Having a baby is an extraordinary and life-altering experience. Whether you’re pregnant for the first time or have already experienced motherhood, it’s natural to want to pick up as much information and support as possible along the way.
That’s why having the right pregnancy books can be so important. They provide reliable resources, relevant knowledge, and valuable tips about parenting that help new parents navigate through parenthood with confidence.
This blog post will look at some of the best pregnancy books out there—from essential reads to must-have reference guides.
What Should You Look For in Pregnancy Books?
Before purchasing a book on pregnancy, there are several factors to consider. These include the following:
1. The Book Is Tailored to Your Needs
Pregnancy is an exciting and life-changing period in a woman’s life. Central to a successful pregnancy journey is access to reliable and accurate information, which can be found in books.
When you’re selecting a book on prenatal care, one of the key things to look for is that it is tailored to your needs. Such publication should take into account your personal preferences and circumstances.
For example, if it’s written from the perspective of an expectant mother who has chosen to use birthing methods such as hypnobirthing or Lamaze, then these books can offer valuable tips on how best to adapt them for your situation.
Pregnancy books that take into account the expectations and advice of medical professionals can also be incredibly helpful when making decisions about your care in everything from nutrition to childbirth planning.
Taking time to find a pregnancy book suited just for you can make this special moment in life a truly memorable one.
2. It Has Expert Sources
One of the key elements to look for when shopping for a pregnancy book is whether or not it has expert sources. This is essential so that the reader can trust the advice that they are being given.
Considering most information found in pregnancy books will affect both mother and baby, it’s important to ensure that this advice is being written by someone with sufficient experience.
Many books today will even provide readers with advice from both doctors and experienced mothers alike, so you know you’re getting reliable information from a variety of perspectives. So make sure your next pregnancy book has expert sources.
3. It Is Written in a Positive Tone
When choosing a pregnancy book, an ideal choice should not only be informed and accurate but also have a positive tone. A positive outlook is important for your mental health and emotional well-being, especially in those stressful 9 months.
Look for books that offer encouragement with advice and options that suit your individual needs and wants. Avoid anything that tells you what you “should” do while pregnant, as every woman’s experience is unique and deserves to be celebrated. So take the time to find the right book—one that speaks to you in a way that is informative, uplifting, and empowering.
These are just a few of the things to look for when shopping for pregnancy books. By understanding what to look for, you’ll be able to find the perfect book that meets your needs and provides a comfortable and enjoyable read.
Our Top 13 Picks from Amazon
Here at All Things Childcare, we strive to provide you with the latest and greatest resources for parenting. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best pregnancy books to make sure that every expecting parent has access to the information they need.
Our top 13 pregnancy books from Amazon are:
- What to Expect When You’re Expecting
- Big, Beautiful, and Pregnant: Expert Advice and Comforting Wisdom for the Expecting Plus-Size Woman
- Successful Surrogacy: An Intended Parents’ Guide to a Rewarding Relationship With Their Surrogate Mother
- 50 Things to Do Before You Deliver: The First-Time Moms Pregnancy Guide
- The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be
- What to Do When You’re Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year
- Say No to Placenta Pics: And Other Hilarious, Unsolicited Advice for Pregnant Women
- Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy
- Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong — and What You Really Need to Know
- What to Eat When You’re Pregnant: A Week-by-Week Guide to Support Your Health and Your Baby’s Development
- Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
- The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Rebirth: The Journey of Pregnancy After a Loss
Now, let’s take a look at each of these top picks in more detail.
1. What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Expecting a baby is an exciting time in a person’s life, but it can also be full of questions and unknowns. With so much information available, it can be overwhelming trying to determine what you need to know as your baby grows.
Thankfully, What to Expect When You’re Expecting has you covered. This comprehensive guide offers new moms and dads all the insights they could need on their journey through pregnancy.
