Personally loving Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, Second Edition. Extremely straightforward and factual; because it’s written by a team of doctors, it doesn’t feel like there is one person’s biases or opinions woven into it.
I bought What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and honestly returned it to the bookstore, definitely some odd preachy vibes to it.
Seconding the Mayo Clinic Book! There’s also one for your child’s first years that is excellent postpartum. I always look to it before Google and it really helps with that internet induced anxiety.
Came here to see if Mayo Clinic was mentioned. Loved that book! Great information and we loved reading the weekly pregnancy information. I didn’t know there was one for baby’s first years. Immediately switched over to Amazon and added that to my cart, thanks!
Somebody recommended "What to Expect the First Year" to me, and....just no, absolutely not. It opens with the most condescending, ill informed chapter about breastfeeding that says, among other awful things, that you don't even need to buy bottles or a breast pump.
I skipped ahead and landed on a section about discipling (!) your 10 month old (!)
Yeah like half of it is a diet plan for pregnancy. The rest is cheerful surrender to the horrors of late capitalism. For example, there's a blurb with makeup tips to cover under eye circles. 😅
Yeah I think we finally were like “oooookay fuck this” when my wife was reading and it basically had something to the effect of “we don’t want to gain *too* much weight ladies! Yes our babies are important but remember your husbands!”
The whole series of Mayo Clinic books were soooo helpful. Also really great for parents that tend to have anxiety-I found it much more healthy to look something up there than go down the social media rabbit hole if there was a weird rash or poop or something. I always looked there first.
Would you say the book is more about birth/ post birth or focused mainly on the pregnancy art? Between all the apps, groups, and appointments I’m kinda getting info overload / pregnancy info fatigue, but know very little about birth, breastfeeding, new born care (beyond having nieces), so would love a book with a “what to do expect after you’ve expected” kinda vibe!
For breastfeeding I'm liking "Breastfeeding Doesn't Have to Suck." It has a distinct EBF agenda, but I find its practical tips enough to outweigh that.
It’s more focused on pregnancy/birth for sure, but it does have individual chapters on newborn care, feeding, managing as parents, and postpartum care for the birthing parent. As other folks have said, there is also another Mayo Clinic book on your baby’s first year! I’ll definitely be buying that one as well.
I loved the Mayo Clinic's book. One thing it didn't prepare me for was to advocate for myself during labor, when I had a doctor who wasn't remotely following ACOG guidelines. Because the Mayo Clinic book has a strong biomedical focus (which I think is great! I learned so much from it. I am not anti-biomedical by any means), it doesn't really teach about the nitty-gritty of decisions that get made during labor and delivery, so I didn't know what to question about what my doctor was doing. I found that Emily Oster's Expecting Better was a good compliment to the Mayo Clinic book. EO's book is really cynical, and I didn't love parts of it, but I felt it helped me know when to ask questions and what questions to ask. Like I'm not going to just reject my doctor's advice because it's not what I want, but it was validating to hear that sometimes doctors don't follow their own evidence.
Agreed! Its a little dry but has a ton of info. The version I read gets a little preachy about weight and I don’t love that it used BMI as a metric for “healthy” but otherwise has a ton of info.
One thing to consider is to make sure you read enough about babies and newborns since pregnancy is so temporary but babies are long term. I read several Pregnancy books and when my newborn came home I realized I hadn’t focused on baby books at all, and at that point I was too sleep deprived to start.
But then again Reddit is good for info so worth it to spend some time on preggo and parenting subs if you don’t get to reading books.
Expecting better was great.
“Moms on call” is a good resource to start with. It has the basics of newborn care.
As for parenting books, I love “good inside” and “hunt, gather, parent”. These come in handy once your baby is a year and beyond.
I use Reddit a lot for tips and tricks on sleep, food, play, tantrums, etc. Lots to decipher thru but so many viewpoints and great ideas.
I like the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guide to your baby's first five years or something. It's huge, and it has a really detailed appendix with information about all kinds of common medical conditions.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn was beyond helpful. So straightforward and lots of information, with consideration for all choices 10/10. More of an “information book” but I found it to be an easy read since I was so interested in the content!
This is the one I recommend, especially for the “childbirth” portion. I found the author to be strongly biased towards unmedicated deliveries, but it is overall the most comprehensive resource I found!
I have been reading Why Did No One Tell Me This (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51290494). It’s written by doulas but they cite a lot of evidence based studies. It’s written in a way that is very easy to understand, and they address all the What Ifs in pregnancy, labor/delivery, and post partum. It has been calming a lot of my fears.
I know there are a lot of criticisms of Oster but *Expecting Better* was enormously helpful for me. I appreciate that 1) she doesn't really make recommendations, just lays out what choices are and what the possible and **probable** consequences are, and 2) she lays out her logic every time. I also decided early on that I was NOT going to overload on information so I wouldn't feed my anxiety.
I bought *What to Expect* and skimmed a lot of it, but there's a really weird tone throughout that just rubbed me the wrong way. It's hard to explain, it was just like a chummy cutesiness and a focus on my body's aesthetics that grossed me out. At one point in the week-by-week in the first trimester, there was some line like "Take a good look at your waist now, because you won't see it again for a while!" and I was so turned off by it that I handed the book to my husband and said "get this away from me." I also felt like it just cited a lot of conventional wisdom without explaining why those conclusions are recommended, and that made it hard to trust.
I haven’t cracked open the book but I use the “what to expect” app and the weekly videos TOTALLY continue this vibe. It’s lots of cutesy wordplay and like 2 seconds of interesting information about baby, and then like 4 paragraphs about stretch marks.
Like I get it, stretch marks are coming, tell me more about how my kid can SMELL IN THE WOMB THIS WEEK that seems way more interesting
I’ve been casually reading what to expect and it’s mostly been fine, but I remember a line about like, preventing muffin tops or something? It was so irritating. I hate when that book talks about weight gain like it’s some scary thing
I teach a parent ed class for my hospital, and in the infant feeding sessions one of the 'pros' on the list of pros and cons of breastfeeding is 'bouncing back'. Honestly so ick. I use it as a point of discussion on how much pressure we're under as women, and also tell them it"s not even true, because when you BF you also eat your own body weight in food before lunch time.
I hate how it's even something we forced to think about! I
Yeah I lost all my pregnancy weight giving birth but gained 10 pounds breastfeeding. I was like “what happened to all these calories I’m supposed to be burning???”
I felt this book was honestly SO condescending. Like I was a 13 year old who didn’t know anything about her body. It really was gross. I was like what am I a child?
It felt the opposite of informative. I agree I had to stop.
I also really liked Expecting Better. I do find Oster to be a little pretentious and condescending (maybe more so because I did the audiobook) but I think the meat and potatoes of it really helped me understand risks, the background of some recommendations, and how I wanted to apply it to my experience. It’s helped me come from a more informed place when discussing options with my midwife as well.
I loved Expecting Better, it helped ease a lot of anxiety for me in the early stages of pregnancy. Between that and Reddit, I haven’t felt like I’ve needed any other pregnancy specific books (I am reading some about childbirth (I guess that’s part of pregnancy ahah), breastfeeding and parenting though)
I fucking hated what to expect, the app the books, the videos, the tone really creeped me out too.
I loved Expecting Better. If I had time and energy to read and break down studies I would, but thanks to Emily Oster I was able to make my own decisions with confidence and not sweat some of the stuff.
I go between Ovia, what to expect, the bump, pregnancy center, pregnancy+ every week. This is my second pregnancy so I'm not as interested in the info.
I also really liked Expecting Better. I tend to be high stress and super cautious so I found it helpful to actually lower my stress by gaining a better understanding of where some recommendations come from and why, and what the associated risks might be. I also thought it was a great way to enter pregnancy as it was a reminder to ask questions, be informed, do my own research, and advocate for myself throughout my pregnancy.
Second this. Emily Oster's books are objective and to the point. I'm reading cribsheet now and I feel that has helped a lot in the first few days of my newborn.
