During pregnancy, you need to relax and gain knowledge to prepare yourself for your child’s birth. So, we have made a list of the best pregnancy books for moms and dads to help you choose the right one. You will be more peaceful and confident if you know more about pregnancy since you will know when to be concerned and when to remain calm. These pregnancy books are well-researched to provide you with updated information. Several books are available on various topics related to pregnancy, so choosing the right one can be confusing. Browse our list of options to choose a book that suits your needs.

Books With Pregnancy Humor

Laughing is the best medicine for most of your ailments. Humor books uplift your mood, especially when your hormones are playing truant.

1. Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth

  Author: Jenny McCarthy This book gives a humorous touch to the joys and discoveries of pregnancy. The author shares her experiences, covering every stage of pregnancy from symptoms to hormonal changes to granny pants and pregnancy sex, in a casual and witty tone. A book with matter-of-facts written in a breezy way that is something every woman should read for laughs.

2. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

  Author: Ina May Gaskin The author, Ina May Gaskin, has 30 years of experience as a midwife. In this book, she writes about the benefits and joys of natural labor. This book provides comprehensive information on everything from nutrition to support as well as about emotions and mind-body connections to help you have a healthy natural birthing without any technological intervention. The humor in her writing helps you come out of your fears and ease up.

Pregnancy Books For Dads

Fatherhood is an overwhelming experience, but it is nerve-wracking and confusing too. Here are the books for the dad-to-be to help make your journey a little easier.

3. The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be

  Author: Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash As the name suggests, this book is the most informative and reassuring book for all the dads-to-be. The book includes insights into physical, financial, and emotional effects of parenthood on men.  This guide serves as a reference for the dads-to-be to support their partners during the most anxious and exciting journey of life. In this book, the authors have put forth their experiences and incorporated the expertise of top practitioners in the fields of gynecology, obstetrics, psychology, and sociology. It is an excellent take for men who seek guidance and confidence to take up fatherhood.

4. Dad’s Pregnant Too!

  Author: Harlan Cohen This is a medically reviewed book for expectant fathers and couples. It exposes and explores everything from the first positive test to seducing your pregnant partner, from the first push to the first week at home with your baby. The book is an information-packed guide that helps you know everything about fatherhood that no one will ever tell you. This comprehensive guide for expectant fathers helps them to understand themselves, understand and support their pregnant partner and experience what is really going inside her belly.

Books On Pregnancy Health

Pregnancy brings several emotional and physical changes in you. A pregnancy health guide helps you know about various ailments that you might experience during pregnancy.

5. Pregnancy Blues: What Every Woman Needs to Know about Depression during Pregnancy

  Author: Shaila Kulkarni Misri Pregnancy is associated with joys and fears, excitement and confusion. This book throws light on postpartum depression (PPD), which is rarely discussed or understood. The author, Dr. Shaila Kulkarni Misri, is a reproductive psychiatrist with 25 years of expertise in clinical practice and research. She explains the issues associated with PPD and its treatment options, including therapeutic options such as acupuncture. According to Dr. Misri, around 70% of pregnant women experience depression symptoms to some extent and 12% undergo diagnosis for major depression. This book challenges the underlying misconceptions, beliefs, and traditions related to PPD, and explores the myths associated with the condition.

6. Fearless Pregnancy: Wisdom and Reassurance from a Doctor, a Midwife, and a Mom

  Authors: Victoria Clayton, Stuart Fischbein, and Joyce Weckl Like any other best selling pregnancy book, Fearless Pregnancy shares the experience of a first-time mom along with the advice and medical information from an experienced midwife and a doctor. This book puts an end to the misinformation and fear-inducing hype that goes around pregnancy. It is one of the best books for pregnancy, which covers everything from the beginning to the end of pregnancy. It also provides complete information on diet, weight gain, fitness, testing options, miscarriage risks, and more. Moreover, it covers a chapter on how to deal with pregnancy fears, which makes it a must-read for expectant parents.

7. The Baby Bump: 100s of Secrets to Surviving Those 9 Long Months

  Author: Cynthia Gabriel The Baby Bump is a comprehensive guide offering expert advice on pregnancy. In this book, the author explains everything an expectant mother can do to prepare for the kind of birth they want. It features inspiring stories, birth plan checklists, a kick count tracker, and a guide to work your outfit wardrobe. It also includes the diet to follow during pregnancy, week by week development of the baby, and about everything to expect during delivery.