From advice on everything from labor prep and lifestyle changes during pregnancy to info on common complications, this book is an invaluable tool during this experience for any dad-to-be. Don’t be scared off by the page length; there are plenty of sections tailored specifically to what you need at that moment in time.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
2. Big, Beautiful, and Pregnant: Expert Advice and Comforting Wisdom for the Expecting Plus-Size Woman
Struggling to find relevant, real-world advice as a plus-size pregnant person can be really difficult. Get the inside scoop with Big, Beautiful, and Pregnant, a must-have resource for expecting plus-size parents.
Coaching you on everything from finding maternity clothes that will fit and navigating potential medical risks posed by being plus-size during pregnancy to dealing with fatphobic doctors or family members, this book has you covered across the board.
This book was written by an obstetrician specializing in plus-size pregnancies and a plus-size mom who’s been there before. This healthy pregnancy book is one of the most awesome pregnancy books out there.
Big, Beautiful, and Pregnant: Expert Advice and Comforting Wisdom for the Expecting Plus-Size Woman
3. Successful Surrogacy: An Intended Parents’ Guide to a Rewarding Relationship With Their Surrogate Mother
Having a successful surrogacy pregnancy journey is a unique and life-changing experience. As exciting as it is, it can also be bewildering for intended parents who want to ensure that their relationship with the gestational carrier is rewarding and positive.
With Successful Surrogacy: An Intended Parents’ Guide to a Rewarding Relationship With Their Surrogate Mother by experienced gestational carrier Susan MZ Fuller, intended parents can rest assured that they have guidance from an expert on creating a solid relationship between all parties involved.
This guide demystifies the process and helps make the transition into parenthood seamless for intended parents because there will be no surprises about what to expect in this journey into parenthood.
Successful Surrogacy: An Intended Parents’ Guide to a Rewarding Relationship With Their Surrogate Mother
4. 50 Things to Do Before You Deliver: The First-Time Moms Pregnancy Guide
Expecting a child for the first time is an exciting, but daunting, experience — especially for new moms. That’s why this book is such a great resource.
50 Things to Do Before You Deliver: The First Time Moms Pregnancy Guide offers you a solid plan of attack with helpful advice and activities tailored to each trimester.
Whether you prefer to have all the answers orchestrated in advance or simply want a no-nonsense guide to help you stay on top of your pregnancy, this book covers it all. It also takes into account different lifestyles and levels of comfort to provide you with meaningful tips that are unique to you and your baby.
Don’t feel overwhelmed by the journey. Get yourself organized with help from this all-encompassing guide.
50 Things to Do Before You Deliver: The First-Time Moms Pregnancy Guide
5. The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be
Becoming a father is a life-changing experience, and The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be is the perfect way for new dads to get acclimated to the journey ahead.
With topics covering everything from understanding how to support your partner during pregnancy, ways to strengthen the bond with the baby before birth, and tips on taking care of yourself during the nine months, this book has it all.
It’s packed full of amazing advice so dads-to-be can enjoy every minute of this exciting time. Don’t wait—get dad his own copy today and put him on the path toward being an informed and prepared papa.
The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be
6. What to Do When You’re Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year
Being able to anticipate and prepare for your twins’ first year can make all the difference in how you cope with the arrival of two babies at once. This comprehensive guide soothes jitters with realistic advice from experienced parents and pediatricians alike.
What to Do When You’re Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year offers everything from tips on packing a well-stocked hospital bag to understanding multiples’ unique developmental milestones, ensuring that new parents have the knowledge they need to handle their twins confidently.
Whether it’s getting creative with time management or deciphering which sleep strategies work best, this survival guide will be an invaluable ally when it comes to ensuring both newborns get the attention they need and deserve.
What to Do When You’re Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year
7. Say No to Placenta Pics: And Other Hilarious, Unsolicited Advice for Pregnant Women
Say No to Placenta Pics is a much-needed guide for pregnant women. Filled with lighthearted and humorous advice, funny stories, and no-nonsense tips, this book is the perfect pick for any expecting mama looking for a little comic relief.
Co-written by friends Jillian M. Parsons and Allison Baerken, their irreverent style makes it a great gift and will have even the most apprehensive mom laughing out loud, although you may want to look elsewhere if you’re looking for something more traditional in terms of advice on pregnancy.