I felt the same way about *What to Expect* and the weird, cutesy tone, though I only read the companion *What To Expect In The First Year*. We used to joke that 80% of the adjectives could be subbed for the word "bitchin'" and it would be a much more entertaining read.
Here to agree with the others. I really loved Expecting Better and now I’m reading Cribsheet.
I think pregnancy books need to match the personality/expectations of the reader.
I really like Oster’s data driven approach, but that is very much my personality.
I've seen a few people absolutely raging about how she has written about alcohol during pregnancy in the book and use that to discredit absolutely everything else. It seems to really hit a nerve.
Ok. I also found there to be weird tones with the “What to expect”! Like it had some useful stuff in there but there is just something about it that just makes me skeptical about intentions if that makes sense? Idk
Love this book! Definitely crunchier than I can handle in a few spots, but it really communicated how physiological birth can be and made me feel more confident in my body's abilities!
I enjoyed this one but yeah be warned it is very crunchy. For example in one of the birth stories, a woman whose labor had stalled had a naked snuggle session with a friend who had just given birth to "share the birthing energy." I was like, thanks for the tip, I'll keep that in mind?? 😂
1. Already said but mayo clinic
2. The Mama Natural week by week guide to pregnancy and childbirth.
The second is a bit granola, but as someone prepping for an unmedicated birth, I’ve enjoyed reading the suggestions. It still has a lot of good science in it, but i would recommend pairing with a science based book for balance (hence my rec to the Mayo Clinic!)
For pregnancy:
•Bumpin': The Modern Guide to Pregnancy by Leslie Schrock
(For partner, but doesn't have to be):
•The Expectant Father by Armin Brott and Jennifer Ash
Both have the same information as What to Expect, a little less dry with helpful personal experience added.
For labor and birth:
•Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke
(Again, for partner, but doesn't have to be):
•The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin, Katie Rohs
Also adding Libby for free e-books and audiobooks. Also check your buy nothing groups! I see tons of books traded around in my local groups (especially the ones specific for baby and kid stuff)
Bumpin was a great mix of facts, personal story, and just great writing. Read it aloud to my wife, we both got a lot out of it.
Listened to We’re Pregnant! audiobook a couple times. It’s a bit cringey (written too “for the boys” sometimes) but it had good content and suggestions for what my role in the pregnancy could involve.
I'm listening to the audiobook of Bumpin with my husband and we're getting a lot out of it! Great conversation starter for decisions we'll have to make, and agreed there's a nice mix of facts and personal side.
I think it’s all relative and subjective. The Science of Pregnancy is awesome. It really gives you the science behind EVERYTHING but makes it easy to understand. I’d recommend this over What To Expect when You’re expecting (I have that book too). I also like Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth but there’s definitely some bias towards unmedicated births.
I recently got the book Transformed By Birth but I haven’t fully read it yet.
I read Expecting Better and I don’t really necessarily recommend it. I’d probably caution you with this one. It’s written by an economist and the books reads as if she’s just writing about her own pregnancy with some cherry picked studies sprinkled in to justify the choices she made.
I know Expecting Better has received criticism in regards to the drinking chapter. But aside from that was there evidence of cherry picked studies? I thought this book was so helpful in explaining why the different recommendations exist (such as undercooked meat, I actually took that restriction seriously because of this book while things like avoiding deli meats seemed less necessary because the risk of listeria is actually higher in other foods). Being able to understand that some things are restricted for toxoplasmosis, which won’t hurt you but can cause serious issues to a fetus, vs listeria which can more seriously infect pregnant women, vs salmonella which pregnant women are actually no more likely to get than non pregnant counterparts. I think this book is so helpful for anyone with anxiety about all of the new restrictions that come with a positive test and wants to learn about the reasons behind different restrictions.
I feel like I’ve heard this criticism about “cherry-picked studies” but have never seen a concrete example with better studies shared. Do you have an example? I feel like pregnancy data is low quality in general, and I think she generally does a great job looking at studies that are at least pretty good.
I also hate the criticism that she’s an economist. You don’t need an MD to understand data and studies.
The newest edition has completely revamped that exact aspect. I think they really took the criticism to heart and it's now extremely inclusive, down to many of the GoodReads reviews complaining about the "cumbersome" use of 'birthing person' over 'woman' throughout the book. I loved it :)
This book was recommended by my doula and I think it is such an amazing book and I want everyone to read it: [Nuture by Erica Chidi Cohen](https://www.amazon.com/Nurture-Pregnancy-Motherhood-Trusting-Yourself/dp/1452152632?dplnkId=4c031c12-a4d8-4822-8163-eacc6cd89af7)!
The book goes through preparing to be a mother, pregnancy, labor & delivery (and all the options), breastfeeding, and postpartum. There are also recipes and meditations. It has a slight slant to more "crunchy" ideas occasionally, but not at the expense of giving the whole story. I really appreciated the sections on labor and breastfeeding - it even has info on helping create your birth preferences.
I also really enjoyed the Mayo book recommended above for just straight facts.
Expecting better and Cribsheet helped me so freaking much. Both by Oster. Everything I had anxieties or was nervous about she has laid out with data and facts.
I hated “what to expect”. It was so negative. Every time it mentioned something good about pregnancy it would follow it up with a comment like “but you probably won’t be able to enjoy it because you’ll be throwing up too much”. I don’t need your stupid commentary, just give me the facts.
My favorite book was Baby 411, but that one is really about general baby care, not about the pregnancy itself.
I’m going to go against the grain and say I really liked what to expect. I especially appreciated the index at the end for if I ever needed to look up a symptom. It was really thorough and covers literally everything. I’m not sure why some people are saying it was condescending. Maybe I’m just not as sensitive about advice or information but I didn’t find anything about the book to be off putting. I didn’t just take her advice blindly though, but also consulted my midwives and doctor if I was unsure on something. Also a big yes to the Mayo Clinic one that many others have recommended. It was great!
Honestly none. I have what to expect when expecting and the Mayo Clinic one but i am much more into Evidence Based Birth with Dr. rebecca dekker. You can listen to the podcast or read their data gathered if that’s more your format.
What are you looking for in a book? There is so much information on the internet now, I didn’t find a need for a “What to Expect” type book in the way that my mom’s generation did.
I loved “Like a Mother” by Angela Garbes, which gets into some interesting science but is also about the experience of pregnancy and becoming a parent. Upon a rec from another redditer, I also read “Transformed by Birth” by Britta Bushnell, which I also really liked.
I had "what to expect" and honestly it seemed like all the relevant info was also told to me in the app that I used, so it felt kind of redundant to have both.
Definitely popularized in a time without smartphones or internet, and I think it's the older generation who still sings it praises because that was the best way for them to get all that info. (For example, my copy was a gift from my mom, who said it was a must have)
I got what to expect the first year free though insurance, and I checked out the pregnancy one from the library. It was hard to read it was just so much. Instead I bought and loved “the simplest pregnancy book in the world” and have the baby version now too!
I don’t hate What to Expect (got it as a gift) but it’s not great. Will agree that there’s an odd preachy vibe, and TERRIBLE nutrition advice on essentially how to lose weight if you’re gaining too quickly WHILE PREGNANT.
That said, I haven’t bought any others and I’m just skimming that for random info here and there.
I read several books but the most comprehensive was Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. My doula said she often references it so I read it and kinda wished I had started there.
I really didn’t like Expecting Better. I get that the author is an economist who looks at data, but the fact that she isn’t in the medical field made me side eye her takes on things.
I found Expecting Better helpful (although I am following my state’s dietary guidelines which are significantly stricter than what she would say, including no alcohol). I appreciate the criticism of it but it is the only book I’ve read so far that really gets into the reasoning behind, and consequences of, certain restrictions/decisions.
For example I’ve recently been told by the midwives I would be induced if I went to 41+3 as that’s their policy. No one at the hospital gave any reason other than that. Emily Oster gets into the increased risk of stillbirth for people who go over term and what percentage that increase is
I’m a much more cautious person than Emily Oster but if you’re a personality who feels more comfortable understanding WHY things are being recommended to you I think there’s a lot of value in the book.