8. Pregnancy Miracle Book

Author: Lisa Olson This book is not for pregnant women but for those who are struggling to get pregnant due to fertility issues. Pregnancy Miracle Book explains the reason behind infertility and what makes the couple fail to conceive. It talks about the Chinese system and a clinically proven holistic five-step solution for getting pregnant in a natural way. It also refers to the proven methods for permanently curing yours and your partner’s infertility problems. The book comprises different sections that deal with each issue experienced by the couples.

Diet And Nutrition Books On Pregnancy

Diet and nutrition play an important role during pregnancy. If you eat healthily, your baby will get good nutrition and will grow well. Therefore, you would like to know more about the foods to eat and to avoid. The pregnancy diet books are a source of such information.

9. The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child Care

  Author: Sally Fallon Morell and Thomas S. Cowan This is a well-researched book on health and nutrition covering everything about the importance of vitamins and minerals, healthy fats and infant formulas. From preconception to raising a newborn, this book talks about every aspect of parenthood. It also mentions the risks of chemical exposure during pregnancy. However, the author does not support vaccinations in some cases, but in your case, you might want to take a decision based on your doctor’s recommendation.

10. What to Eat When You’re Pregnant: A Week-by-Week Guide to Support Your Health and Your Baby’s Development

  Author: Nicole M. Avena This book is a trimester-wise guide explaining what to eat and what to avoid during pregnancy. This book comprises of 50 healthy and nutritious recipes to support both you and your baby. Choosing the right food during pregnancy has a great impact on the development and behavior of your baby as well as your waistline. It is a useful guide to understand what foods support the development of your baby during each trimester.

11. Eating for Pregnancy: The Essential Nutrition Guide and Cookbook for Today’s Mothers-to-Be

  Authors: Catherine Cheremeteff Jone and Rose Ann Hudson This pregnancy classic offers you information about nutrition before conception, during pregnancy, and after childbirth. It lists 150 nutritious recipes and meal planning advice with illustrations.

12. Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-be

  Author: Natalie Bovis-Nelsen Preggatinis features recipes for lip-smacking, non-alcoholic libations by popular mixologist Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, also called ‘The Liquid Muse’. These potions are safe to drink during pregnancy. This book has been specifically designed by keeping the modern moms in mind so that they can stay in the social swing with these beverages. This recipe book highlights fresh juices, herbs, garnishes, and novel ideas with delightful illustrations for Preggatini Parties. Moreover, it includes an exclusive recipe by celebrity chef Michel Richard, author of Happy in the Kitchen, and recipient of the 2007 Outstanding Chef James Beard Award and owner of the legendary Citronelle restaurant in Washington, DC.

Pregnancy Books On Development

Every mom-to-be is curious to know if her baby is growing well inside her womb. Pregnancy development books help you know the week-by-week, month-by-month, and trimester-by-trimester changes happening to your baby during pregnancy.

13. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

  Author: By the pregnancy experts at Mayo Clinic Being pregnant, you look for reliable, accurate, and authoritative information on pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic Guide helps you sail through the pregnancy phase by providing information on everything from the week-by-week growth of the baby to month-by-month changes in your body as well as the 40-week pregnancy modifications, symptoms and an overall review of pregnancy. This piece from Mayo Clinic offers advice on getting pregnant, nutrition, diet, and medication to consider during pregnancy.

14. The Pregnancy Countdown Book: Nine Months of Practical Tips, Useful Advice, and Uncensored Truths

  Authors: Susan Magee and Kara Nakisbendi M.D The Pregnancy Countdown Book gives you detailed information about the 280 days of your pregnancy journey. It talks about the biggest milestones you can expect during pregnancy and the changes your body undergoes. This book also includes tips and suggestions from doctors and parents as well as quotes, anecdotes and all the uncensored details that no other book can tell you. This book also highlights the pregnancy issues that you are likely to have during this phase, but may not discuss with your family and friends. It features some tips and advice for the dads-to-be and how they can support their pregnant partner while she is undergoing stress and trials during this critical phase. You can also go through the funny quotes section in this book.

15. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide

  Authors: Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, Ann Keppler, Janelle Durham, April Bolding The book covers all the aspects of conception, from getting pregnant to labor and early days of babyhood and newborn care. It also includes detailed information on fitness regimes and diet to follow during pregnancy, with beautiful illustrations. The book now available with an updated and revised version talks about pregnancy tests, complications, infections as well as drugs and medications. It includes a detailed section on how to create a detailed birth plan.

