NATURAL PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH BOOKS

The first thing I bought when I found out we were pregnant were some pregnancy books. While I grew up around babies having lots of cousins, was a Nanny in college and felt well educated when it comes to my reproductive health and fertility – I still had so many questions about the weekly process of being pregnant, how all the baby appointments would go and how birth will take place.

We knew that we wanted to give birth at a birth center with a midwife. We were really inspired by the movie, “The Business of Being Born” which I highly recommend watching. I strive to live as natural of a lifestyle as possible and so a natural birth just felt right for us. However, I’m also really realistic and at the end of the day and I’m willing to do whatever is best for the health of my baby and me. So while our plan is a natural birth – only God knows how it will go and I’m going to do my best to let go of expectations and trust that God will bring our baby into the world in the way that she is meant to. Our years of infertility have taught me that every woman’s journey to motherhood is different, unique and beautiful.

All that being said, I wanted to learn more about the basics, especially from a natural perspective. The following are books that I have read and really enjoy. Some of them are pregnancy books and other books have helped me with anxiety and building my relationship with God during this beautiful season of life.

THE MAMA NATURAL WEEK-BY-WEEK GUIDE TO PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH

This is one of my favorite books that I feel it does a really good job explaining the week-by-week process, the different testing options and things I didn’t even know that I wanted to know! I love the natural holistic approach and how up to date and modern this book is because let’s be real – some pregnancy books, while filled with valid information, just feel outdated and are hard to “connect” with. Maybe that’s just me? LEARN MORE + GET THE BOOK HERE

THE FIRST FORTY DAYS: THE ART OF NOURISHING THE NEW MOTHER

My cousin sent me this book and I love it. Essentially it talks about how when a baby is born all of the attention may transition to the baby, when in fact both mother and baby still need to be cared for. When a baby is born, a mother is also born and it takes time for a new mom to heal from birth, rest, recover, get a good handle on breastfeeding and so forth. The first forty days are crucial for a new mom and baby to properly rest, bond and get into a healthy routine. I love all of the tips and recommendations this book has for helping both new momma and baby have a healthy, relaxing and supportive start. LEARN MORE + GET THE BOOK HERE

BIRTH PARTNER

This book my husband is reading. It’s a great compliment to the Bradley Method Birth Classes we are taking which prepares the husband to be your birth coach. Your birth coach will be your main support system for helping keep mom relaxed, emotionally cared for and having her voice heard if something needs to be said. However, a birth coach doesn’t replace the role of a doula, midwife or your care team. LEARN MORE + GET THE BOOK HERE

ACTIVE BIRTH

At first I thought this book felt outdated based on the photos, however birth essentially is the same even years late, so the information is still great. When I tried to read this book in my first trimester it felt. I honestly think I just wasn’t ready then to process the information. My main goal in the first trimester was to rest and not throw up! But as we entered our second trimester I noticed I was was ready to handle the information, learn about the birth process and learn what happens to a woman’s body during each stage. This information has really given me a lot of confidence. Fear often comes from not knowing or understanding fully. Fear can increase adrenaline which can slow the birth process. For me, knowledge helps to build confidence and reduce feelings of fear which I hope will help improve our birth experience! LEARN MORE + GET THE BOOK HERE

THE HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK

This book is written by Dr. Harvey Karp. He teaches techniques for sooth babies and increase sleep. This book also includes the latest insights into infant sleep, bedsharing, breastfeeding, swaddling, and SIDS risk. Dr. Karp’s highly successful method is based on these four concepts:

The Fourth Trimester: Why babies still yearn for a womblike atmosphere . . . even after birth
The Calming Reflex: An “off switch” all babies are born with
The 5 S’s: Five easy steps to turn on your baby’s amazing calming reflex
The Cuddle Cure: How to combine the 5 S’s to calm even colicky babies

INA MAY’S GUIDE TO PREGNANCY

This is another book my cousin gave to me that I found so insightful! I learned so much! Ina May is one of the nation’s leading midwives. This book covers topics like:

the benefits of breastfeeding
nursing challenges
pumps and other nursing products
sleeping arrangements
nursing and work
Medications
nursing multiples
Weaning
sick babies
And more!

LEARN MORE + GET THE BOOK HERE

IN THE WAIT

I actually bought this book to help me during our time of infertility. I ordered this book and then we found out we were pregnant. I used this book to help me through the first trimester when I felt a lot of anxiety. It’s such as good book that I can see myself reading again and again. I like that the devotionals ar broken into days, so I had something to read everyday. LEARN MORE + GET THE BOOK HERE

PRAYING THROUGH YOUR PREGNANCY

This is a weekly pregnancy devotional. My only feedback is that I wish it was a daily devotional because once a week felt like an eternity! However, I enjoyed the content and the prayers provided with each week. LEARN MORE + GET THE BOOK HERE