Top Pregnancy Books

What to Expect When You are Expecting
by Heidi Murkoff; 4.8 ⭐s

This book was originally published in 1984. It is now in it’s fifth edition which was published in 2016 (with a picture of the author’s pregnant daughter on the cover). If you are already pregnant, you likely already have this book. I think I was given 3 copies of it during my first pregnancy. What to Expect When You’re Expecting goes into most every detail you can want to know about pregnancy in a very straightforward way. It’s very thorough and often recommended by doctors.

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
by Ina May Gaskin; 4.7 ⭐s

The former president of the Midwives Alliance of North America, Ina May, walks you through the benefits and joys of natural childbirth. She describes how you can reduce labor pain without drugs even to the point of making birth pleasurable. Ever hear of orgasmic birth? This book includes inspirational stories. If you’re goal is a natural birth, this is a great resource.

Your Pregnancy Week by Week
by Glade B. Curtis, MD,MPH and Judith Schuler, MS; 4.6 ⭐s

This is another long-standing book now updated in its eighth edition. It is similar to What to Expect in the information it offers but in a different layout. This book shares information in a caring, conversational way. Each edition keeps up to date with the latest trends and recommendations.

Bumpology: The Myth-Busting Pregnancy Book for Curious Parents-to-Be
by Linda Geddes; 4.3 ⭐s

Do you run with a little skepticism in your blood? Do you question the accuracy of all that pregnancy advice everyone from the old lady at the grocery store to your neighbor seems to feel the need to give you? This book may be for you. Science journalist Linda Geddes did the research to bust myths and answer questions like “How dangerous is it to eat Camembert and blue cheese” or “Is it safe to have sex” or “does a wriggly bump equal a boisterous baby?”

The Pregnancy Encyclopedia: All Your Questions Answered
by DK; 4.9 ⭐s

When you want to just get straight to the answers to all of your pressing questions, this is the book. 300 topics are covered with in-depth answers, full-color illustrations and infographics.

The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth
by Genevieve Howland; 4.7 ⭐s

YouTube sensation Genevieve Howland empowers women to embrace a natural pregnancy and parenting lifestyle. Recognizing that pregnancy and birth are natural and normal, this books looks at it as a wondrous biological process instead of as a medical event. As a mom who birthed two children at home, I can appreciate this perspective.

The Mindful Mom-to-Be: A Modern Doula’s Guide to Building a Healthy Foundation From Pregnancy Through Birth
by Lori Bregman; 4.6 ⭐s

If mindfulness is your movement, this book is for you. Lori Bregman is a doula and pregnancy coach. She writes not only about the information and natural remedies you need for a healthy and safe pregnancy but also shares spiritual and emotional exercises to prepare yourself for motherhood. She says, “You’re not just birthing a baby, your birthing youself as a mom, too.”

The Sh!t No One Tells You About Pregnancy
by Dawn Dais; 4.4 ⭐s

What I think is so fun about this book is the Parent Training Workouts. The author designed these workouts to increase the reader’s tolerance to a variety of mortifying parental experiences we all seem to have to go through like having an audience while we use the bathroom or the in-store tantrum. “Clean up, screaming, kicking child in aisle 4.” You’re in for some truth bombs.

Funny Little Pregnant Things: The Good, the Bad, and the Just Plain Gross Things about Pregnancy That Other Books Aren’t Going to Tell You
by Emily Doherty; 4.4 ⭐s

The author describes the book as offering details other than the “tons of worthless information” available in other top pregnancy books. She gets into the nitty-gritty details like how messy taking the pregnancy test can be. (Hint: have ready access to a bathroom sink.) The book offers a candid and funny look at pregnancy. Be ready to laugh, and be a little grossed out. Don’t worry though. We’ve all been there.

The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy
by Vicki Iovine; 4.4 ⭐s

You go to your doctor for the medical advice. You can count on your mother and mother-in-law for a closet full of baby clothes. Who can you count on for the down and dirty truths about pregnancy? Your girlfriends. If you are the first in your circle to become pregnant, this book will become your pregnant girlfriend with the not always so pleasantness of pregnancy. There’s glowing and there’s… not glowing.

A Dude’s Guide to Baby Size: What to Expect and How to Prep for Dads-to-Be
by Taylor Calmus; 4.8 ⭐s

Taylor Calmus, comic and DIY extraordinaire who you may know as Dude Dad, takes issue the typical pregnancy book comparing your baby to fruit and vegetables. This book is full of fun facts about your growing baby, advice on how to help Mom-to-be, and helping men on their journey from Dude to Dude Dad. Our pregnancies were before his time but I watch his videos now and get a kick out of them, as do millions of others. Get ready to laugh.

The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be Paperback
by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash; 4.7 ⭐s

When we were pregnant for the first time it seemed like there weren’t as many books specifically for the dad-to-be. This one book (now in it’s 20th edition) was at the top of the list. Greg read it with enthusiasm and enjoyed the tips for dads-to-be written in guy language aka using tools and technology terminology.

Commando Dad: New Recruits, A Guide to Pregnancy and Birth for Dads-to-Be
by Neil Sinclair; 4.6 ⭐s

This book is a no nonsense guide for fathers-to-be. It gives the low down of baby development and pregnancy symptoms in an army training manual sort of way. Hits the highlights for those dads who don’t want to delve deep or need a chuckle. May be best for military fathers.

My Pregnancy Journal
by YOU; 4.1 ⭐s

Because you want to remember everything (OK, almost everything) but you have mom brain (it’s a thing). Get a journal to remember all the little wonderful things about pregnancy, planning for your baby and your birth. One day you’ll want to remember the nitty gritty and this way you can look back into the details. There are lots of styles to choose from.

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate with Your Baby
by Tracy Hogg; 4.5 ⭐s

Here’s a couple acronyms for you SLOW and EASY. That sounds good, right? This book is awesome! I think every mom should have a copy! My copy was dog eared and well read. The Baby Whisperer helps you create an eat, play, sleep schedule that works for you and your baby. Did you know you can interpret baby cries? Ya, I didn’t either until I read this book. I first read this book after months of poor sleeping and a screaming first born. For the subsequent babies, I started implementing her methods right away.