When you’re pregnant, you’ll find yourself looking for lots of advice. Sometimes you might need answers at 3 am, or maybe you have a question you don’t feel comfortable asking a parent or friend.
In many cases, your best bet is a trusted source of information that’s always there for you – a good old book.
We’ve rounded up nine of the best pregnancy books to help you prepare for parenthood. Whether you’re looking for something for new parents, natural birth experiences, or one specifically for dads, we have put together really useful recommendations.
- Written in a way that’s easy to understand
- Comprehensive guide to parenthood
- Great tips about staying calm during labor
- Encourages natural birth
- Shares different options regarding the birthing setting
- Reassuring tone that can comfort mothers
- Very informative without feeling overwhelming
- Detailed pictures of the babies in utero
- Photos are entirely in color
- Detailed financial section
- Humor makes it easier to read
- Guide on how to be a supportive partner
- Author shares her experiences, not just tips
- Twin gear list helps you prepare
- Helps parents create a special bond with their twins
The Best Pregnancy Books of 2024
Here are the nine best pregnancy books for this special time.
Guide To A Healthy Pregnancy - Mayo Clinic
Best Pregnancy Book for New Parents
The Mayo Clinic is one of the best hospitals in America (1). I’ve been to the Mayo Clinic numerous times. It’s an impressive place, and I’ve never had to second guess the advice they’ve given me which is a rarity for me.
Even though doctors wrote Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, you won’t be scratching your head trying to figure out what they’re saying. They’ve written this in terms that most can understand. Micro-managers like me will appreciate the section that shows what developmental milestones your baby is reaching each week during your pregnancy.
Pros
- It’s written in a way that’s easy to understand.
- This provides a comprehensive guide to parenthood since it covers an enormous number of topics.
- There are great tips about staying calm during labor. I relied on the calming tips frequently, especially when I could see my husband was nervous.
Cons
- This is written by doctors who don’t sugarcoat any of the information in the book. That might be frightening for women who are looking for a friendlier tone.
- At 512 pages, this book’s weight and length might be intimidating to some women.
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Guide To Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin
Best Pregnancy Book for Natural Mamas
Women have been having babies for thousands of years without the benefit of modern medicine. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth is written by a midwife who extols the virtues of natural childbirth. While acknowledging that pain is often a part of childbirth, Gaskin argues that sometimes natural childbirth can be an orgasmic experience.
This book discusses handling labor without drugs, whether episiotomies are a good idea, the dangers involved with anesthesia, and how to reduce your risks in any setting, even a hospital. It includes a first-person narrative section in which other women share their stories. There are also detailed photos of childbirth.
Pros
- It encourages the avenue of natural birth.
- This book shares different options regarding the birthing setting.
- The author writes in a reassuring tone that can comfort mothers.
- It has a helpful segment for labor coaches and birth partners so they are educated on the process of labor, too.
Cons
- If you have any complications, you may feel bad about yourself for needing medical intervention.
- Readers may feel like the author is insinuating all medical interference in childbirth is bad.
- Women may have a hard time buying into the possibility of orgasmic childbirth situations.
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Personal Perspective
A Child Is Born - Lennart Nilsson
Most Detailed Pictures
Spoiler alert – this book isn’t something you should leave on your coffee table especially if you have other kids in the house. If you do, you’ll have a lot of explaining to do and years of therapy to pay for. A Child Is Born has first-class photography and graphic, striking images. Some of them strike fear into my heart, and I’ve already had two kids.
This book was first published nearly 40 years ago, and it won Nilsson the award for American National Press Association Picture of the Year. Most of the images in the book focus on the baby in the womb.
Pros
- This book provides accessible information that is very informative without feeling overwhelming.
- The detailed pictures of the babies in utero are useful and comforting for many women.
- The photos are entirely in color which is very progressive.
Cons
- Some people might be disturbed by photos of miscarriages.
- This book focuses more on the baby’s development than the mother’s emotional needs.
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Dad’s Guide To Pregnancy For Dummies
Best Pregnancy Book for Dads
This book covers a lot of ground. Dad’s Guide To Pregnancy For Dummies has detailed chapters on conception, each trimester of pregnancy, a variety of birthing options, and how to be a great delivery partner.
It also prepares men for after-delivery issues, how to recognize signs of postpartum depression, financial aspects of fatherhood, and ways to bond with a baby. Dads will also find out about the basics of baby care, such as holding, burping and bathing.