16. A Child is Born

  Author: Lennart Nilsson This is a pregnancy classic that was first published 40 years ago. It offers a beautiful glimpse of life inside the womb through delightful illustrations. Lennart Nilsson is a photographer, who, along with obstetrician Hamberger, has explored the miracle of birth, from the attraction between a man and a woman to fertilization, pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. They also discuss infertility, IVF, and other treatments. This book incorporates brilliant photographs accompanied by text. It makes a great reference for the present generation couples.

17. Pregnancy Day by Day

  Author: DK If you are anxious to know about the development of your baby at every stage, then Pregnancy Day by Day by DK publishing makes a good pick for you. This book provides a daily countdown until the due date, covering each day of pregnancy, labor, delivery and newborn care. This revised version highlights the updated medical practices, prenatal imagery, and technological advances. Moreover, it covers nutrition, medical issues, exercises, pain relief, and much more. A great pick for expectant mothers.

18. 40 Weeks +: The Essential Pregnancy Organizer

  Author: Dani Rasmussen and Antoinette Pérez 40 weeks + is a well-designed and reader-friendly pregnancy planner. It will help reduce your stress by explaining everything you need to know about the next 40+ weeks, in an easy-to-read style. Unlike other planners, it not extensively informative but includes small text in each section, which tells you how to prepare for the baby in a simplified way. It all includes checklists, questionnaires, and forms, which help in managing the pregnancy and baby’s arrival. This pregnancy organizer has spaces to stick pictures and answer questions, making it an ultimate record book of your journey to parenthood.

19. Your Pregnancy Week by Week

  Author: Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler Written by a doctor, this pregnancy book offers excellent advice on a healthy pregnancy. It features the information in a medically appropriate and comprehensive way and is organized week by week. It covers all the latest information, trends, and safety recommendations for pregnancy. The Weekly chapters explain everything about the baby’s development and growth with illustrations. The new edition includes details on advanced obstetric technologies, latest nutrition and fitness recommendations, maternity bands, tips for dads-to-be, and pregnancy glossary.

Pregnancy Journals

Pregnancy journals enable you to track the changes in your pregnancy, cravings, feelings and much more. Chronicle the beautiful journey of your pregnancy.

20. Sacred Pregnancy: A Loving Guide and Journal for Expectant Moms

  Author: Anni Daulter Sacred Pregnancy is a four-color edition specially created for expectant mothers’ photo illustrations. This journal features a space where the mom-to-be can pen down her thoughts and feelings. It highlights different issues of pregnancy such as fears about childbirth, courage, sexuality, turning into a mother, adornment, body image and more. It helps you to have a close look at each unique issue of your pregnancy. It also includes sections on various birthing options and helps you visualize your baby’s birth.

21. My Pregnancy: A Keepsake Book of Memories

  Author: Dan Spellerberg This book is a blank journal for the expectant mothers to pen down their journey and memories through pregnancy. This 64-page scrapbook helps you document your pregnancy milestones, which include the positive pregnancy test, first sonogram and more. It offers you a great way to document your feelings, moods, and craving you go through during this phase.

22. The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-to-Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy

  Author: A. Christine Harris This pregnancy classic contains information on both the expecting mother’s and baby’s health. It is one of the best selling pregnancy journals featuring daily entries, tips, and advice that guide an expectant mother from conception through delivery. It helps you visualize the development of your baby inside the womb.

Pregnancy Books On Yoga And Ayurveda

Ayurveda and yoga provide alternative therapies to your pregnancy-related problems. Yoga eases your labor process by engaging you in a healthy fitness regime.

23. Yoga for Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Needs to Know

  Author: Judith Hanson Lasater The author Judith Lasater is a yoga teacher, physical therapist, and an experienced mom. Yoga for Pregnancy is a reader-friendly and comprehensive guide on yoga postures and breathing techniques. The information in the book helps the expectant mother to stay healthy and flexible throughout the pregnancy and at the time of delivery as well as after the childbirth. This book contains an additional section known as “Mantras for Mom and Baby,” where the expectant mother can focus on the heart-centered practices every month during pregnancy and towards the baby’s first year.

