Books on Pregnancy, Birth and New Motherhood

 
 
 

What books should I buy? Blogs to read? Podcasts to download? We wanted to educate ourselves but had a hard time finding inclusive, evidence-based information that wasn’t prescriptive.

Well, look no further. Here are our favorites.

Featured
NYT Parenting
NYT Parenting

NYT Parenting publishes fantastic evidence-based guides and developmental milestones — backed by the journalistic rigor of The New York Times.

Blood + Milk
Blood + Milk

As the editorial arm of Cora, Blood + Milk is a magazine-style website with the mission to consider and expose the physical, physiological, emotional, spiritual, psychological, social, political, cultural, and economic forces that influence the way women exist in their female bodies while striving for wellness.

Under the Hood
Under the Hood

Under the Hood is a podcast pulling back the curtain and unpacking the mystery around womanHOOD, sisterHOOD, motherHOOD. Join Patti Quintero and Aleks Evanguelidi as they take a deep dive into the topics you wish you knew more about, the topics you want to share with your daughters, and the things you want the men in your life to know.

Like a Mother by Angela Garbes
Like a Mother by Angela Garbes

In this incredible book, Angela Garbes tells her own story while weaving in some of the most important (and least understood/talked about) topics in pregnancy. You know those books where you wonder how every sentence is jam-packed with meaning? This is one of those. This book is simply a joy to read. She helps us understand the history of obstetrics, why things are the way they are today, and the biology behind what’s really going on in our bodies during pregnancy. She teaches us to be forgiving with our bodies and highlights that every birth is a ‘natural’ birth.

Nurture by Erica Chidi Cohen
Nurture by Erica Chidi Cohen

Nurture is the perfect resource for those looking for a balanced and structured approach to pregnancy and birth. Erica Chidi Cohen started her career as a doula in San Francisco, working in the prison system with pregnant inmates.

She recently opened LOOM, an LA space that offers classes, services, and events  spanning the sexual, reproductive, and parenting spectrum. In Spring 2019, LOOM launched an online course based on Chidi Cohen’s book.

What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood by Alexandra Sacks, MD and Catherine Birndorf, MD
What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood by Alexandra Sacks, MD and Catherine Birndorf, MD

Alexandra Sacks, MD, and Catherine Birndorf, MD, two of the top reproductive psychiatrists in the U.S. have written the first comprehensive guide to the emotional changes that happen through matrescence, the transformation from woman into mother.

We love how accessible the book is and how we can relate to the common fears and questions addressed in the book but are often glossed over elsewhere. The book also covers important topics,  like being on psychiatric medications while pregnant and breastfeeding, an area where it’s challenging to find evidence-based explanations.

Expecting Better by Emily Oster
Expecting Better by Emily Oster

Written by economist and mom Emily Oster, Expecting Better tackles conventional pregnancy wisdom (what you can/should/shouldn’t eat, drink, do…she covers everything!) by breaking  down the evidence in a way that’s easy to understand.

She gives you the research-backed information you need to make educated decisions that are right for you and your family.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

This one’s a birth classic, and if you hire a doula, it’s probably one of the books they will recommend to you. It includes hundreds of real and inspiring birth stories.

You don’t need to read this one from beginning to end - you can pick it up, open to any section, and start reading. We found that learning about others’ experiences helped us feel less afraid of labor and birth, and more confident in our capabilities as women to birth our babies.

More in Pregnancy
I'm Pregnant, Now What?
I'm Pregnant, Now What?

Knowing what to do when you think you might be pregnant can be confusing. When can you take a pregnancy test? If it’s positive, when do you make a prenatal appointment? What are the guidelines on taking care of yourself before you see a care provider? We break things down here with help from SF-based doula Lauren Miller Brown.

Exercise during Pregnancy
Exercise during Pregnancy

So often women are told to slow down when pregnant, and while for some high-risk pregnancies bed rest is required, in most healthy pregnancies, regular movement is recommended. Hear from Peri Hughes, SF based prenatal fitness expert on how you can safely approach exercise during pregnancy.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis Gravidarum

As I begin to make sense of my pregnancy and my experience with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), I can now see so much that would have been helpful to know and understand then. In hopes of easing your journey if you or a loved one is experiencing HG — here’s my take.

Morning Sickness Remedies
Morning Sickness Remedies

Up to eighty percent of women experience some type of nausea during pregnancy. Here are a few natural remedies that may help manage and reduce your morning sickness without side effects.

OBGYN or Midwife? Hospital or Home Birth?
OBGYN or Midwife? Hospital or Home Birth?

Does your provider make you feel supported, heard, and safe? Do you feel comfortable with the birthing locations that are available to you? If your answer isn’t “yes” to either of these questions, know that you don't have to settle for the status quo. Learn more about choosing a provider and birthing location here.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture

Acupuncture can alleviate many acute and chronic conditions, including those common in pregnancy. Based on the trimester that you are in, there are specific ways in which you may benefit.

Books on Pregnancy, Birth and New Motherhood
Books on Pregnancy, Birth and New Motherhood

What books should I buy? Blogs to read? Podcasts to download? We wanted to educate ourselves but had a hard time finding inclusive, evidence-based information that wasn’t prescriptive.

Teas during Pregnancy
Teas during Pregnancy

Adding tea into your beverage rotation provides important vitamins and minerals for you and your babe, adds some variety to what may seem like limited choices, and can even help alleviate unwanted symptoms.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

A pelvic floor PT is an expert at evaluating and treating issues that commonly arise in pregnancy. Even if you aren’t experiencing specific symptoms, PTs can be incredibly helpful.

Birth Doula
Birth Doula

No matter the type of birth you envision (or the one you end up having), doulas are invaluable advocates who can help you make educated and informed decisions during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. 

 
PregnancyCaroline BennettWellness, Products