhood journey with grace, humor, and style.
Allyssa L. Harris, RN, PhD, WHNP-BCDean and Professor, Prairie View A&M University, College of Nursing
”To Carry Wonder is very down to earth and speaks to Mama’s everywhere. It is an easy read and can be picked up and started anywhere in the book.
Chris Raines, RN, MSN, APRN-BC, PMH-CPostpartum Support International Board Chair Emeritus, Adjunct Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry
About
Hey there! I’m a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner who works in—you guessed it—women’s health.
If you’re like many women I meet, you may be asking how it’s possible for someone to choose a job that involves looking at body parts down there?!
Well, women are incredible people (right?!) and through our work together, I get to hear their stories, teach them about their amazing bodies, promote their health and wellness, empower them to make informed decisions, and advocate for them. So, how ever could I not? It’s an honor.
So, if you’re interested in learning more about your health and how to advocate for your needs, welcome. Please look around.
P.S. By way of introduction beyond my work: I love to travel, road bike, get outdoors, ask hard questions, laugh, and create. I hate clutter, small talk, malls, and inequality. I prefer rivers over beaches, chocolate over ice cream, hikes over roller coasters, and early mornings over late evenings.
Thanks for stopping by.
I am a:
- registered nurse (RN)
- board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP-BC)
- certified perinatal mental health specialist (PMH-C)
- NAMS certified menopause practitioner (NCMP)
More...
After completing Bachelor of Science degrees in exercise science and nursing, I earned my master of science in nursing from Boston College, and master of public health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Although I’ve been working in healthcare for over twenty years, I’ve been specializing in women’s health since 2008. Fortunate enough to have worked in various OB-GYN settings, I’ve had the honor of partnering with women across the lifespan who come from diverse backgrounds, including students, refugees, immigrants, and those experiencing homelessness.
As a public health geek, I can’t help but tap into the power of public health too. Yep, this means supporting groups of women, through program development and leadership positions with organizations like the University of California San Francisco and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Health Disparities Collaborative.
Professional affiliations
Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Freebies
For the Mother who Feels Insecure About her Body
Written & narrated by Jessica Hover
This is a specially curated section, made for you with love. It’s constantly evolving to help better equip and empower you, so check it out periodically.
Mental Health
- Jenna Overbaugh, LPC – therapist, OCD/anxiety pro
- Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Women’s Mental Health
- National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA)
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline:1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Postpartum Progress
- Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Nutrition & Infant Feeding
Infant Feeding
Contact Emese
I’m so glad you’re here!
Please feel free to reach out and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
This book is a freedom partner, supporting the work of International Justice Mission, a global nonprofit committed to combatting slavery and violence against women and children.
Disclaimer
This website is intended to foster your well-being and empower you to have a rich, beautiful, and healthy journey through pregnancy and motherhood. The information provided is not in any way intended to substitute care, delay care, or override advice by a medical or mental health professional. Rather, it is designed to equip you with the necessary information and resources to: (1) engage in meaningful conversations with your healthcare provider, (2) make informed health care decisions, and (3) advocate for yourself and family. It may come as a surprise, but the opinions expressed here are my own and not those of my employer or professional affiliations unless noted otherwise. Although I look forward to connecting with you, any potential communication between us is not psychotherapy or medical advice, and so is not meant to replace your one-on-one relationship with your healthcare provider. In efforts to support you, I mention various third-party resources and websites. However, I do not take responsibility for their information, services, products or advertisements.