24. Ayurvedic Garbh Sanskar: The Art and Science of Pregnancy

  Author: Balaji Tambe (Ayurveda doctor) Inspired by Ayurvedic medical research and grandma’s conventional tips on pregnancy, Ayurvedic Garbh Sanskar helps you know everything from conception through pregnancy and delivery, until your child turns two years old. This book clarifies your pregnancy-related confusions. It mainly focuses on the traditional Ayurvedic approach to help the couple conceive soon and have a healthy pregnancy. It has got all the information on herbal combinations, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, Ayurvedic diet, Vedic chants and music that help both the mother and the baby. This book offers holistic methods and tips to make your pregnancy journey easier. If you are a follower of Ayurveda, then this book is for you.

25. The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices

  Author: Aviva Jill Romm The Natural Pregnancy Book delivers information on herbs that promote wellness during pregnancy as well as the natural remedies that help alleviate the concerns like anxiety, morning sickness, fatigue, and stretch marks. This book provides herbal treatment solutions for various pregnancy-related ailments. From conception to baby’s birth, the book covers all common issues of pregnancy and discusses a healthy diet by emphasizing on natural foods. The comforting tone of the book helps the expectant mother visualize a natural pregnancy.

Pregnancy Fact Books

The moment you know about your pregnancy, you will be bombarded with a list of dos and don’ts. The pregnancy fact books are a good source for you to separate facts from fiction.

26. The Panic-Free Pregnancy

  Author: Michael Broder Panic-Free Pregnancy covers the lifestyle issues confronted by every expectant mother. It is a comprehensive and well-researched book that separates facts from fiction, midwives tales, and media hype. This pregnancy book is a question and answer format to help every pregnant woman get clarity on her queries and have a safe pregnancy.

27. Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong–and What You Really Need to Know

  Author: Emily Oster  It is another book that highlights facts and empowers them to make their own choice. There are a lot of rules and myths associated with pregnancy, without any valid reason for the same. The author, Emily Oster, is an economist and a mom, who has evaluated the data behind these rules, which either misguide you or are factually wrong. The revised and updated version of this book includes latest research and findings on genetic testing and more.

28. Debunking the Bump

  Author: Daphne Adler Debunking the Bump explains the reasons behind pregnancy rules and myths. It covers exhaustively researched topics and talks about the parameters of what should be and shouldn’t be allowed during pregnancy. It also contains practical, actionable recommendations, and clear explanation of risks and trade-offs that help you make right choices for a happy and relaxed pregnancy.

Others Pregnancy Books

There are a few more pregnancy books that share the experiences of veteran moms, moms-to-be and fathers-to-be.

29. Chicken Soup For The Expectant Mother’s Soul

  Author: Jack Canfield This book highlights endless stories from mothers who have gone through the phase, expectant mothers, fathers-to-be and makes you feel that you are not the only one to go through the problem. This book includes sections on special moments, challenges, delivery day, adoption, advice from others, expectant fathers and the first few years.

30. The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book

  Author: Marjorie Greenfield Dr. Marjorie Greenfield is an obstetrician and a working mom, who has incorporated her experiences and drawn insights by interviewing many other working women. The book contains a checklist for multitasking working moms-to-be, with colorful illustrations and includes advice and stories from experienced mothers. This gives you an insight into planning a baby and balancing life thereafter. Taylor Beal, a reading specialist and educator, says, “These pregnancy books are a treasure trove of information and contain so much critical tips for multiple stages and facets of pregnancy. Consider what type of birth you are looking to support and what you believe about nourishing your body throughout pregnancy and buy the books that most align with your needs.”

How Can Reading Books Help You During Pregnancy?

Books can be your best companions. Take a book and relax in your chair, you wouldn’t know how time flew. Begin reading from the early months of pregnancy so that you can get an idea of what you will be going through in the coming months. It provides you with information on pregnancy and practical advice so that you don’t have to rush to the doctor every time you have a minor problem.

How To Choose The Right Pregnancy Book?

It’s not easy to narrow down on a specific pregnancy book with many categories and options to consider. Here are some factors that might help you decide. Being a bibliophile, Wedetso Chirhah knows the preference of an avid reader. Pregnancy is a time to relax and enlighten yourself with positivity. This post has a compilation of many good books to read during pregnancy. Wedetso has taken care to choose the best ones from the many options in the market. After deep research, he has described the notable features of each book and also given some insight on why reading can be helpful during pregnancy.

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