Say No to Placenta Pics: And Other Hilarious, Unsolicited Advice for Pregnant Women
8. Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy
Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy is the perfect choice for parents-to-be who want information from a fun and funny perspective.
Written as part of an exciting collaboration between a variety of experienced professionals like OB-GYNs, therapists, doulas, lactation experts, and pelvic floor therapists, this book is packed with clinical research and practical advice.
With each trimester covered in detail, this guide provides info on common pregnancy symptoms and relief tips, as well as must-know decisions to make before your baby’s arrival, registry advice, and exercises to do during pregnancy.
Bumpin’ aims to provide indispensable help while keeping it lighthearted at the same time so you can learn more and laugh more before (and once) your little bundle arrives.
Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy
9. Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong — and What You Really Need to Know
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong — and What You Really Need to Know is an engaging and reassuring book written by award-winning economist Emily Oster that debunks many myths and empowers some of the most important decisions a pregnant person will make.
This book offers readers a calm, informative tone and evaluates data on nearly every decision pregnant women may need to make. From studies on nutrition to reasons why you might choose to do drug tests during pregnancy, Emily’s approach helps readers weigh the evidence and make informed decisions best suited for them.
Oster brings an unbiased insight into these subjects that encourages readers to trust their own judgment and ultimately make informed choices about pregnancies. It’s no wonder Expecting Better has become popular among expecting mothers everywhere.
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong — and What You Really Need to Know
10. What to Eat When You’re Pregnant: A Week-by-Week Guide to Support Your Health and Your Baby’s Development
Pregnancy is a beautiful time, but it can also be daunting. Knowing what kinds of food to feed yourself and your growing baby can be overwhelming, especially as dietary needs evolve with each trimester.
If you’re looking for some well-rounded advice on how to nourish yourself and your baby during pregnancy, then What to Eat When You’re Pregnant is the perfect companion.
This book serves as a week-by-week guide so that you know exactly which foods should be on your plate, gentle reminders about keeping food safe, and even advice for nursing mothers who want to continue feeding their babies in the best way possible after birth.
With this book by your side, you and your little one will stay healthy throughout this journey.
What to Eat When You’re Pregnant: A Week-by-Week Guide to Support Your Health and Your Baby’s Development
11. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
With each passing week of your pregnancy, you want to make sure that you are taking the right steps to make sure both you and your baby are healthy. The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy provides easy-to-follow advice from experienced medical professionals, ensuring readers that they can trust the guidance provided by the book.
A 40-week pregnancy calendar allows parents to track their baby’s development. The book also gives tips for managing moms’ changing bodies along with the risks of various types of childbirth.
And you won’t be left high and dry after delivery. There are also chapters dedicated to breastfeeding, contraception, and other postpartum topics so that new parents can get all the information they need in one place.
Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
12. The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth
Sharing inspiring advice for every stage of your pregnancy journey, Mama Natural covers nutrition tips, natural remedies, beautiful birth stories, and expert information that will help guide you through the nine months of amazing changes in the lead-up to childbirth.
With this book, you get an empowering, holistic view of one of life’s most magical experiences. You’ll soon see that having a baby isn’t a medical condition but an incredible biological adventure.
The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth
13. Rebirth: The Journey of Pregnancy After a Loss
Having a baby is a joyous occasion, but when it comes after a previous pregnancy loss, the experience can bring additional discomfort to an already difficult situation.
If you or someone close to you are navigating this type of journey then Rebirth: The Journey of Pregnancy After Loss may be your light in the darkness. Written by a renowned therapist and a licensed social worker, this book provides practical advice on everything from managing emotions associated with a loss to how to talk through it with loved ones and health professionals.
Drawing upon years of experience, the author offers support tailored for those experiencing pregnancy after a loss as well as their partners who also need guidance and understanding during this transition.
This accessible guide can serve as an invaluable tool in helping navigate the many stages of being pregnant after loss.
Rebirth: The Journey of Pregnancy After a Loss
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, offer advice from a medical professional, or provide emotional support, there’s something on this list for you.
No matter what type of pregnancy book you’re looking for, we hope you find the perfect one (or two) to help guide you through your journey to motherhood.
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