Pregnancy is both an exciting and anxiety-filled journey in any woman’s life, especially for first-time moms, here are 10 Pregnancy Books Every Expectant Mom Should Read. Now, as you prepare for the arrival of your baby, there will be moments of uncertainties. During these times, books are helpful resources. These can provide tips, comfort, and guidance from pregnancy to motherhood.

These books offer practical guides on pregnancy – what to expect before and after childbirth. Many of these also share pregnancy journeys of other women, which are also good sources of information. Perhaps, you would ask, “Why to bother reading books during pregnancy?” Well, pregnancy not just brings physical changes but emotional challenges as well. Understanding these processes will help your pregnancy journey more bearable and more enjoyable. Plus, reading other women’s stories about pregnancy and parenthood provide relief knowing that what you’re going through is normal.

Fortunately, there are lots of excellent books to read during pregnancy. You can have a mix of pregnancy guidebooks and novels. The first kinds give you information about pregnancy and childbirth, which can help you understand your journey better and make the right decisions. On the other hand, pregnancy novels can provide you relaxation and beautiful bonding moment with the growing baby in your tummy.

Now, if you are clueless about where to start, I have compiled a list of the best books to read during pregnancy. These cover everything you need to be familiar with about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood.

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10 Pregnancy Books Every Expectant Mom Should Read

1. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

Ina May Gaskin is one of the leading midwives with over thirty plus years of experience. In her book, she shares the joys and benefits of natural childbirth. She encourages women to trust their body’s ancient wisdom for a fulfilling and healthy birthing experience. Expectant mothers also get to know about all the vital mind-body connection required to give birth without the use of technology. Her books also cite practical guide and inspiring natural birth stories. It also talks about orgasmic birth, the labor process, reduction of labor pain without drugs, episiotomy, simplified methods of inducing labor, avoiding post-partum bleeding and depression, the risks associated with anesthesia and C-section, and lots more.

2. Your Pregnancy Week by Week

This book is another bestseller for expectant moms. Dr. Glade B. Curtis and family expert Judith Schuler not just share practical guide but also critical information on what to expect week by week during your pregnancy. This book keeps you informed during every stage of your pregnancy, discussing your baby’s development as well as the changes in your body. You can also find expert advice, nutrition tips, and proper exercises for a healthier and safer pregnancy. They even discuss what could go wrong at every stage of your pregnancy so you can take extra care.

3. Mayo Clinic Guide to A Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!

I am sure one of your many Internet searches about pregnancy led you to the Mayo Clinic website. Well, here’s something to delight on future mommy! If you’re looking for an authoritative book about pregnancy, this one’s a top recommendation. Written by the pregnancy experts at Mayo Clinic, this book talks about the pregnancy symptoms, the changes that your body goes through, and the development of your baby. It comprises of more than a hundred pages of comprehensive information including a weekly update on your baby’s development, monthly information about your changing body, symptoms guideline, meal planning, proper use of medication, exercise, some useful resources about crucial pregnancy decisions, and parenthood.

Women who desire to get pregnant will also find this book helpful as it covers tips on how to get pregnant.

4. The Healthy Pregnancy Book: Month by Month, Everything You Need to Know from America’s Baby Experts

America’s leading childcare authorities worked together to come up with a definitive guide on having both a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Linda Holt and BJ Snell co-authored this book along with the Sears so that you can expect nothing but an expertly written pregnancy manual.

What’s great about this book is that you can also share it with your spouse or partner, so they even get to understand your pregnancy journey as well as their role as an expectant father. The book goes you through every stage of your pregnancy, from pre-conception to birth, with emphasis on how you can enhance your baby’s health as well as yours. You can also find information and tips on how to grow a healthier and smarter baby, your emotional and physical changes, your baby’s month-by-month development, how to eat right for two, concerns, questions, and options on genetic counseling, lab tests, and childbirth, and so much more.

5. 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!

