Your pregnancy reading list
Photo by Tom Hermans on Unsplash
There are many ways to get ready for the arrival of your baby. Not to mention what labour will be like. You might watch videos online, attend a class, talk with other moms, or the standard go-to: read everything you can get your hands on. Here’s the reading list I went through to prepare and my recommendations of what’s not to miss.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
By: Heidi Murkoff
Reading importance: A+
There’s a reason this book has been the standard for decades. It’s on its 5th edition now and still graces the bookshelves of most new parents.
What to Expect is basically an encyclopedia of pregnancy and birth. It breaks down pregnancy by month and trimester to make the information easily digestible. Within each month, you’ll find information on what’s happening to your body, how the baby is growing, what to be on the look out for, and helpful tips for both moms and dads. From what to eat, to how to sleep, to how to prepare for labour, this book has it all.
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know
By: Emily Oster
Reading importance: A+
I LOVED this book. The author takes on familiar pregnancy rules by diving into data to see what is true, and what needs to be debunked. She explores what you can and can’t eat, how to best go through your pregnancy, and the part I loved, how to create a birth plan according to science. If you’re a mom who wants cold hard facts, rather than touchy feely anecdotes, this is the book for you.
The Sh!t No One Tells You: A Guide to Surviving Your Baby's First Year
By: Dawn Dais
Reading importance: B+
Honestly, this book wasn’t the most revolutionary but it was an engaging read. The author shares funny experiences about what it’s like making it through the first year with a baby. From sharing your birth story, to sleeping, to teething, this is a quick read that looks at the unvarnished truth of having a baby and how hard it is in the early months.
By: Ina May Gaskin
Reading importance: B
I’d recommend this book for moms-to-be who are interested in learning more about having a drug free birth. The neat thing about this book is the first half are real stories of natural childbirth to help moms better understand what to expect. The second half looks at what labour is like and tips to avoid drugs and work constructively with doctors. From breathing exercises to common methods to induce labour, this book covers a more holistic approach to birth.
By: Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
Reading importance: B-
This book is good for anyone who either a) likes yoga or b) is looking for some stretches an poses to help aid relaxation during pregnancy and birth. Not being a yoga person myself, I still found some of the techniques and meditations for birth and labour useful to know. This book covers each stage of pregnancy and offers gentle advice on how to become more intune with your body. One word of warning for single moms by choice, there is a focus on connecting with your partner in this book so I’d recommend skipping those sections.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, 5th Edition
By: Marc Weissbluth M.D.
Reading importance: A
Moving on from pregnancy and labour, this book is an in-depth look at getting your baby to sleep. In its 5th edition, this one is also a classic and well respected for a reason. It offers a step-by-step regime to promote health sleep patterns for your child, whether you’re starting as a newborn or as an older infant or toddler. The author takes a scientific look at common sleep techniques and breaks down which ones are and aren’t the most useful. While every child, and every family, is different, he offers some insight into the best approach to help babies sleep right from the start.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
By: La Leche League International
Reading importance: B
If you’re worried about breastfeeding, this book offers a good overview of what to expect. It includes positions to try, nursing advice, how to notice hunger cues, how to save and store milk and much more. It gives moms-to-be a starting point before their babies arrive so you’re not as overwhelmed by the process as you might be otherwise. Anything that helps avoid painful or bleeding nipples is a good thing. That said, I did find that you likely won’t need the entire book if your baby latches well from the start.
These were the books I ended up reading but keep in mind there are hundreds of other options out there. Find the style and approaches that work best for you. I’d highly recommend starting your reading early as you’ll probably want to read a number of different resources before you get close to labour. Plus many of these books have recommendations that are useful all throughout pregnancy.