13 Best Pregnancy Books To Read During Pregnancy and Beyond

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New moms-to-be never seem to get enough advice about parenting, which is why they need a guide to the best pregnancy books.

Though the internet is available to provide handy information as much as needed, it doesn’t replace the need for a good book. 

You can trust the best pregnancy books to give you all the information you need about your journey through pregnancy and motherhood.

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However, there are many pregnancy books out there, and we would like you to know the best. That is why we have compiled them.

So here, we have put together the best pregnancy books for 2021

13 best pregnancy books for easy motherhood

  1. Best pregnancy book for all moms: overall best

The Modern Midwife’s Guide to Pregnancy Birth and Beyond by Marie Louise

Photo of Pregnancy, Birth and beyond; one of the best pregnancy books

I have a special liking for this book. I read it more than once even before being pregnant. About this book, I would say if you are going to read just one book for pregnancy, let it be The Modern Midwives Guide To Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond by Marie Louise.

It is written by a midwife and advises about everything ranging from pregnancy to childbirth and even the first few days postpartum.

The book is easy to read and is split into engaging sections with applicable modern tool kits for first-time parents.

It uses key illustrations and a positive tone to encourage you throughout your pregnancy journey.

  1. Best pregnancy book for first-time moms 

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy 

Photo of Mayo Clinic; guide to a healthy pregnancy; one of the best pregnancy books

First-time mums are usually the most nervous, and having this Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is one of the best things that happened to your pregnancy journey. 

It will show you how to cut down the pregnancy symptoms and cope better with your changing body and baby’s development. 

It will also help you get through with the unending “what ifs” and what you should expect every time you meet the doctor.

The astonishing thing about this copy is that it is written by experts from Mayo clinic who are also parents. So, it gives a balanced view from the medical line and parenting.

This book is almost all around, and it deals with the emotional challenges of mums-to-be and the super essential decision-making guide on whether or not you should breastfeed your baby.

  1. Best pregnancy book for nervous parents 

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

Photo of Ina May's guide to childbirth;  one of the best pregnancy books

Nervousness about giving birth is not a new thing, and Ina May Gaskin, in her book Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, shares with you why natural birth is best. 

It is full of positive birth stories that could benefit you and calm your nervousness. 

This book is flooded with information that will empower women on the birth process and help them build a solid mind-body connection on what childbirth feels like.

I advise you to go for the e-book edition because it is more up-to-date than the paperback produced way back in 2003.

  1. Best pregnancy book for C-section 

How to Avoid, Prepare For, and Recover from Cesarean by Dr Mark Zakowski

Photo of how to avoid, prepare for and recover from your Cesarean;  one of the best pregnancy books

Let’s admit it, a lot of mums-to-be are worried about the C-section, whether it is best for them or if you could ever face it in the future. 

The book How to Avoid, Prepare For, and Recover from Cesarean by Dr Mark Zakowski doesn’t just elaborate on the pros and cons of the Cesarean section. It deals with why it may be the best option for some women.

Like the name, you will learn what you need to do to avoid Cesarean as much as possible and what to expect during the procedure if you happen to face it.

You will also find helpful tips on how to recover from C-section in this book. It is aimed at helping you feel prepared and less nervous about what could happen during your pregnancy.

  1. Best pregnancy book for drug-free vaginal birth 

Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds by Cynthia Gabriel

Photo of Natural Hospital Birth;  one of the best pregnancy books

If you are among the special class of mums that would like to have an intervention-free, drug-free birth, or even having a home birth, you will enjoy Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds By Cynthia Gabriel. This book discusses natural birth without being all anti-obstetrician and provides balance from the hospital birth fears. 

It helps parents to know the right question to ask and how to handle some hospital scenarios so they can have the natural birth that they expect.

This book also offers excellent advice for labor and even discusses the most advantageous birth positions. 

In it, you find the best relaxation exercises and real-life birth stories from other moms who had a natural birth.

  1. Best pregnancy book for hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better by Siobhan Miller

Photo of Make your birth better; one of the best pregnancy books

Would you like to know more about hypnobirthing? Grab a copy of Hypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better by Siobhan Miller. 

She is a mother of three and the founder of the Positive Birth Company

With a calm tone, she explains the numerous types of birth anyone could encounter and provides helpful tips and how to cooperate with your body to have the best experience.

It is dedicated to helping you overcome whatever fears may have surrounded your birth experience.

After reading this book, you will feel calm and hopeful about welcoming your new baby other than wondering whether or not you will have an unplanned Cesarean section, or any of those scary experiences.

  1. Best pregnancy book for self-care

Why Did No One Tell Me? How to Protect, Heal and Nurture Your Body through Motherhood by Emma Brockwell

Photo of Why Did No One Tell Me?;  one of the best pregnancy books

If you find yourself worrying about recovering your body back after childbirth, you will love this book. 