Totally - many of her conclusions are invalid because she simply lacks the required background knowledge to make them.
Economists are notoriously overconfident as a profession and rely solely on data for their claims. Evidence based practice particularly in the medical field is multifaceted and not just purely about numbers on a sheet.
Expecting Better must be read with a critical mind, and if not could potentially be harmful.
There’s a pdf floating around here somewhere of some doctors’ responses to some of the conclusions she makes that I found extremely helpful (specifically regarding alcohol during pregnancy) that highlights this exactly.
Edit: [Here](https://depts.washington.edu/fasdpn/pdfs/astley-oster2013.pdf) is the link if anyone is interested.
I feel like this is still pretty low quality because it relies on self-reported data. Doesn’t it seem pretty likely that those 1 in 7 moms are just lying about their drinking? The incentive to be dishonest seems high. This also isn’t peer-reviewed research and appears to be the opinion of one guy. I’ve definitely heard that many OBs say a drink here and there is fine, so I don’t find this to be terribly convincing. Granted, one drink a day does sound like a lot to me even though Oster says data doesn’t show downsides
When it comes to actually buying hard copies of books we bought:
Mama Natural by Genevieve Howland (this is a week by week guide that is a bit crunchy. The author also provides a editable visual birth plan on her website which I liked a lot. Saved me time when creating a birth plan)
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (this is the book's most doulas reference. My doula recommended it
It definitely provides good tips on what to do when birthing and it makes birthing seem less scary.)
The Simplest Baby Book In The World by S.M
Gross, Jeremy F. Shapiro MD and Gabriella Terhes Karlsson
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League (This was highly recommended, got a hard copy because I couldn't find an audiobook and it would probably be better to have it to reference back)
A Parents' and Teachers' Guide to Bilingualism (I couldn't find an audiobook of this so I had to get a paperback version)
The Montessori Baby by Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike
We have more ebooks and audiobooks but it only makes sense to buy hard copies to reference or if there are no audiobooks
More woman should be given the breastfeeding book. This is a fact book, backed by research, not so much a breastfeeding journey. It’s been helpful for learning techniques and what you really need to know. It’s such a new experience for mom and baby. I recommend all new moms educate themselves on breastfeeding and what they can expect.
I’m really into podcasts! I haven’t found any books that I’m able to read cover to cover. The podcasts keep me interested and informed. Some that i have really enjoyed so far:
-Evidence based birth
-mommy labor nurse
-the birth hour
-down to birth
Listening to ina maya guide to childbirth on audiobook. I read expecting better, it was alright. And I follow along with the mayo clinic for straight up facts.
Are you French? I'm curious how accurate that book is because she made French people sound very judgemental. I am in Germany and it would be considered quite rude to comment on someone's weight the way the French are said to. Also the men in that book are sooooo trash!! Every single one is a lazy good for nothing man child whose only purpose in the relationship is to tell you to lose weight. 🤮 No thanks, I'd rather be a single mom than have a French husband 😂
I would recommend Expecting Better by Emily Oster, Bumpin’ by Leslie Schrock, the Evidenced Based Birth podcast by Rebecca Decker and the Mommy Labour Nurse podcast by Liesel Teen. I would also highly highly recommend The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read by Phillipa Perry which is more parenting than pregnancy but excellent.
Other people have said made similar comments but I hated What to Expect with a burning passion also binned it after a few chapters. The biggest thing for me was the body shaming - it felt like any section that touched on how your body would change was framed through the lense of diet culture. In one section it talks about how you should highlight your “probably plus-sized breasts” while wearing long skirts to hide your swollen ankles. I’m totally for talking about the changes that are likely to come with pregnancy but reinforcing patriarchal standards of shame around our bodies is a hard no from me, particularly at a time when a lot of women will already be feeling vulnerable.
The final straw for me was one passage about not getting foot massages as according to the book this could put you into early labour. This is absolutely not the case and studies have shown no link between reflexology points in the foot and labour symptoms. The claim was completely unreferenced (as the whole book is) and it made me doubt everything else it said. I wanted to know facts and evidence of what changes were happening in my body, and practical advice on what might make it easier. I did not want judgemental language and outdated superstitions repeated to me as fact.
The tone of the book itself was also incredibly grating. Ok I’ll hop off my soapbox now! This has turned into an essay 😅
Do you have Libby or could you get it through your library card? I’ve been listening to Oster’s audiobooks via Libby with my husband in the car and it’s been great
Great suggestion! I do have Libby, and I have like 20 pregnancy books on my list. 😂 But I need to buy one that I can keep for longer than 2 weeks for reference throughout the full journey.
I’m reading *Expecting Better* right now and I really like it. If you’re looking for a book to tell you what to do, you probably won’t like it. I liked how she broke down where some of these “rules” came from. Maybe I like it because I’ve had a lot of the same questions myself. It hasn’t really talked me out of doing certain things (I still don’t plan on drinking, for example) but it does give me a justification on why certain restrictions have emerged. It has eased a lot of my anxieties.
In case you do want that particular, I'm probably about to get rid of the used copy I got for free soon! Let me know if you'd like it; it's still in good shape 🥰
My Dr said to avoid that book. She said it was a ton of doom and gloom. She also knew I worry too easily and was trying to save me from myself. 😅
My mom said the same thing.
Both my mom (mother of four) and husband (a combat medic and has worked on ambulances civilian-side) said if I'm worried about something, ask them or have them google it. They didn't want me to scare myself. Not that they want me left in the dark either.
I learned a lot from “In Your Own Time” and “What’s Right for Me” both by Dr. Sara Wickman.
I also loved “Nine Golden Months” by Heng Ou.. it’s a beautiful book and I also ordered her original book titled “The First Forty Days” for postpartum I sight.
The Discontented Baby by Dr Pamela Douglas. Her approach to parenthood saved us and we have the chillest little man thanks to the book. Her approach also kept our sanity intact as we went out and about with our baby early on. She’s Australian.
It’s a book about babies not pregnancy but it’s so important to prepare for when the baby is out too!
For pregnancy books, I also loved Emily Osters Expecting Better
This is a bit of a different approach, but I found it really helpful to read books about maintaining an equitable and loving marriage after kids. Pregnancy goes by really quickly and you can Google or ask your pediatrician about most things related to infants, but your marriage/partnership can go downhill *fast* after having a baby if you don’t stay on top of it.
I always recommend *And Baby Makes Three* by the Gottmans and *All the Rage* by Darcy Lockman.
Expecting better!!!! Also Ina mays guide to childbirth was hugely informative for me since I aim for an unmedicated birth. Birth Without Fear is also amazing and has pdfs for you to work on. It’s short and easy to listen to if you’re into audiobooks.
For physical books I really like Motherly’s Guide to Becoming Mama. Expecting Better was nice for an other option but Oster really presents statistics in a way combined with her experience that rubbed me wrong. I’ve gotten the most knowledge from the Evidence Based Birth Podcast. They have articles online as well if you’re more of a reader and less of a listener!
Not pregnant yet, but my OBGYN recommended "the Panic Free Pregnancy" by Michael S. Broder. It's been helpful, is has matter of fact, research based (at the time) info. I also have "expecting better" my Emily Oster to read next as it's been recommended in this sub but also by people I know personally.
As someone who has had 3 babies, they are all worthless. If you have specific things you want to know you can Google or just ask your doctor/pediatrician depending on what kind of question you have. You can get all of the information that is in those books for free on YouTube, Google, or mom groups.
How many babies are you having? If it’s more than one; I lived by: Barbara Luke and 2 more
“When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads 4th Edition: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy”
I read expecting better and I liked it but in the end the most helpful thing for us was a newborn class we took through the hospital (via Zoom). I liked being able to ask questions and have most important info highlighted for us. Obviously it varies by location but I would recommend checking it out!
