Team Favourites : Best Books for Pregnant Mamas

New life is on our minds at Babyccino both because Spring is in the air, (yay!) and… because we currently have a few pregnant mamas and a newborn on our team.  So we wanted to share our favourite books that we read while pregnant. Books that inspire, educate,  prepare, and inform us so we are ready for all and everything that we may experience in labour, in nursing, and in the first year of life.  And there was a common theme to our book reading recommendations — our entire team of mamas never liked a mountain of pregnancy advice books to read, rather, each of us had only one or two favourites which we read again and again each time we were pregnant. I think that is a good testament to a good pregnancy book, one you read over and over to prepare our pregnant bodies and minds. And books that connect us to the birth process is something all mothers want to do, no matter what type of labour you have in the end, right? So here are seven of our read and approved favourites.

1. The Baby Book by Rachel Waddilove. Rachel’s book gives such practical advice for scheduling. Getting into a routine and understanding the basics makes a great start for parenting. – Vanessa
2. Spiritual Midwifery, by Ina May Gaskin. I re-read this book with each pregnancy. Ina May empowers women to trust their bodies and to birth without fear. So beautiful! – Courtney
3. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin. This is hands down my one and only real read while (heavily) pregnant. It instills confidence by connecting you with women all around the world, providing a community of care and stories which are real and motivational. It is bold, beautiful, and braze. All things essential when about to give birth in a natural way.  – Lara & Courtney
4. Gentle Birth Method by Dr Gowri Motha & Karen Swan MacLeod. A doctor with a gentle touch, that brings you on a journey of pregnancy, and thru the baby’s first year.  – Lara
5. The Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins. An absolutely comprehensive guide to nursing. I read this near the end of my first pregnancy and was so glad to have a basic understanding the mechanics, milk supply, etc. in those first few hazy weeks. I referenced this book again and again throughout my daughter’s first year. – Shannon
6. Birth and Beyond by Yehudi Gordon. A friend bought me this wonderful book for my first pregnancy and I would have been lost without it. It gives a holistic guide to each stage covering both conventional and complimentary therapies. The photography is beautiful and it also has sections for the Dad. – Kate 
7. The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. Meant as a guide for those who help lead women through labor, I found reading this book gave me a very thorough understanding of late pregnancy, all stages of the birth process, and the postpartum period. Paired with Ina May’s book, it gave me a very practical perspective on the birth process. – Shannon

There are so many books about pregnancy, but which were the books that you found most informative? Did you buy every book in the shop, or loan out millions of library books the second you found out you had conceived? What were books that friends and family recommended to you?… We’d love to know so our pregnant community can be supported. Isn’t that a lovely part of pregnancy, sharing experiences and supporting other women? It was one of my favourite parts of both of my pregnancies.

Lara

xx

ps  And instead of a card to congratulate a newly pregnant friend, I found that Meditations for Pregnancy : 36 Weekly Practices is a great small gift. Most pregnant mamas benefit from slowing down and reflect while growing a human(s). I personally kept it on my bedside table both pregnancies and read it each week with a cup of herbal tea, enjoying it’s calming tone.

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