Why Did No One Tell Me is a book that deals with almost all the common issues about healing, including pelvic floor problems and general post-op healing.

This book encourages new mums to stand up to postnatal problems and get themselves back instead of just sitting down and finding ways to adjust to the new look.

  1. Best pregnancy book for emotional support

Strong as a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and (Most Importantly) Sane From Pregnancy to Parenthood by Kate Rope

Photo of Strong As A Mother; one of the best pregnancy books

Kate Rope’s Strong as a mother is what you need in your hands if you need a book to draw strength from, to help you through the emotional turmoils of pregnancy and motherhood.

It has three sections, with the first part dealing with pregnancy in trimesters.

It offers excellent psychological and medical advice from experts on sensitive subjects like early pregnancy and birth, body change struggles, and feelings of guilt. 

Many experts recognize this book for its emotional empowerment and as one that helps readers through birth and new parenting. 

 So, whether or not you face the challenges of postpartum depression or anxiety or just wondering what life would be like as a new mum, you need to read this book. 

  1. Best pregnancy book when having twins 

What to Do When Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year by Natalie Diaz

Photo of What To Do When You're Having Two; one of the best pregnancy books

It can be overwhelming to have twins, but you can get past this fear by reading What to Do When You Are Having Two

This book offers great advice from personal stories and is targeted towards helping first-time mums. 

It talks about almost everything you must know about giving birth to twins, including breastfeeding, childbirth, budgeting, and gear. 

Though this book covers all the good, bad, and overwhelming things mums should expect when carrying two, it is written with an encouraging and sarcastic vibe.

 I love that this book extends into the first year of motherhood, and it’s written by a mum of twins.

  1. Best pregnancy book with all the details 

Pregnancy O.M.G! The First-Ever Photographic Guide for Modern Mamas-To-Be by Nancy Redd 

Photo of Pregnancy OMG; one of the best pregnancy books

O.M.G! Just like the name, all that will come from you when reading this book. 

But you should know this book is not some beautiful well-layered ideal look of the 9-month journey. It gives you the real and disjointed changes you experience with your body. 

Also, it discusses how to handle the changes with your hair, skin, breasts, and it is in every aspect realistic. 

It pictures every type and shape of moms-to-be and discusses them to the deepest, including the tiniest changes inside their bodies.

Alongside this raw reality, it attaches some practical tips and techniques to help you get through the tiniest problems you face with pregnancy.

  1. Best pregnancy book for feminists 

Give Birth Like a Feminist by Milli Hill

Photo of Give Birth Like A Feminist; one of the best pregnancy books

This book has some interesting statistics about birth worldwide, and they can be pretty scary. But I believe it is healthier to face these fears early and get your mind ready. 

Give Birth Like a Feminist is written by Milli Hill. She believes that a well-informed woman is powerful, and with proper awareness, she can become calmer and have a more confident birth.

She believes that you have the right to make your own choices and retain your dignity; that your doctor must seek your consent before making any vital birth decision for you.

Since your decision as a mother is very important for you and your baby, it is necessary for you to read this book.

  1. Best pregnancy book for daily guide

Pregnancy Day By Day by DK and Maggie Blott

Photo of Pregnancy Day by Day;  one of the best pregnancy books

This book gives you practical tips and how to get through your day-to-day life as a pregnant woman. 

Though there are many sites and pregnancy blogs that discuss tips like this, it is still interesting to have a book like Pregnancy Day by Day in your hand. 

It helps you track your bump watch, fetal-growth photos, and other helpful tips for pregnancy.

Do you need a book that will grow with your past labor and birth, this book is here for you. It will guide you through how to start life with a newborn. 

  1. Best pregnancy book for dads and birth partners

The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas and All Other Labour Companions, Fourth Edition by Penny Simkin

Photo of The Birth Partner; one of the best pregnancy books

Dads and other partners feel the pain and stress of pregnancy; they want to help, but sadly, they do not know the right things to do and how they can be most beneficial.

These dads need more than those silly books and jokes about becoming a dad. That is why Penny Simkin wrote this book, especially for fathers and other label companions.

It guides on what to do to become more helpful partners, the standards to know, and how to prepare for labor.

It even educates them on knowing when the labor starts and what may be required of them during a Cesarean birth.

Partners who read this book become very prepared and are usually well engaged in the delivery process.

Above all, it will save you the mid-labor questions. Gosh! They can be so annoying.

Conclusion

Knowledge is power, and reading the best pregnancy books is your sure bet to getting that power. 

There are numerous books out there, and you may feel like you should read them all. But you need to be sure you are spending your energy on the right ones.

Find all the facts you need from the carefully selected best pregnancy books listed above. 

Lily & The MBH Team
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