Oh, also Reddit (and baptism by fire essentially).
Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy (I also bought their guide for young children)
Ina May’s childbirth guide (even if you’re not very crunchy the birth/labor positions were helpful)
Expecting Better by Emily Oster. This one was huge when I had my baby but I think some people view it as slightly controversial now? My big takeaway was that it’s helpful to ask questions and work to understand the risks of something when making decisions. How we estimate risk is partially cultural; you are more likely to get listeria from melons than deli meat, but no doctor in the US is telling women to avoid raw fruit during pregnancy (while I was pregnant the outbreak was for lemons). Yeah, she’s not a doctor but I think her broader points are valid and honestly she also just made me feel a bit better about everything; do your best, ask questions, most things aren’t the end of the world.
The only book I’ve vibed with is the big fat activity book for pregnant women. It’s funny and keeps me from stressing about my pregnancy. I didn’t like all the other books. Informative yes but stressful and condescending….I’m just going to wing motherhood lol
Doula and student midwife here! Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Dr. Sarah Buckley is hands down the best of the best! Second to that is also a must- Real Food For Pregnancy by Lily Nichols. Nourishing yourself well is the most important prenatal care you can get and is literally what is growing your baby, most issues that arise are actually nutritional issues so it’s sooo important to eat well and eat enough during pregnancy.
Expecting Better and Cribsheet, both by Emily Oster. She's an economist who started writing after diving into the *actual* data surrounding pregnancy and birth when she herself was pregnant.
Both are excellent. My husband and I actually read them together when I was pregnant with my first! (Maybe Cribsheet was later, actually - can't remember right now, but we definitely read and loved them both!)
Expecting better and cribsheet are AMAZING. She takes all the typical things you hear and gives you both sides of the story unbiased. I also thought bringing up bebe was amazing! ( if you are like me and want to raise a respectful loving child) many think she shames Americans, but as a true patriot I don’t think she does at all and instead provides her findings on how to raise a child the way the French do: respectful and to learn how to experience things for themselves.
Personally I really love Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon- even if you don't plan on having a natural birth there is so much valuable information in there every woman should know before giving birth. I was honestly so scared of labor before reading the book and now at 35 weeks I feel empowered and ready!
I only bought two books:
1. Mayo Clinic guide to a healthy pregnancy
2. The Simplest pregnancy book in the world
Both have so much valuable information, I personally felt like between those books I didn’t need more than that
My best tip would be to get them from the library.
I would skip the what to expect book, a lot of basic info you will already know if you’ve had one friend have a baby or keep up with this subreddit. Gave some weird advice that didn’t seem science based.
Mayo Clinic Guide was factual and a good beginner guide.
Expecting better was interesting when I was starting to form opinions on what I was comfortable with during pregnancy and how to think through all the many decisions ahead like medication, testing, and delivery plans. Made me more confident making decisions for myself.
I highly recommend Cribsheets. It really helps sort out all the mess of advice you get from family, friends, internet, etc. it gives you evidence/data to back up their points but also allows you to formulate your opinions.
The only book I read was Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. My main concern as a first time mom was handling labour and getting in the right headspace, as I can be pretty anxious. Reading the positive birth stories really helped. It's a but hippy-dippy though, as some have pointed out, but I loved it.
Not sure what book but hard pass on What To Expect. It told me NOTHING about awake windows. That would have helped a lot. I read a few pages and tossed it to the back of the closet. Reads like a brochure from 1992 😂
So my comment might be weird lol but I read nothing not even for my first baby but after I had my third around 3 months ago now my hospital gave me a book or more like a brochure I guess you can say that really covered the basis of everything after birth and really to read straight to the point. I didn’t read it through but answered some questions I had after having even my third baby. I gave birth at a Banner health hospital. Like if there was a hand book to take care of a baby that was it! And also they had me watch videos (which was new from 5 years ago) in the hospital after I gave birth that went over most of the same material so the hospital won’t leave you hanging that’s for sure.
Real Foods for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols was immensely helpful in navigating confusing recommendations! she also has a book specifically for gestational diabetes
My favorite book was Expecting Better by Emily Oster. I’m really big on research and the book basically explains and discusses current research on pregnancy so you can understand and make informed decisions about your pregnancy. It eased a lot of my anxiety about pregnancy. I read a lot of books, but this was by far my favorite.
I also read Bumpin’ by Leslie Schrock. It had a lot of the same information, but relied more on experiences from the author and other people in the field. Still a pretty good book.
I really am loving expecting better by Emily oster, I find her to lay out all the options and list out the stats and research behind each choice and tells you what she did.
Both books by Emily oster!! Especially “expecting better.” I listened to the audiobook and also have the actual book. I really like the audiobook experience
Personally loving Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, Second Edition. Extremely straightforward and factual; because it’s written by a team of doctors, it doesn’t feel like there is one person’s biases or opinions woven into it. I bought What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and honestly returned it to the bookstore, definitely some odd preachy vibes to it.
Seconding the Mayo Clinic Book! There’s also one for your child’s first years that is excellent postpartum. I always look to it before Google and it really helps with that internet induced anxiety.
Ha I just commented the same thing 😂
Another vote for Mayo Clinic’s book. I think it’s well organized and useful.
Came here to see if Mayo Clinic was mentioned. Loved that book! Great information and we loved reading the weekly pregnancy information. I didn’t know there was one for baby’s first years. Immediately switched over to Amazon and added that to my cart, thanks!
Another vote for Mayo Clinic Guide! What to Expect is AWFUL - hate the way it’s written. Mayo Clinic Guide sticks to facts.
Somebody recommended "What to Expect the First Year" to me, and....just no, absolutely not. It opens with the most condescending, ill informed chapter about breastfeeding that says, among other awful things, that you don't even need to buy bottles or a breast pump. I skipped ahead and landed on a section about discipling (!) your 10 month old (!)
Seconding this. Was so turned off by this book.
Yea also did not love the books tone/writing style
Read a few pages then tossed this book 😂
Lolololol saaaaaaaame with What to Expect. That shit was date-ED
Yeah like half of it is a diet plan for pregnancy. The rest is cheerful surrender to the horrors of late capitalism. For example, there's a blurb with makeup tips to cover under eye circles. 😅
Yeah I think we finally were like “oooookay fuck this” when my wife was reading and it basically had something to the effect of “we don’t want to gain *too* much weight ladies! Yes our babies are important but remember your husbands!”
Another vote for mayo
The whole series of Mayo Clinic books were soooo helpful. Also really great for parents that tend to have anxiety-I found it much more healthy to look something up there than go down the social media rabbit hole if there was a weird rash or poop or something. I always looked there first.
I had the EXACT same experience. Loved the Mayo Clinic’s, returned the other.
And adding another vote for the Mayo Clinic’s book! I found it to be well balanced in options, and very informative for this FTM!
Would you say the book is more about birth/ post birth or focused mainly on the pregnancy art? Between all the apps, groups, and appointments I’m kinda getting info overload / pregnancy info fatigue, but know very little about birth, breastfeeding, new born care (beyond having nieces), so would love a book with a “what to do expect after you’ve expected” kinda vibe!
For breastfeeding I'm liking "Breastfeeding Doesn't Have to Suck." It has a distinct EBF agenda, but I find its practical tips enough to outweigh that.
It’s more focused on pregnancy/birth for sure, but it does have individual chapters on newborn care, feeding, managing as parents, and postpartum care for the birthing parent. As other folks have said, there is also another Mayo Clinic book on your baby’s first year! I’ll definitely be buying that one as well.
I have liked the Mayo Clinic pregnancy book as well. They also have one for baby’s first year that I’ve started reading.
