Recommended Reading
The world of pregnancy and birth literature is HUGE. To get you started, here are some books and sites that I recommend for your pregnancy, birth and postpartum preparations.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Expecting Better: Why the conventional pregnancy wisdom is wrong - and what you really need to know - Emily Oster
If you're feeling a little fed up with being told what to expect now you're expecting... this will give you solid information, and research from actual studies. The author is an economist, and emphasises that she is not there to tell you what to do, but to provide the information so that you can decide what's best for you. See also: Emily Oster’s second book, Cribsheet, which provides similar analytical info on parenting, from newborn to preschooler.
This wonderful website shares the results of many studies and reports into pregnancy and birth related issues. A really great resource for finding answers quickly.
THE PREGNANCY EXPERIENCE
Real Food for Pregnancy - Lily Nichols
This is a really great, informative guide to nutrition for pregnancy (and pre-pregnancy too). It’s full of sensible and smart recommendations on how to fuel your body, and also how to eat to optimize intake of all the essential vitamins and nutrients you need.
Mama Natural: The week-by-week guide to pregnancy and childbirth - Genevieve Howland
If you want a book to accompany you through each step of pregnancy, this is the one I suggest. It is warm, modern and non-patronizing, and considers a wide spectrum of choices and preferences.
Nuture: A modern, caring guide to pregnancy, birth and early motherhood - Erica Chidi Cohen
Written by a doula, this book is a beautiful companion to a judgement-free, calm pregnancy and a great guide to a positive, empowered birth. The postpartum section is also full of wonderful suggestions and wisdom.
PREPARING FOR LABOR
Birthing from Within & Ancient Map for Modern Birth - Pam England & Rob Horowitz
These books approach labor preparation from the mental side. They share many coping techniques, how to face and dispel your fears, how to build your confidence and put yourself in a great place to feel emotionally ready for birth. Birthing from Within is the original; Ancient Map is a newer, updated book full of ways to connect with your body and your baby.
Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage - Rachel Reed
I love this book. Midwife and doctor Rachel Reed writes clearly and honestly to help us find our power and yes, reclaim our experience of childbirth as transformative and powerful.
The Last Days of Pregnancy - Jana Studelzka for Mothering.com
This beautiful essay puts into words perfectly the feelings many mothers to be experience in the final weeks of pregnancy - the time of "in-between".
Active Birth - Janet Balaskas
This book has a great focus on remaining mobile and active during labor. It includes a wonderful section on prenatal yoga and body preparation (complete with fabulous photos of a lady in a striped unitard). It combines evidence, recommendations and tools to prepare for your birth.
The Birth Partner - Penny Simkin
If you are planning to accompany someone giving birth, you should read this. It clearly and thoroughly outlines each stage of labor and how to be the best possible support person. It gives great guidance on physical techniques and shows you how to be the kind of solid, encouraging, reliable presence that is required in a birth space.
YOUR BIRTH OPTIONS
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering - Sarah J Buckley MD
Sarah Buckley is a highly respected doctor and her advocation of undisturbed physiological birth is backed up with the science in this book. She explains how our hormones work to birth our babies, how to make hospital environments work for you, and lays out detailed information about your choices in birthing. She has a unique perspective due to being a medical doctor who has homebirthed her own children.
Natural Hospital Birth: The best of both worlds - Cynthia Gabriel
This book is great if you feel giving birth in hospital is right for you, but also want to have as little intervention or interruption as possible - and it is possible! I highly recommend this book to make the most of your hospital experience.
Before you decide on an Induction
My own blog posts on Induction
Midwife Thinking: Induction: A step-by-step guide Rachel Reed is an excellent midwife who writes books and articles about your birth choices - this outlines what happens during induction very clearly
Midwife Thinking: Induction: Balancing the risks the same midwife/author’s views and breakdown of the risks of induction
Evidence Based Birth: The ARRIVE study this wonderful website breaks down this controversial study that many OBs will cite as the reason to induce at 39 weeks. (Hint: do your research before agreeing to this!)
POSTPARTUM
The First Forty Days - Heng Ou
Full of warming recipes, advice, encouragement and tips for preparing the home and yourself for the immediate postpartum period. A lovely book to show you the importance of nurturing and nourishing both mother and baby.
The Fourth Trimester - Kimberley Ann Johnson
Focussed on healing your body, mind and spirit in the three months after your baby is born, this book has a holistic approach. Relationships, the transition into being a new family and owning your birth experience are also covered.
On Postpartum. - Beth from loveasbigasyourhead.com
A beautiful, honest, evocative essay on how postpartum feels to this mom.
The Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety - by Katherine Stone at postpartumprogress.com
This website is a wonderful resource for mothers and families experiencing PPD and PPA, and this article in particular is a great one for helping to make sense of the way you feel and typical behaviors you might show if you are suffering PPD or PPA. I like it as it makes a point of showing that every individual has a different experience.
There are so many more books that I love and recommend, depending on what you’re looking for. If you are one of my birth clients, you have access to my lending library with all these titles.
