Best Pregnancy Books

Expecting a baby? Congrats! There are so many pregnancy books to sift through to prep for baby, understand pregnancy, and know what to expect at birth. Here are the best pregnancy books that every expectant mom should read!

With two pregnancies down, and a crazy marketing research wired brain, you’d better believe I’ve been all about every pregnancy book or piece of information I can get my hands on! I’ve learned there are books that prepare you well, books that are entertaining, and pregnancy books that can be…well…duds. But the best pregnancy books are out there! And I’d recommend these to anyone expecting.

Best Pregnancy Books

1. What to Expect When You’re Expecting
   A guide to what is happening with your body at every phase of the pregnancy. Plus there are trends in birthing, parenting, and medical research. It’s written in a warm tone that feels like talking to a friend, and you’ll get everything you’ve ever wondered about pregnancy in one place! That’s why it’s been at the top of the best pregnancy books list for decades!
   
2. STRONG AS A MOTHER: HOW TO STAY HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND (MOST IMPORTANTLY) SANE FROM PREGNANCY TO PARENTHOOD: THE ONLY GUIDE TO TAKING CARE OF YOU!
   Kate, the author was at a conference I was attending and generously came up and handed me this book when she saw my third-trimester belly. I was so flattered, and also gobbled up this book! It’s the most real, practical, honest advice to help moms with pregnancy and parenthood transitions. It’s the advice every mom needs to advocate for themselves and be the best mom they can be!

   The Best Pregnancy Books for New Moms

   

3. Ina May’s Childbirth
   Can I start by admitting I’m an epidural hospital birth mom who thinks every single woman who will go into labor needs to read this book? It’s advocating natural childbirth and empowering women to understand their own bodies. Also, to have confidence in the birthing process!
   Even if you are an epidural mom, it’s so amazing to understand the stages of labor and birth. I’ve heard way too many stories of people planning on a medicated birth delivering naturally and feeling lost and uninformed. You’ll learn a lot about labor and delivery, and understanding gives you the confidence to move forward and quit fearing birth.
   This is the best pregnancy book I’ve read about childbirth, and I think it should be required reading for every pregnant mom!
   
4. Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
   I’ve recommended this book to so many people I’ve lost count. I’ve also gifted this book to every friend who has opened up about infertility issues with me. If you want to know what’s going on with your body, this is your roadmap! Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, or currently pregnant, it’s a must-read to understand your body and how to take charge of your fertility.

   Expecting Mom Pregnancy Books

   

5. Pregnancy Day By Day
   If you’re one of those expecting moms who likes to download every pregnancy app and open it daily, you’ll love this! You can get a daily glimpse at what’s happening, what to expect with the baby and your body, and how to prepare. It’s all the information your inquiring mind may want to know!
   
6. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!
   It kind of becomes a running joke that once you’re a parent, you’ll want your best friend to be a pediatrician so you can use and abuse them for every question that arises. This is one of those books that will help you get answers to those questions while you’re expecting! If you want help knowing what decisions will make and face, you’re covered! If you want medical insight into your body, your birth, etc. this is a great resource.
   
7. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
   I was that person who prepped extensively for birth and felt so aware of what would happen. Then the baby came and I was completely clueless about nursing and breastfeeding. We had a lot of issues the first month and I’m still in shock I nursed that kid for over a year! How I wish I’d prepped, read up on how and why, and had a resource like this before delivery.

   Best Books for New Parents

   

8. The Happiest Baby on the Block
   Some of our dearest friends gifted us this book and swore it made all the difference for their child! I’ll admit I didn’t read it until colic set in and my baby was anything but happy. But we did implement these simple changes that made a huge difference in the path to a happy baby. Crying decreased significantly with this book! I’d read this before the baby comes, or at least have on hand to read in the first weeks postpartum.
   
9. On Becoming Babywise
   This is the book I’ve gobbled up the second pregnancy that I wish I’d have read my first. Our little guy had every health problem with eating that impacted sleep. I was a zombie during my first year of motherhood! As I’ve read and listened to it on audiobook, I’ve sat shaking my head thinking “If only I’d known this the first time!” Every parent deserves more sleep. Also, more tools to discover problems you’re unaware of. Read Babywise just before baby arrives and you will be all the wiser!

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