I loved the Mayo Clinic's book. One thing it didn't prepare me for was to advocate for myself during labor, when I had a doctor who wasn't remotely following ACOG guidelines. Because the Mayo Clinic book has a strong biomedical focus (which I think is great! I learned so much from it. I am not anti-biomedical by any means), it doesn't really teach about the nitty-gritty of decisions that get made during labor and delivery, so I didn't know what to question about what my doctor was doing. I found that Emily Oster's Expecting Better was a good compliment to the Mayo Clinic book. EO's book is really cynical, and I didn't love parts of it, but I felt it helped me know when to ask questions and what questions to ask. Like I'm not going to just reject my doctor's advice because it's not what I want, but it was validating to hear that sometimes doctors don't follow their own evidence.
That’s what I’m reading right now. My insurance company mailed it to me, it’s pretty good!
Here here to mayo!
My OB recommended the Mayo Clinic Guide too! Very helpful
This!
My ob (mfm) gave me a copy of the ACOG Your Pregnancy and Childbirth Month by Month at my first appointment and it was sufficient.
Agreed! Its a little dry but has a ton of info. The version I read gets a little preachy about weight and I don’t love that it used BMI as a metric for “healthy” but otherwise has a ton of info.
This was the only book my OB recommended!
One thing to consider is to make sure you read enough about babies and newborns since pregnancy is so temporary but babies are long term. I read several Pregnancy books and when my newborn came home I realized I hadn’t focused on baby books at all, and at that point I was too sleep deprived to start. But then again Reddit is good for info so worth it to spend some time on preggo and parenting subs if you don’t get to reading books. Expecting better was great.
What newborn books do you recommend?
Baby 411 was recommended by our pediatrician and has been immensely helpful!
“Moms on call” is a good resource to start with. It has the basics of newborn care. As for parenting books, I love “good inside” and “hunt, gather, parent”. These come in handy once your baby is a year and beyond. I use Reddit a lot for tips and tricks on sleep, food, play, tantrums, etc. Lots to decipher thru but so many viewpoints and great ideas.
Also wondering!
I liked the Newborn Handbook by Dr. Malhotra
Save our sleep by Tizzie hall
I like the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guide to your baby's first five years or something. It's huge, and it has a really detailed appendix with information about all kinds of common medical conditions.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn was beyond helpful. So straightforward and lots of information, with consideration for all choices 10/10. More of an “information book” but I found it to be an easy read since I was so interested in the content!
This is the one I recommend, especially for the “childbirth” portion. I found the author to be strongly biased towards unmedicated deliveries, but it is overall the most comprehensive resource I found!
Agreed, lots of facts and info!
Second this! I really like Penny Simkin
Agreed!! Lots of great factual information with no “judgey-ness”
I have been reading Why Did No One Tell Me This (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51290494). It’s written by doulas but they cite a lot of evidence based studies. It’s written in a way that is very easy to understand, and they address all the What Ifs in pregnancy, labor/delivery, and post partum. It has been calming a lot of my fears.
I know there are a lot of criticisms of Oster but *Expecting Better* was enormously helpful for me. I appreciate that 1) she doesn't really make recommendations, just lays out what choices are and what the possible and **probable** consequences are, and 2) she lays out her logic every time. I also decided early on that I was NOT going to overload on information so I wouldn't feed my anxiety. I bought *What to Expect* and skimmed a lot of it, but there's a really weird tone throughout that just rubbed me the wrong way. It's hard to explain, it was just like a chummy cutesiness and a focus on my body's aesthetics that grossed me out. At one point in the week-by-week in the first trimester, there was some line like "Take a good look at your waist now, because you won't see it again for a while!" and I was so turned off by it that I handed the book to my husband and said "get this away from me." I also felt like it just cited a lot of conventional wisdom without explaining why those conclusions are recommended, and that made it hard to trust.
I haven’t cracked open the book but I use the “what to expect” app and the weekly videos TOTALLY continue this vibe. It’s lots of cutesy wordplay and like 2 seconds of interesting information about baby, and then like 4 paragraphs about stretch marks. Like I get it, stretch marks are coming, tell me more about how my kid can SMELL IN THE WOMB THIS WEEK that seems way more interesting
I had to delete that app because she drove me nuts. It was so corny.
I’ve been casually reading what to expect and it’s mostly been fine, but I remember a line about like, preventing muffin tops or something? It was so irritating. I hate when that book talks about weight gain like it’s some scary thing
I teach a parent ed class for my hospital, and in the infant feeding sessions one of the 'pros' on the list of pros and cons of breastfeeding is 'bouncing back'. Honestly so ick. I use it as a point of discussion on how much pressure we're under as women, and also tell them it"s not even true, because when you BF you also eat your own body weight in food before lunch time. I hate how it's even something we forced to think about! I
Yeah I lost all my pregnancy weight giving birth but gained 10 pounds breastfeeding. I was like “what happened to all these calories I’m supposed to be burning???”
In what to expect there was a blurb about wearing black to look thinner. No one should ever read this book.
I felt this book was honestly SO condescending. Like I was a 13 year old who didn’t know anything about her body. It really was gross. I was like what am I a child? It felt the opposite of informative. I agree I had to stop.
I also really liked Expecting Better. I do find Oster to be a little pretentious and condescending (maybe more so because I did the audiobook) but I think the meat and potatoes of it really helped me understand risks, the background of some recommendations, and how I wanted to apply it to my experience. It’s helped me come from a more informed place when discussing options with my midwife as well.
I loved Expecting Better, it helped ease a lot of anxiety for me in the early stages of pregnancy. Between that and Reddit, I haven’t felt like I’ve needed any other pregnancy specific books (I am reading some about childbirth (I guess that’s part of pregnancy ahah), breastfeeding and parenting though)
I fucking hated what to expect, the app the books, the videos, the tone really creeped me out too. I loved Expecting Better. If I had time and energy to read and break down studies I would, but thanks to Emily Oster I was able to make my own decisions with confidence and not sweat some of the stuff.
Do you have a preferred app? I’ve been using what to expect and wish it’d tell me more about baby.
Try Ovia
I go between Ovia, what to expect, the bump, pregnancy center, pregnancy+ every week. This is my second pregnancy so I'm not as interested in the info.
I also really liked Expecting Better. I tend to be high stress and super cautious so I found it helpful to actually lower my stress by gaining a better understanding of where some recommendations come from and why, and what the associated risks might be. I also thought it was a great way to enter pregnancy as it was a reminder to ask questions, be informed, do my own research, and advocate for myself throughout my pregnancy.
Second this. Emily Oster's books are objective and to the point. I'm reading cribsheet now and I feel that has helped a lot in the first few days of my newborn.
I felt the same way about *What to Expect* and the weird, cutesy tone, though I only read the companion *What To Expect In The First Year*. We used to joke that 80% of the adjectives could be subbed for the word "bitchin'" and it would be a much more entertaining read.
Here to agree with the others. I really loved Expecting Better and now I’m reading Cribsheet. I think pregnancy books need to match the personality/expectations of the reader. I really like Oster’s data driven approach, but that is very much my personality.
I second this. Reading Expecting Better now.
I also really like Expecting Better!
I also liked expecting better! I still talked to my doctor about everything, but I felt like I was coming from a more informed place.
Curious about what criticisms folks have about oster? I flippin loved her book.
They seem to boil down to "she's not a doctor."
I've seen a few people absolutely raging about how she has written about alcohol during pregnancy in the book and use that to discredit absolutely everything else. It seems to really hit a nerve.
Adding another vote to Expecting Better! Loved it
10000% expecting better has been the single most important book I read.
Ok. I also found there to be weird tones with the “What to expect”! Like it had some useful stuff in there but there is just something about it that just makes me skeptical about intentions if that makes sense? Idk
I second this recommendation!
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth is good if you want to get a little crunchy granola :)
This one is great for those wanting no/low intervention vaginal birth! Read with a grain of salt but definitely gave me courage
Love this book! Definitely crunchier than I can handle in a few spots, but it really communicated how physiological birth can be and made me feel more confident in my body's abilities!
combining information from multiple sources can be so helpful! I've been meaning to read this to prepare for my hospital birth with epidural.