This book addresses questions men have about a pregnancy, returning to a normal sex life, and the joy and pressures they’ll face as fathers.
Pros
- Men who are worried about money may appreciate the detailed financial section of this book.
- The humor used by the authors when writing the book should make this an easy read for men.
- This book helps worried dads and provides a guide on how to be a supportive partner.
Cons
- This book doesn’t follow the pregnancy month by month, only by trimesters.
- This book doesn’t have a lot of pictures which may be disappointing.
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First-Hand Impression
Be Prepared - Gary Greenberg
Also Great for Dads
Dads can feel left out by traditional pregnancy books that focus more on mothers. While mothers are doing the heavy lifting, fathers play a significant role too. Be Prepared helps ready them for their changing lifestyle by providing them with valuable information while entertaining them.
This book has a playful tone and advises dads how they can incorporate fatherhood into their way of life – like changing their baby at ball stadiums or how to fight the sleep deprivation many new parents face. It also discusses how a couple’s sex life may change after childbirth.
Pros
- This book may ease some of the worry and tension by its lighthearted tone and jokes aimed at men.
- Men may like its straightforward approach to everyday childrearing tasks like burping and swaddling.
- This book includes helpful diagrams and step-by-step instructions.
Cons
- Some guys may be insulted at being depicted as the stereotypical manly man who sounds like he belongs on a Brawny paper towel commercial.
- Men may find some of the material, like baby proofing VCRs, a bit dated.
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The Mindful Mom-To-Be - Lori Bregman
Best Pregnancy Book for First Time Moms
One of the most challenging aspects of pregnancy for some women is the overwhelming worry about how their life will change once the baby is born. Motherhood is all-encompassing and overwhelming at times, even for experienced moms.
The Mindful Mom-To-Be acknowledges that challenge and offers emotional and spiritual exercises to help women prepare for their life-changing event.
While many books focus on the health of the baby and the physical health of the mother, this book takes more of a holistic approach to motherhood than some others on this list. It offers advice, checklists, customizable birth plans, and budget-friendly tips on eating healthy.
Pros
- This book focuses on moms’ feelings and emotional needs instead of merely treating them like a baby incubator.
- Those experiencing aches and pains during pregnancy may find relief from the stretches and exercises detailed in this book.
- This book offers month-to-month advice which makes it easier to read.
Cons
- Women who already have children might not need this book’s emotional and spiritual drills to prepare for motherhood.
- This book doesn’t provide much medical advice or information on baby development.
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The Pregnant Body Book
Most Scientific Book
Most moms worry – it’s a sign that you’re doing this motherhood thing correctly. The worrying doesn’t begin with the birth of your child; it starts from the moment you learn you are pregnant. The Pregnant Body Book acknowledges that fact, and it claims that this is the safest time in history to be pregnant for both the mother and the baby. The book details medical advancements in an informative timeline, and it gives statistics on childbirth mortality rates.
Specific details of the changes a baby undergoes, along with 3-D images, are featured in this book.
Pros
- Fans of modern medicine may appreciate how this book values science.
- Women who enjoy photography may like the up-close details of developing fetuses.
- The statistics about the outcomes of modern-day pregnancy and deliveries may provide comfort to first-time mothers.
Cons
- If you’re looking to explore your feelings about motherhood, you might be disappointed. This is all about science and medicine.
- Women interested in reading about the birthing process might be let down – most of this book focuses on what happens up until that point.
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What To Do When You're Having Two
Best Pregnancy Book for Twins
Finding a quality book about having multiples can be difficult, but it’s often a necessity since it’s an entirely different experience than having a single child.
What to Do When You’re Having Two covers a variety of topics that parents of multiples will want to know. It provides tips on how to juggle breastfeeding two babies and how to stick to one sleep schedule.
It also covers marital issues – mothers who have one child often struggle to find time for their significant other, and that can be even more of a challenge for parents of twins.
Pros
- The author is a mother of twins who understands what parents are going through and shares her experiences, not just tips.
- The handy gear list will help parents equip themselves with all the right things they’ll need for twins.
- This book is aimed at helping parents create that special bond with their twins.
Cons
- Some parents may not agree with the author’s single suggestion for sleep training: the cry it out method.
- Parents who are struggling with money might find some of the tips and the equipment list out of their range.
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Dad's Guide To Raising Twins
Best Pregnancy Book for Dads of Twins
Chronicling the adventures of parenting twins, this book is a resource for parents who are nervous about having twins and wonder what their life will be like after the birth of their babies.
