Top 10 Books for Pregnant Women!
It is no secret that I love to read! I have read dozens of books about birth, health, nutrition, parenting, and other topics that have been beneficial (or not so beneficial) when preparing for pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Unfortunately, not every book has been a hit. In an attempt to help you save your time and money, I have constructed this list of my favorite books that every pregnant woman should read!
Nutrition
Nutrition is one of the most important things to consider when you are pregnant(or preparing for pregnancy). Nutritional deficiencies can cause birth defects or complications in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. What we are eating is the building blocks that create our babies. Every day of pregnancy our bodies are working to develop our babies. Women need to be well nourished for this process to unfold flawlessly. Women can become ill in pregnancy if they are not consuming enough nutrients for themselves and their babies. I love this book because she uses evidence-based information to give women a basic guide of what they should be eating to have a healthy pregnancy.
This is a book that I would recommend to everyone because it is not specific to pregnancy. I think these concepts are important for any pregnant woman to understand though, preferably before getting pregnant. This book breaks down many of the myths about nutrition - fat and cholesterol are not the enemy, but not all fat is created equal. It turns out that our ancestors got it right! Throw away your low-fat cookbook and nourish your body with real food! There is wisdom that anyone can benefit from in this book. Sally Fallon also has Nourishing Traditions books on childcare and a cookbook for children.
Dr Cate shares her journey to deep nutrition and authentic health. She went from a sick junk food eater to nourished and thriving. Her personal story shaped the way she sees healing and she uses this new knowledge in her practice as a primary care physician. There is a ton of great information in this book. This is another book that I would recommend to everyone because it is not specific to pregnancy. She does talk about pregnancy and fetal development in parts of this book. She also discusses generational health, explaining how the health of pregnant women not only affects the baby she is currently pregnant with but also their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
This is the ultimate how-to book for homebirthing and freebirthing moms. I highly recommend this book because it beautifully illustrates that birth isn’t scary or complicated. A simple birth is available for any woman who chooses it. She discusses how to do your own prenatal care, supplies you might want, what to do if complications arise, postpartum care, and more. This is a very practical guide that removes much of the mystery from birth.
I first found Rachel Reed by listening to her Podcast The Midwives Cauldron. In this book, she shares the history(herstory) of birth, explains how men got involved, and how interfering with birth shifted into the mess modern-day maternity “care” is today. This book demonstrates how birth can be reclaimed by women and how we can still have this ancient rite of passage without the drama. “This book weaves history, science, and research with the experiences of women and care providers to create a holistic, evidence-based framework for understanding birth. It takes the listener on a journey through childbirth physiology and practices and focuses on what can be done to create change one mother at a time, one birth at a time.”
Yolande is one of my mentors from The Radical Birth Keeper School and now MatriBirth Midwifery Institute. In this book, she shares her personal experience as a mother of 10+ babies, all birthed naturally at home. “Yolande openly shares that she too experienced excruciating intensity during her first eight births. It was only until the four-day-long birth of her ninth baby at age 40 that she was cracked open and offered the golden thread that allowed her to unravel everything she thought she knew about birth, herself, and the power to choose. Orgasmic birth has nothing to do with being special, being spiritually evolved, having the right kind of personality, giving birth multiple times, or even strategy. It's simply in our DNA as mothers.”
This book is a must-read for women before they get pregnant. Tina Cassidy explains the history of birth - the how and the why. It is so important for women to educate themselves on the medical system and maternity system before they enter it. Some of these topics are hard to read while pregnant. I recommend this book before pregnancy because I don’t think it is beneficial to stress yourself out or trigger yourself during pregnancy. I also recommend the book Everything Below The Waist by Jenifer Block if you are looking to educate yourself further on the medical system.
Postpartum
This book opened my eyes to a whole new way of nourishing my body. There is so much wisdom in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The First Forty Days refers to the confinement period that many Eastern cultures use to nourish and support women after birth.
It is not admirable to “bounce back” after birth - it is dangerous and has long-lasting effects on a woman’s health! This book illustrates the importance of a slow and mindful postpartum period. The Western medical system fails to support women through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. There is a better way. Check out Heng Ou’s books on pregnancy and fertility.
This is my favorite book for breastfeeding information. LLL is a great organization that shares evidence-based information about breastfeeding, cosleeping, feeding, and other childcare topics. This book discusses the history of breastfeeding, the science of breastfeding, how to breastfeed, and other helpful tips. I would also recommend saving their website as a resource to use if needed throughout your mothering journey. I am plan to apply to become a LLL Leader soon so I can offer breastfeeding support as a resource to my community as well.
I am a big fan of Elimination Communication. The philosophy is that babies do not want to soil themselves and will use a toilet when given the opportunity. I talk a lot about EC in my Birth Prep Course. I started EC when my daughter was a few days old. I expect to have her completely out of diapers by the time she is walking. This book is a good place to start if you are interested in pottying your baby starting at birth! Andrea gives a helpful guide for building a framework that will work for your family. It is so much easier than you think! I would recommend getting this potty for 0-5 months, and this potty for 5+ months.
I am recommending this baby book because it is a well-rounded baby-parenting book. I also think the Montessori style of schooling is much better than the curriculum used in US government schools. I am not 100% committed to the Montessori parenting style, but I do think there is a lot of wisdom within this parenting style. The Montessori philosophy emphasizes respect, responsibility, confidence, and autonomy. I appreciate that this book gives an alternative perspective that parents may not be introduced to otherwise. I think this book is a good place to start if you are interested in exploring the principles of Montessori for parenting or schooling. Also, check out The Montessori Toddler and The Montessori Child.