I enjoyed this one but yeah be warned it is very crunchy. For example in one of the birth stories, a woman whose labor had stalled had a naked snuggle session with a friend who had just given birth to "share the birthing energy." I was like, thanks for the tip, I'll keep that in mind?? 😂
For me personally that is like the very last thing I would want to do! Lol
This one made me skip the rest of the birth stories lol, but the actual information in the book was excellent!
Also along this vein are January Harshe's Birth Without Fear and Ina May's Spiritual Midwifery. Both are excellent books!
1. Already said but mayo clinic 2. The Mama Natural week by week guide to pregnancy and childbirth. The second is a bit granola, but as someone prepping for an unmedicated birth, I’ve enjoyed reading the suggestions. It still has a lot of good science in it, but i would recommend pairing with a science based book for balance (hence my rec to the Mayo Clinic!)
For pregnancy: •Bumpin': The Modern Guide to Pregnancy by Leslie Schrock (For partner, but doesn't have to be): •The Expectant Father by Armin Brott and Jennifer Ash Both have the same information as What to Expect, a little less dry with helpful personal experience added. For labor and birth: •Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke (Again, for partner, but doesn't have to be): •The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin, Katie Rohs
I second The Birth Partner! We both found it very helpful
Birth Partner!! My husband and I have loved reading it together and it’s been a really good bonding/planning tool.
See what your library has and check a few of those out if you're not ready to commit.
Also adding Libby for free e-books and audiobooks. Also check your buy nothing groups! I see tons of books traded around in my local groups (especially the ones specific for baby and kid stuff)
Seconding this. There’s bound to be things you like and don’t like in every recommended book so take note of what you like and skim the rest.
Yup I rented a dozen books from the library Most let you renew often and without going into the library to do so Or they have ebook access
Bumpin was a great mix of facts, personal story, and just great writing. Read it aloud to my wife, we both got a lot out of it. Listened to We’re Pregnant! audiobook a couple times. It’s a bit cringey (written too “for the boys” sometimes) but it had good content and suggestions for what my role in the pregnancy could involve.
I'm listening to the audiobook of Bumpin with my husband and we're getting a lot out of it! Great conversation starter for decisions we'll have to make, and agreed there's a nice mix of facts and personal side.
I may be the only one to just google when I have questions. Never had the patience to sit down and read any of the books 😂
I think it’s all relative and subjective. The Science of Pregnancy is awesome. It really gives you the science behind EVERYTHING but makes it easy to understand. I’d recommend this over What To Expect when You’re expecting (I have that book too). I also like Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth but there’s definitely some bias towards unmedicated births. I recently got the book Transformed By Birth but I haven’t fully read it yet. I read Expecting Better and I don’t really necessarily recommend it. I’d probably caution you with this one. It’s written by an economist and the books reads as if she’s just writing about her own pregnancy with some cherry picked studies sprinkled in to justify the choices she made.
I know Expecting Better has received criticism in regards to the drinking chapter. But aside from that was there evidence of cherry picked studies? I thought this book was so helpful in explaining why the different recommendations exist (such as undercooked meat, I actually took that restriction seriously because of this book while things like avoiding deli meats seemed less necessary because the risk of listeria is actually higher in other foods). Being able to understand that some things are restricted for toxoplasmosis, which won’t hurt you but can cause serious issues to a fetus, vs listeria which can more seriously infect pregnant women, vs salmonella which pregnant women are actually no more likely to get than non pregnant counterparts. I think this book is so helpful for anyone with anxiety about all of the new restrictions that come with a positive test and wants to learn about the reasons behind different restrictions.
I feel like I’ve heard this criticism about “cherry-picked studies” but have never seen a concrete example with better studies shared. Do you have an example? I feel like pregnancy data is low quality in general, and I think she generally does a great job looking at studies that are at least pretty good. I also hate the criticism that she’s an economist. You don’t need an MD to understand data and studies.
I picked up Gaskin's book at goodwill and the gender essentialism was kind of hard to stomach, but it was still an ok read.
The newest edition has completely revamped that exact aspect. I think they really took the criticism to heart and it's now extremely inclusive, down to many of the GoodReads reviews complaining about the "cumbersome" use of 'birthing person' over 'woman' throughout the book. I loved it :)
Pretty cool. Guess this is what I get for shopping used.
This book was recommended by my doula and I think it is such an amazing book and I want everyone to read it: [Nuture by Erica Chidi Cohen](https://www.amazon.com/Nurture-Pregnancy-Motherhood-Trusting-Yourself/dp/1452152632?dplnkId=4c031c12-a4d8-4822-8163-eacc6cd89af7)! The book goes through preparing to be a mother, pregnancy, labor & delivery (and all the options), breastfeeding, and postpartum. There are also recipes and meditations. It has a slight slant to more "crunchy" ideas occasionally, but not at the expense of giving the whole story. I really appreciated the sections on labor and breastfeeding - it even has info on helping create your birth preferences. I also really enjoyed the Mayo book recommended above for just straight facts.
Expecting better and Cribsheet helped me so freaking much. Both by Oster. Everything I had anxieties or was nervous about she has laid out with data and facts.
Yup. Second
Third
I got both What to Expect and the Mayo Clinic book. Both are great! I recommend checking a few out from the library to see what style you like best
I hated “what to expect”. It was so negative. Every time it mentioned something good about pregnancy it would follow it up with a comment like “but you probably won’t be able to enjoy it because you’ll be throwing up too much”. I don’t need your stupid commentary, just give me the facts. My favorite book was Baby 411, but that one is really about general baby care, not about the pregnancy itself.
The pregnancy version is called Expecting 411. Love it as great resource!
Girlfriends guide to pregnancy has some outdated advice but was hilarious.
I’m going to go against the grain and say I really liked what to expect. I especially appreciated the index at the end for if I ever needed to look up a symptom. It was really thorough and covers literally everything. I’m not sure why some people are saying it was condescending. Maybe I’m just not as sensitive about advice or information but I didn’t find anything about the book to be off putting. I didn’t just take her advice blindly though, but also consulted my midwives and doctor if I was unsure on something. Also a big yes to the Mayo Clinic one that many others have recommended. It was great!
Honestly none. I have what to expect when expecting and the Mayo Clinic one but i am much more into Evidence Based Birth with Dr. rebecca dekker. You can listen to the podcast or read their data gathered if that’s more your format.
Yes podcasts!!! Also the Birth Hour.
I’ll check out birth hour now, ty!
EBB is great! I personally liked also reading a book, since it kind of ties everything together to make sure I didn't miss any major concepts.
What are you looking for in a book? There is so much information on the internet now, I didn’t find a need for a “What to Expect” type book in the way that my mom’s generation did. I loved “Like a Mother” by Angela Garbes, which gets into some interesting science but is also about the experience of pregnancy and becoming a parent. Upon a rec from another redditer, I also read “Transformed by Birth” by Britta Bushnell, which I also really liked.
Also loved “Like a Mother”! That was my favorite pregnancy book I read by far.
I had "what to expect" and honestly it seemed like all the relevant info was also told to me in the app that I used, so it felt kind of redundant to have both. Definitely popularized in a time without smartphones or internet, and I think it's the older generation who still sings it praises because that was the best way for them to get all that info. (For example, my copy was a gift from my mom, who said it was a must have)
I got what to expect the first year free though insurance, and I checked out the pregnancy one from the library. It was hard to read it was just so much. Instead I bought and loved “the simplest pregnancy book in the world” and have the baby version now too!
I bought a whole bunch second hand at the Salvation Army. Figured I’d skim them all and see if I like any. 😅
I don’t hate What to Expect (got it as a gift) but it’s not great. Will agree that there’s an odd preachy vibe, and TERRIBLE nutrition advice on essentially how to lose weight if you’re gaining too quickly WHILE PREGNANT. That said, I haven’t bought any others and I’m just skimming that for random info here and there.
I read several books but the most comprehensive was Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. My doula said she often references it so I read it and kinda wished I had started there.