If you want a compassionate book to give you the comfort and assurance you need from pregnancy to motherhood, then this is a good find. Dubbed by the author as a book that’s written to take care of you, this book prepares you for a smooth start to parenthood. Kate rope combined humor and grace to tell you everything to expect upon entering motherhood. It also generously shares tools to keep you sane and to take care of yourself while you raise a child. The book understands how challenging motherhood can be, so it’s like an extra friend who pats you at the back and tells you that it’s okay to struggle at times. The professional insights and advice let you prioritize your physical, emotional, and mental health set your boundaries, and ask for other people’s help. It also provides information on feeding and childcare options that suit you, so you get enough rest and sleep, trust your instincts, builds a stronger relationship with your spouse or partner, makes self-care a daily priority, and enjoy every bit of motherhood.

6. Eating for Pregnancy: The Essential Nutrition Guide and Cookbook for Today’s Mothers-to-Be

This book won the Mom’s Choice Award in Pregnancy/Childbirth Category, so you are assured of valuable information. Expectant mothers know the importance of eating right during pregnancy. However, with the busy schedule and the unpleasant hormonal changes that you go through, you may end up not having the time and energy to prepare healthy food for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy. This is why the author wrote this book – to make it easier for you to fulfill you and your baby’s nutritional requirements.

The book contains 150 nutrient-packed recipes that are designed for your entire family. It offers meal planning advice and nutritional breakdowns, so you understand what’s in every recipe for you and your baby.

You can also find other information like minimizing weight gain, increasing your nutrient intake, supplements, high-risk pregnancies, environmental concerns, vegan recipes, diabetes, and more.

It has an extra Nine Months Later section that tackles postpartum depression, breastfeeding, post-pregnancy exercises for weight loss, and others.

7. C-Section: How to Avoid, Prepare for and Recover from your Cesarean

Let’s face it, no matter how much women like to do natural childbirth, the odds that one could undergo C-section is high. This is because not everyone is physically able to deliver naturally. With these said, this book comes handy.

Dr. Mark Zakowski, an Obstetric Anaesthesiologist who has helped more than 24,000 women give birth, talks about preparing and recovering from C-section and even how to avoid emergency C-section.

When it comes to C-section, the book tackles reduction of anxiety while waiting for your operation, how you can have less pain, how to speed up your recovery, reduction of stress, avoidance of infections, bonding with your newborn, getting back to shape after the operation, and more. It also has personal stories as well as lessons and instructions for all stages of pregnancy.

8. What To Expect When You’re Expecting

This was my bible back 15 years ago when I became pregnant. No apps, no internet searches, no experienced friend around. This book explained so much to my husband and me during our first pregnancy that I reread it the second time I was pregnant three years later.

With 18.5 million copies in print, What to Expect When You’re Expecting is read by 93% of women who read a pregnancy book and was named one of the “Most Influential Books of the Last 25 Years” by USA Today.

9. The Sh!t No One Tells You About Pregnancy: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Beyond

After all, pregnancy is not all about scanning Pinterest for baby shower themes and registering for ironic onesies, and sometimes the less flattering aspects of gestation have a way of dimming a bit of that so-called pregnancy glow.

Dawn covers it all, sharing expert lists, tips, warnings, and even a series of Parent-Training Workouts designed to increase readers’ tolerance to the various indignities of parenthood, like peeing with an audience and surviving an afternoon in Chuck E. Cheese.

10. The Essential Homebirth Guide: For Families Planning or Considering Birthing at Home

Birthing is a miraculous time when you and your baby will work together to bring about life. As you finally cradle your precious newborn in your arms, you should know deep in your soul that every decision that brought the two of you to this special moment was yours.

More families than ever are choosing to birth at home. Midwives Jane E. Drichta and Jodilyn Owen answer questions about the kind of care, support, and information you need as you investigate whether this option is right for you. Birth can be an empowering and positive experience, and this book provides gentle guidance, with high regard for your wisdom and ability to successfully navigate your prenatal care, birth, and early mothering.

The excitement in pregnancy fades when clouded with doubts, worries, and misinformation. Therefore, having sources of information like these eight books can offer the comfort you need so you and your baby both stay healthy and happy. Do not let the challenges of pregnancy overwhelm you that it affects your well-being. Remember, you are now caring for another person in your womb, and you share with your little one every physical, mental, and emotional challenge that you go through. Keep in mind that a happy mommy grows a happy baby. May you have a safe, healthy, and fun-filled pregnancy journey!