What to Read While You’re Expecting

The bible of all pregnancy books is considered to be What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff, and as a first-time mom it is definitely a great place to start, but by no means should it be the only thing you’re reading, no matter what kind of birth choice you’re hoping to make.

There are so many amazing books out there, that not only tell you what’s happening within your body during pregnancy, but they get into the nitty-gritty of birth, how-to manage it, educating you on your birth preference options, and most importantly getting you in the right mindset to embrace these big changes.

Pregnancy and birth don’t have to be so hard or scary, as long as you have the right tools and resources at your disposal. I’m sorry, but horror stories and various testimonials from your family and friends, and even putting all your faith in your trusted OBGYNs isn’t going to cut it in terms of standing in your birth power. So, pick up a book, or if you’re not a reader, snag the audio book of some of my favorite reads.

Some of these were what I read while I was pregnant with my second, and some of these are what I wish I read during both pregnancies. If you’re someone who gets inspired by books, these are all great options for you, and will leave you feeling empowered, in control and even excited for the journey ahead, which if you ask me is the true beginning of a positive birth experience.

Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardake: What are some key takeaways from this book? Well, Nancy is a nurse, midwife and a mindfulness teacher. She sets you up with practices that will help you find calm by involving your partner, skills to reduce stress and decrease any fears you might have about birth. It’s essentially a fully engaged program giving you the lifelong skills to thrive during birth and in postpartum.

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin: The other bible in all things pregnancy and birth. Sadly I had no idea this book existed, but boy is it jam packed full of information. If a natural birth is part of your experience then this gem is for you. She gets into the details of birth, how to reduce pain without drugs, it’s an ode to all things natural birth giving you mama an opportunity to trust your body and what it was made for.

The Doula’s Guide to Empowering Your Birth: A Complete Labor and Childbirth Companion for Parents to Be By Lindsey Bliss: You name it, this book has it. From how to treat your morning sickness, supporting your mental health during pregnancy (pregnancy anxiety), and tools, tips and positions for birth to how to approach last minute decisions about cesareans and helpful postpartum information.

Fearless Birthing: Clear Your Fears for a Positive Birth by Alexia Leachman: Did you know nearly 62% of women fear birth? That’s more than half, and honestly I think in large part is that we fear pain and a little comes from what we don’t know or understand about birth, or how to manage it. If you fall into this, definitely pick up this book. Alexia speaks from personal experience and guides you through a road map on the best insights to conquer your fear and have the best birth experience of your dreams.

Mama Natural: The Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth by Genevieve Howland: Another great book, if you’re looking for resources to support you on your natural birth journey. This book is chalk full of weekly advice and tips on nutrition, resolving your pregnancy symptoms and even when and why to use certain labor and birth interventions. With positive birth and pregnancy stories woven throughout, you will feel like you really can do it too, and I’ve got news for you mama you have it in you, you just have to trust in yourself first.

You have all of the makings for a beautiful pregnancy and birth, you just have to find a way to tune out the noise and tune in, and there’s no better way to do that than with a good book. Happy reading mama!