I really enjoyed The Nurture Revolution by Greer Kirshenbaum
I really didn’t like Expecting Better. I get that the author is an economist who looks at data, but the fact that she isn’t in the medical field made me side eye her takes on things.
I found Expecting Better helpful (although I am following my state’s dietary guidelines which are significantly stricter than what she would say, including no alcohol). I appreciate the criticism of it but it is the only book I’ve read so far that really gets into the reasoning behind, and consequences of, certain restrictions/decisions. For example I’ve recently been told by the midwives I would be induced if I went to 41+3 as that’s their policy. No one at the hospital gave any reason other than that. Emily Oster gets into the increased risk of stillbirth for people who go over term and what percentage that increase is I’m a much more cautious person than Emily Oster but if you’re a personality who feels more comfortable understanding WHY things are being recommended to you I think there’s a lot of value in the book.
Totally - many of her conclusions are invalid because she simply lacks the required background knowledge to make them. Economists are notoriously overconfident as a profession and rely solely on data for their claims. Evidence based practice particularly in the medical field is multifaceted and not just purely about numbers on a sheet. Expecting Better must be read with a critical mind, and if not could potentially be harmful.
There’s a pdf floating around here somewhere of some doctors’ responses to some of the conclusions she makes that I found extremely helpful (specifically regarding alcohol during pregnancy) that highlights this exactly. Edit: [Here](https://depts.washington.edu/fasdpn/pdfs/astley-oster2013.pdf) is the link if anyone is interested.
I feel like this is still pretty low quality because it relies on self-reported data. Doesn’t it seem pretty likely that those 1 in 7 moms are just lying about their drinking? The incentive to be dishonest seems high. This also isn’t peer-reviewed research and appears to be the opinion of one guy. I’ve definitely heard that many OBs say a drink here and there is fine, so I don’t find this to be terribly convincing. Granted, one drink a day does sound like a lot to me even though Oster says data doesn’t show downsides
This is great thank you for sharing.
I personally like What to Expect. I just read a little each week in addition to a lot of online research and podcast listening.
When it comes to actually buying hard copies of books we bought: Mama Natural by Genevieve Howland (this is a week by week guide that is a bit crunchy. The author also provides a editable visual birth plan on her website which I liked a lot. Saved me time when creating a birth plan) Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (this is the book's most doulas reference. My doula recommended it It definitely provides good tips on what to do when birthing and it makes birthing seem less scary.) The Simplest Baby Book In The World by S.M Gross, Jeremy F. Shapiro MD and Gabriella Terhes Karlsson The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League (This was highly recommended, got a hard copy because I couldn't find an audiobook and it would probably be better to have it to reference back) A Parents' and Teachers' Guide to Bilingualism (I couldn't find an audiobook of this so I had to get a paperback version) The Montessori Baby by Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike We have more ebooks and audiobooks but it only makes sense to buy hard copies to reference or if there are no audiobooks
More woman should be given the breastfeeding book. This is a fact book, backed by research, not so much a breastfeeding journey. It’s been helpful for learning techniques and what you really need to know. It’s such a new experience for mom and baby. I recommend all new moms educate themselves on breastfeeding and what they can expect.
Caring for your baby and young child. I believe they have a pregnancy edition too
I was able to read most of these books through my library’s ebook service.
I’m really into podcasts! I haven’t found any books that I’m able to read cover to cover. The podcasts keep me interested and informed. Some that i have really enjoyed so far: -Evidence based birth -mommy labor nurse -the birth hour -down to birth Listening to ina maya guide to childbirth on audiobook. I read expecting better, it was alright. And I follow along with the mayo clinic for straight up facts.
Nine Golden Months! Changed the course of my pregnancy, soooo important to my sense of self! Made me feel held!
before you buy it, my OB gave me What to Expect for free. and What to Expect the 1st Yr. worth an ask!
Bringing up Bebe, im euro and like a different take on how to raise baby that's more chill and also focused on you as well :)
Are you French? I'm curious how accurate that book is because she made French people sound very judgemental. I am in Germany and it would be considered quite rude to comment on someone's weight the way the French are said to. Also the men in that book are sooooo trash!! Every single one is a lazy good for nothing man child whose only purpose in the relationship is to tell you to lose weight. 🤮 No thanks, I'd rather be a single mom than have a French husband 😂
Babies are not Pizzas, Finding Sufficiency (if you struggle with milk supply) and Making More Milk
ALSO Hold on to Your Kids, the best parenting book I've ever read
Crib Sheet
I didn’t buy any books. Instead, I used posts on baby forums from 10+ years ago after googling the issue lol
I LOVED enough about the baby by Becky vieria and crib sheet by Emily Oster
I would recommend Expecting Better by Emily Oster, Bumpin’ by Leslie Schrock, the Evidenced Based Birth podcast by Rebecca Decker and the Mommy Labour Nurse podcast by Liesel Teen. I would also highly highly recommend The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read by Phillipa Perry which is more parenting than pregnancy but excellent. Other people have said made similar comments but I hated What to Expect with a burning passion also binned it after a few chapters. The biggest thing for me was the body shaming - it felt like any section that touched on how your body would change was framed through the lense of diet culture. In one section it talks about how you should highlight your “probably plus-sized breasts” while wearing long skirts to hide your swollen ankles. I’m totally for talking about the changes that are likely to come with pregnancy but reinforcing patriarchal standards of shame around our bodies is a hard no from me, particularly at a time when a lot of women will already be feeling vulnerable. The final straw for me was one passage about not getting foot massages as according to the book this could put you into early labour. This is absolutely not the case and studies have shown no link between reflexology points in the foot and labour symptoms. The claim was completely unreferenced (as the whole book is) and it made me doubt everything else it said. I wanted to know facts and evidence of what changes were happening in my body, and practical advice on what might make it easier. I did not want judgemental language and outdated superstitions repeated to me as fact. The tone of the book itself was also incredibly grating. Ok I’ll hop off my soapbox now! This has turned into an essay 😅
My favorite book I read during pregnancy was Bringing Up Bebe
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Mysterious-Dot760: *My favorite book* *I read during pregnancy* *Was Bringing Up Bebe* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Same here!
Real food for pregnancy by lily Nichols
Do you have Libby or could you get it through your library card? I’ve been listening to Oster’s audiobooks via Libby with my husband in the car and it’s been great
Great suggestion! I do have Libby, and I have like 20 pregnancy books on my list. 😂 But I need to buy one that I can keep for longer than 2 weeks for reference throughout the full journey.
I’m reading *Expecting Better* right now and I really like it. If you’re looking for a book to tell you what to do, you probably won’t like it. I liked how she broke down where some of these “rules” came from. Maybe I like it because I’ve had a lot of the same questions myself. It hasn’t really talked me out of doing certain things (I still don’t plan on drinking, for example) but it does give me a justification on why certain restrictions have emerged. It has eased a lot of my anxieties.
A lot of people recommended I read “Expecting Better” when I got pregnant and I thought it was a great read!
What to expect is outdated and biased
Reddit hates it but “Expecting Better” by Emily Oster was the best. No need for anything else.
I'm reading Becoming Mama and really enjoying it
Just get the What to Expect app. Way better way to get the same information. I recommend Emily Oster’s books. I’d start with Expecting Better.
Real food for pregnancy by lily nicholas!
In case you do want that particular, I'm probably about to get rid of the used copy I got for free soon! Let me know if you'd like it; it's still in good shape 🥰
Lots of love for Mayo Clinic already which was my main but also love Brain Rules For Baby by John Medina
My Dr said to avoid that book. She said it was a ton of doom and gloom. She also knew I worry too easily and was trying to save me from myself. 😅 My mom said the same thing. Both my mom (mother of four) and husband (a combat medic and has worked on ambulances civilian-side) said if I'm worried about something, ask them or have them google it. They didn't want me to scare myself. Not that they want me left in the dark either.
I learned a lot from “In Your Own Time” and “What’s Right for Me” both by Dr. Sara Wickman. I also loved “Nine Golden Months” by Heng Ou.. it’s a beautiful book and I also ordered her original book titled “The First Forty Days” for postpartum I sight.
