Carry Strong: An Empowered Approach to Navigating Pregnancy and Work

As the chief human resources officer at L’Oréal, an instructor at Fashion Institute of Technology’s graduate business program, and a mother of two children, Kramer is no stranger to balancing work with a pregnancy. Inclusive of the phases from pre-conception to returning to work, this book spotlights the principles of perspective, balance, community, communication, and identity. The author makes a point to say that pregnancy in itself is work, but in September 2020, she surveyed 400 women who worked full-time throughout their pregnancies. The book clearly states that the research did not include self-identifying gender-nonconforming individuals or manual laborers. Some readers, however, may be put off by that limited range of participants and workplaces. The book deftly tackles determining the right time to have a baby, the cost of maternity leave and caring for a baby, and handling infertility or pregnancy loss as a working professional. Each chapter ends with reflection questions and personal stories from pregnant moms.