Dad’s Guide to Raising Twins is a follow-up to his first book, Dad’s Guide to Twins. It instructs parents on helping their twins sleep well at night, getting them on a feeding schedule, and how to balance work and home.
It doesn’t stop with a child’s first birthday – it continues giving advice for when twins are older. Those tips include potty training, how to travel with twins, planning a college fund for two, and teaching self-sufficiency.
Pros
- Rawlinson includes personal stories to bring life to his book and make it relatable.
- Although this book is targeted at dads, mothers may find the advice also applies to them, and they may enjoy the funny, lighthearted tone the author uses.
- This book looks beyond the pregnancy and labor aspect and focusing solely on childrearing.
Cons
- First-time parents may want a book that also addresses pregnancy and labor issues.
- Parents may find the message that their twins will be different from each other is too repetitive.
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User Experience
Choosing the Best Pregnancy Book
Determining what your motivation is will lead you to the right pregnancy book for you. Maybe you’re considering going down the route of a natural birth without the use of modern medicine. We have recommendations for you.
Are you a micromanager? Do you feel the need to stay on top of what is happening in your belly from week to week? Are you the type who wants to know how many ounces the typical baby grows over the course of any given month? So many pregnancy books do a wonderful chronicling the changes your baby faces every day. I relied on those heavily during my pregnancy.
Are you more worried about the delivery than the week-by-week details of what’s happening in your belly? Then you need to find a soothing book that will ease your worries.
The bottom line is: choose a pregnancy book based on what you value as a mother, what you want to learn about, and what aligns with your principles.
Do I Have To Read The Whole Thing?
With pregnancy books, you can definitely read the whole thing if you are enjoying it. On the other hand, you can use the table of contents or index to read about specific information like weight gain, contractions, the newborn stage and much more.
When I was pregnant, I had books that I kept on hand specifically as reference books and other books I read cover to cover. If I was experiencing contractions, I would look up that section in my reference book.
There’s no right or wrong here, only what works for you.
Pregnancy Book FAQs
What Books Should I Read About Pregnancy?
There are many books available about pregnancy, but some of the best include “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” by Heidi Murkoff, and “The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy” by M.D., Ph.D. Myra J. Wick, and “A Guide to Child Birth” by Ina May. These helpful books go over a wide range of topics, including prenatal care, nutrition, exercise, and preparing for childbirth.
What Books Should I Read Before Giving Birth?
If you’re looking for some good books to read before giving birth, “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” by Ina May Gaskin is probably the most all-encompassing guide you can get.
This book provides information on labor and delivery, coping with pain during childbirth, and postpartum recovery.
There are plenty of books that focus on a certain topic surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, but Ina May’s is more of a bible on it. It covers just about everything you need to know.
When Should I Start Reading in Pregnancy?
You can start reading pregnancy books at any time during your pregnancy, but it’s a good idea to start as early as you can to give yourself time to absorb the information and prepare for your baby’s arrival.
Many experts recommend starting to read books about pregnancy in the first trimester because this is when a lot of important developmental milestones will occur.
What are the Top Selling Pregnancy Books?
Some of the top-selling pregnancy books include “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” by Heidi Murkoff, “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” by Ina May Gaskin, and ” The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy” by Myra J. Wick, M.D., Ph.D.
These books have helped millions of parents around the world navigate the ups and downs of pregnancy and childbirth, and are considered trusted resources for valuable information and advice.
The Bottom Line
While these books all have different aspects about them that make them useful to their target audience, my favorite is the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. This book saved me from having a nervous breakdown many nights during my pregnancies just because of its comprehensive nature.
Every common medical complication or condition you or your baby can face is covered by this book, along with many uncommon complications. It covers the major topics mothers-to-be will want to know about – conception, fetus development, labor, and post-birth information and issues. This book can be used as a reference guide or be read in its entirety.
While a team of doctors wrote this book, they aren’t dismissive of people who want to explore a more natural birth – they take a neutral stance which isn’t found in many pregnancy books. It includes information about midwives and what they do, and it lists the advantages and disadvantages of home birth. This book offers information, not opinion or judgment. That’s important because I don’t think there’s a time in a woman’s life when she is bombarded by more opinions and judgment than she is during pregnancy.
Childbirth and motherhood are filled with challenges, obstacles, laughter, and unforgettable moments. Just relax, and remember to breathe deeply and love even deeper. The most important thing you can do for your baby is love them. Everything else will fall into place. You’ve got this.