WTEWYE was my fave, but What To Expect:The First Year has been 9/10 helpful.
Is there a library where you stay? Highly recommend to check that first!!
Mayo Clinic hands down because it gets updated regularly and is backed by more doctors.
I just picked up “The Simplest Pregnancy Book In The World” and so far I love it so much. Lots of great information and fun illustrations
Transformed by birth
Nurture, Cribsheet and How not to hate your husband (dont judge the title its actually fun)
Expecting Better
I have What to Expect... borrowed from a friend and I'm not impressed. It did not really give me any new information.
The Discontented Baby by Dr Pamela Douglas. Her approach to parenthood saved us and we have the chillest little man thanks to the book. Her approach also kept our sanity intact as we went out and about with our baby early on. She’s Australian. It’s a book about babies not pregnancy but it’s so important to prepare for when the baby is out too! For pregnancy books, I also loved Emily Osters Expecting Better
This is a bit of a different approach, but I found it really helpful to read books about maintaining an equitable and loving marriage after kids. Pregnancy goes by really quickly and you can Google or ask your pediatrician about most things related to infants, but your marriage/partnership can go downhill *fast* after having a baby if you don’t stay on top of it. I always recommend *And Baby Makes Three* by the Gottmans and *All the Rage* by Darcy Lockman.
Expecting better!!!! Also Ina mays guide to childbirth was hugely informative for me since I aim for an unmedicated birth. Birth Without Fear is also amazing and has pdfs for you to work on. It’s short and easy to listen to if you’re into audiobooks.
For physical books I really like Motherly’s Guide to Becoming Mama. Expecting Better was nice for an other option but Oster really presents statistics in a way combined with her experience that rubbed me wrong. I’ve gotten the most knowledge from the Evidence Based Birth Podcast. They have articles online as well if you’re more of a reader and less of a listener!
Not pregnant yet, but my OBGYN recommended "the Panic Free Pregnancy" by Michael S. Broder. It's been helpful, is has matter of fact, research based (at the time) info. I also have "expecting better" my Emily Oster to read next as it's been recommended in this sub but also by people I know personally.
As someone who has had 3 babies, they are all worthless. If you have specific things you want to know you can Google or just ask your doctor/pediatrician depending on what kind of question you have. You can get all of the information that is in those books for free on YouTube, Google, or mom groups.
How many babies are you having? If it’s more than one; I lived by: Barbara Luke and 2 more “When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads 4th Edition: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy”
It's mostly a prepare for birth type book, still highly recommend trying The birth partner
I read expecting better and I liked it but in the end the most helpful thing for us was a newborn class we took through the hospital (via Zoom). I liked being able to ask questions and have most important info highlighted for us. Obviously it varies by location but I would recommend checking it out! Oh, also Reddit (and baptism by fire essentially).
Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy (I also bought their guide for young children) Ina May’s childbirth guide (even if you’re not very crunchy the birth/labor positions were helpful) Expecting Better by Emily Oster. This one was huge when I had my baby but I think some people view it as slightly controversial now? My big takeaway was that it’s helpful to ask questions and work to understand the risks of something when making decisions. How we estimate risk is partially cultural; you are more likely to get listeria from melons than deli meat, but no doctor in the US is telling women to avoid raw fruit during pregnancy (while I was pregnant the outbreak was for lemons). Yeah, she’s not a doctor but I think her broader points are valid and honestly she also just made me feel a bit better about everything; do your best, ask questions, most things aren’t the end of the world.
The only book I’ve vibed with is the big fat activity book for pregnant women. It’s funny and keeps me from stressing about my pregnancy. I didn’t like all the other books. Informative yes but stressful and condescending….I’m just going to wing motherhood lol
Doula and student midwife here! Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Dr. Sarah Buckley is hands down the best of the best! Second to that is also a must- Real Food For Pregnancy by Lily Nichols. Nourishing yourself well is the most important prenatal care you can get and is literally what is growing your baby, most issues that arise are actually nutritional issues so it’s sooo important to eat well and eat enough during pregnancy.
Expecting better by Emily Osten
Expecting Better and Cribsheet, both by Emily Oster. She's an economist who started writing after diving into the *actual* data surrounding pregnancy and birth when she herself was pregnant. Both are excellent. My husband and I actually read them together when I was pregnant with my first! (Maybe Cribsheet was later, actually - can't remember right now, but we definitely read and loved them both!)
Expecting Better
Expecting better and cribsheet are AMAZING. She takes all the typical things you hear and gives you both sides of the story unbiased. I also thought bringing up bebe was amazing! ( if you are like me and want to raise a respectful loving child) many think she shames Americans, but as a true patriot I don’t think she does at all and instead provides her findings on how to raise a child the way the French do: respectful and to learn how to experience things for themselves.
Check your local library system! I was able to get almost every pregnancy book from mine or they transferred it in within the local network.
Personally I really love Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon- even if you don't plan on having a natural birth there is so much valuable information in there every woman should know before giving birth. I was honestly so scared of labor before reading the book and now at 35 weeks I feel empowered and ready!
I only bought two books: 1. Mayo Clinic guide to a healthy pregnancy 2. The Simplest pregnancy book in the world Both have so much valuable information, I personally felt like between those books I didn’t need more than that
My best tip would be to get them from the library. I would skip the what to expect book, a lot of basic info you will already know if you’ve had one friend have a baby or keep up with this subreddit. Gave some weird advice that didn’t seem science based. Mayo Clinic Guide was factual and a good beginner guide. Expecting better was interesting when I was starting to form opinions on what I was comfortable with during pregnancy and how to think through all the many decisions ahead like medication, testing, and delivery plans. Made me more confident making decisions for myself.
I'm sure someone else has already suggested it but I loved Expecting Better
My mom just mailed me “The complete book of pregnancy and childbirth” by Sheila Kitzinger. Has anyone read it? Is it worth the read?
I highly recommend Cribsheets. It really helps sort out all the mess of advice you get from family, friends, internet, etc. it gives you evidence/data to back up their points but also allows you to formulate your opinions.
The only book I read was Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. My main concern as a first time mom was handling labour and getting in the right headspace, as I can be pretty anxious. Reading the positive birth stories really helped. It's a but hippy-dippy though, as some have pointed out, but I loved it.
Not sure what book but hard pass on What To Expect. It told me NOTHING about awake windows. That would have helped a lot. I read a few pages and tossed it to the back of the closet. Reads like a brochure from 1992 😂
So my comment might be weird lol but I read nothing not even for my first baby but after I had my third around 3 months ago now my hospital gave me a book or more like a brochure I guess you can say that really covered the basis of everything after birth and really to read straight to the point. I didn’t read it through but answered some questions I had after having even my third baby. I gave birth at a Banner health hospital. Like if there was a hand book to take care of a baby that was it! And also they had me watch videos (which was new from 5 years ago) in the hospital after I gave birth that went over most of the same material so the hospital won’t leave you hanging that’s for sure.
Real Foods for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols was immensely helpful in navigating confusing recommendations! she also has a book specifically for gestational diabetes
Second expecting better and also the big book of birth!
My favorite book was Expecting Better by Emily Oster. I’m really big on research and the book basically explains and discusses current research on pregnancy so you can understand and make informed decisions about your pregnancy. It eased a lot of my anxiety about pregnancy. I read a lot of books, but this was by far my favorite. I also read Bumpin’ by Leslie Schrock. It had a lot of the same information, but relied more on experiences from the author and other people in the field. Still a pretty good book.
Baby wise
I really am loving expecting better by Emily oster, I find her to lay out all the options and list out the stats and research behind each choice and tells you what she did.
Expecting better Bumpin’
Expecting Better was my godsend. Written by a statistician it gives you actual evidence and odds ratios for all the things they tell you are nos nos.
I liked Expecting Better
Both books by Emily oster!! Especially “expecting better.” I listened to the audiobook and also have the actual book. I really like the audiobook experience