An expectant mom wants to know: what are the best pregnancy books to read before baby arrives?
Over on the Mamas Uncut Facebook page, our robust community of moms is always having a conversation about topics that matter. We like to highlight those conversations from time to time. Important mom questions. Thoughtful mom answers. Let’s hear from the community!
A member of the Mamas Uncut Facebook community asks:
Hi, Mamas. I recently learned I was pregnant with my first. Yay! I’m really excited of course, but also very overwhelmed. My question is: Which books do I NEED to read while I am pregnant in order to prepare? I obviously know of the major ones like What to Expect, but is there anything out there that mamas who’ve been through this swear by? I have gotten so many suggestions from friends and family but I need help weeding through to find the ones that would be most helpful. General information or books on more specific topics welcome. Thank you in advance!
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
The community then chimed in with some really helpful suggestions. Let’s take a look at a few, shall we?
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, and Teresa Pitman, “has been retooled, refocused, and updated for today’s mothers and lifestyles,” says the Amazon description. “Working mothers, stay-at-home moms, single moms, and mothers of multiples will all benefit from the book’s range of nursing advice, stories, and information.” It currently holds a 4.5/5 rating on Amazon, with more than 1,300 reviews.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
Ina May is “the nation’s leading midwife,” so she is a go-to name in the natural parenting world. Her beloved Guide to Childbirth is a great resource for mothers looking to go the natural route. It includes information on home birth, tips for avoiding bleeding and depression, ideas on how to work with a doctor, and much more. It currently holds a 4.5/5 rating on Amazon and has nearly 2,000 user reviews there.
On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep
A perennial favorite for more than 25 years, On Becoming Baby Wise by Dr. Robert Bucknam, M.D. and Gary Ezzo seeks to help new parents synchronize their infant’s feeding time, wake time, and nighttime schedules. The end result: Baby sleeps better through the night, and so does Mama. It has more than 3,900 Amazon reviews and holds a 4.5/5 rating.
The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy
Written from the perspective of a very knowledgable best friend, The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine, comes loaded with information that is both easy to understand and entertaining. It currently has more than 1,200 Amazon reviews and a 4/5-star rating.
Up the Duff: The Real Guide to Pregnancy
A Mamas Uncut community member says: “It’s a good read, more on the funnier side, from a woman who has been through it all. It goes week-by-week and has all the medical stuff too. Found it really good.”
Written by Kaz Cooke, Up the Duff features “lots of cartoons and the soundest, sanest, wittiest advice you’ll ever get. Everything you need to know about the scary parts, the funny parts, and your private parts.”
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
No list would be complete without it! The de facto mama manual for first-time parents, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel, is the best place to start for general pregnancy and birth information. The book touches on nearly everything you will need to know, giving you a good base of knowledge. It’s basically required reading. Considering how long it’s been around and how many women it’s helped, we understand exactly why.
Do you have any other book recommendations for first-time mothers? Leave a comment and let us know!
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