PREGNANCY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
I read a lot of books while pregnant. I personally love reading so I enjoyed learning as much as I could! A lot of people will say not to read books while pregnant and I do agree if you’re only reading books on parenting strategies or sleep training then you could get caught up on trying to do everything “by the book” instead of tuning in to your baby.
I only read one book that was like that and I didn’t really care for it personally but I did read tons of awesome books that were more on the crunchy side and those are what I’m going to post here. There are so many more I could list and want to read but these are a few good ones!
Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols: If you plan to ever be pregnant BUY THIS BOOK. Seriously. This is my # 1 go-to book. I am still referring to it now and I’ve made so many notes in it. There is so much misinformation on eating while pregnant and Lily breaks down myths and offers such good info on nutrition and nourishing your baby.
Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin: This is my # 2 book. The way birth is handled in the U.S. is not okay in my opinion. Ask any natural minded mama and she will most likely say she read this book and it changed her perspective on birth. I only skimmed the first part which is all birth stories but the second part is on point! This will give you a whole new insight into birth- and hint- it’s not what you will hear in the mainstream. If you want true informed consent - read this! This is one of the reasons I decided to pursue an out of the hospital birth.
It all Starts with the Egg by Rebecca Fett: I heard about this book before I was even married. I bought it and read it years ago. This was probably the first “natural” book I ever read. A healthy baby starts with healthy eggs and this book tells you all about how to achieve that.
How to Conceive Naturally & Have a Healthy Pregnancy after 30 by Christa Orecchio and Willow Buckley : I read this book a long time ago and it’s all about how to get your body prepped and ready for a healthy baby and includes good info on foods and toxins as well.
The Vaccine Friendly Plan by Paul Thomas and Jennifer Margulis: I’m just gonna hit you with it straight. You cannot skimp on researching vaccines if you’re going to be a parent. I mean really research- not just do whatever the mainstream media or your doctor tells you to do. This starts with pregnancy too since it is recommended to get shots while pregnant. This is a really good introductory book to vaccines but it also covers so much more info that I found to be very helpful. Note: we are not following this plan so just because you read this book doesn’t mean you have to follow this protocol but you will learn info that will help start your research- although I would urge you to do more research on this topic as well. This is too important to just overlook.
The Mama Natural Pregnancy Guide by Genevieve Howland: This is like the crunchy version of What to Expect. It’s a week by week guide that gives you updates and things to do based on the week. I didn’t get this until my third trimester so I’m looking forward to reading it from the beginning next pregnancy. This will give you pros and cons of interventions while pregnant and during birth.
Gentle Babies by Debra Rayburn: Oily mamas- this is for you! This is full of tips and tricks on how to use oils on your little ones.
Betsy Bosom’s Baby Book: Another oily mama must read! I love how there are charts in the back with how to use the oils safely. I will be referring to this a lot.
Christ Centered Childbirth by Kelly Townsend: I loved this book. It really gave me a better appreciation for how God made my body to give birth.
Praying Through Your Pregnancy by Jennifer Polimino and Carolyn Warren: This is a devotional book that goes week by week and has prompts and places to journal & I loved reading it each week.
Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth by Jolene Brighten: Y’all know I love Dr. Brighten and I loved this book! Postpartum is such a crazy time and she helps break down how you should care for your body during it.
Super Nutrition for Babies: I added this here because even thought it has a lot of info on feeding older babies, it also talks about breastfeeding and formula so it’s good to read while pregnant. This is one of my new favorite books. I love how it talks about real food for your kiddos and I know I’ll refer to it often once we start foods with Payson.