One key to a positive birth experience is learning about pregnancy and the birth process. Oftentimes there is a lot of fear associated with pregnancy and birth, but having a basic understanding of these things can help dispel that fear. And while reading books or taking a childbirth class won’t guarantee your dream birth experience, you’re much more likely to have a satisfactory experience if you’ve taken time to learn, prepare, and explore your options.
Since I’m a bookworm and can’t help giving out book recommendations, here’s a short list of my favorite books for the childbearing year!
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and The Newborn
This book is a wonderful all-in-one primer on well, the title says it all! I read this book as part of my doula certification and quickly placed it high on my recommended reading list, especially for first-time moms. Whether you are planning a hospital birth or home birth, medicated or unmedicated, the authors do a great job of objectively presenting all the basic information a mom needs to navigate pregnancy, prepare for birth, and plan for postpartum. This book is a great place to start for a first-time mom or a mom who wants to be better prepared for her next pregnancy and birth.
Natural Hospital Birth
I’ve birthed all our babies at home with a midwife and and we’ve been very happy with our choice. However, since birth is incredibly unpredictable, I wanted to be prepared in the event that a hospital birth was needed. I also support doula clients who birth in the hospital, so knowing how I can best support them in their desire for a natural birth is vital. You’ll learn how to craft a realistic birth plan, assemble a supportive birth team, and navigate early and active labor without pain medication. This book also covers interventions that are often implemented or offered in the hospital, equipping you to ask good questions and make wise decisions.
Expectant
This wonderful book was written by a dear friend of mine. Since birth is an interest of mine, I’ve read quite the stack of pregnancy and birth-related books. And while I’d recommend many of them as great resources as you walk through pregnancy and prepare for the birth of your baby, there are very few I could point you to that contain foundational biblical truth geared specifically for the expectant mama’s heart. This book contains plenty of practical ideas to implement in the everyday joys and challenges of pregnancy. But even better, you’ll encounter rich spiritual truth that brings you back to seeking Jesus and prioritizing Him throughout your pregnancy. My post here contains my full book review and a Q&A with the author.
The Birth Partner
If you’re looking for a book specifically on labor and birth, this is a must-read. You’ll come away with a very clear idea of what to expect during the stages of labor, comfort measures for coping with labor pain (good to know even if you’re planning for an epidural), breastfeeding support, and postpartum tips. It also contains highlighted “in a nutshell” sections written specifically for the husband or other labor support person to read during pregnancy and quickly reference later. This book isn’t geared specifically towards natural birth, so it’s a great one to read if you’re still exploring your options or planning to utilize pain medication in labor, as it provides detailed information on those options.
Note: I recommend purchasing the 4th edition of this book, not the most recent 5th edition. The 5th edition takes a gender-neutral stance and avoids the use of mother, woman, she, etc., in reference to a pregnant woman, instead using “laboring person” or “birthing parent” all throughout the book. The 5th edition also promotes the gender-neutral term “chest-feeding” instead of “breastfeeding”.
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way
This book is a classic and is based on the Bradley Method. It’s a staple for those wanting to have an unmedicated birth and will give you all the tools you need to prepare for your birth. I love that it contains inspiring birth stories peppered throughout the book. There are also specific sections written to the birth coach. I also recommend Husband-Coached Childbirth as a great read for dads.
If you’re interested, check out this video from a mom of 7 sharing her experience with the Bradley birth method. Whether or not you utilize this specific method, surrounding yourself with positive birth stories is a must! You can also find information here on Bradley childbirth classes.
The Birth Book
This book was written nearly thirty years ago but I just recently read it! The Birth Book offers a lot of wisdom on the benefits of physiologic birth and how to best support that natural process. I especially appreciated the chapters on having a healthy view of pain in childbirth, pain management options (medicated and unmedicated), cesareans and VBACs, and how to practice mind and muscle relaxation techniques for labor.
I hope this book list is helpful and sets you up for some good birth-related reading! Do you have a favorite you’d add to this list? Comment below!
