Every woman is different and every pregnancy is different. I’m sure that every woman who has given birth has her own unique list of must-read pregnancy books, and today I’m sharing mine. Below are my four favorite pregnancy/child rearing books that I’ve turned to time and time again during this 40 week journey:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I couldn’t put this book down. If you plan on breastfeeding then you need to read this book…and if you’re on the fence about it then you should read it too because learning about how beneficial breastfeeding is to both momma and baby is simply amazing. It’s published by La Leche League and it provides an amazing amount of information. I have always planned on breastfeeding my children, but reading this book truly opened my eyes to how rewarding and beneficial breastfeeding is. I know that I will turn to this book to answer any breastfeeding questions I have once my baby is born.
Bringing Up Bebe. I know this book is really trendy right now, but it actually has some amazing points and is a really quick read. My husband and I went to Paris when I was 18 weeks pregnant and we observed firsthand that French children truly are much better behaved than most American children, and the philosophies of French parenting seem to create less stressed parents as well as happier, more disciplined children. All good things if you ask me! I’m going to make my husband read this and my mom even wants to read it too. I really can’t say enough good things about it!
What to Expect When You’re Expecting.This book gets on my nerves a little bit because it uses cutesy language and kind of talks to you like you’re a child, but it does provide some great week by week information when it comes to pregnancy. I’m fascinated by the changes that occur each week to both mother and baby, and this book does a good job of breaking things down week by week.
Fit & Healthy Pregnancy. To be honest, this is the book that I picked up the least until my 3rd trimester. I understand that listening to my body is the most important thing, so that’s what I’ve done throughout the pregnancy. When I’m on a run and need to take a walk break, I take a walk break. What I really appreciate is that this book is geared towards women who are endurance athletes and/or have a high level of fitness. Many of the pregnancy apps and What to Expect When You’re Expecting assume that you’re going to take it really easy while you’re pregnant (which is totally fine), so this book made me feel better about maintaining a higher level of fitness while going through my pregnancy. Make sure you get this book if you plan on staying really active while you’re pregnant!
I hope this list helps those of you who are pregnant right now or plan to get pregnant in the near future! By no means is this a comprehensive list and I’m sure there are lots of other great pregnancy books out there. As I said at the beginning of the post, these are just the books that I’ve read that I found useful. If you’ve already had babies, what books did you find helpful while you were pregnant? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Nursing my babies was the best. I often tell people it is great for lazy people because the milk is always the right temperature, there is no mixing of (stinky) formula, washing bottles or boiling nipples. And that is the truth, but all that aside, it is natural!! The best advice I received when working out nursing was tummy to tummy, turn the whole baby so they are not turning their neck. Simple, but I am not sure that is always conveyed to new moms. Good luck and I can't wait to hear all about BV!
Anonymous
October 29, 2015 / 1:57 am
Do not be ashamed to go to a nursing consultant! I didn't when i really needed to and was in SO much pain. After a friend told me to go, I went. It changed my life. 🙂 you should pick up what to expect in the first year. My friends made the mistake of reading so much about labor, nursing, and pregnancy, they told me to focus more on reading about the BABY! ha! Such great advice. The what to expect in the first year book was a huge life saver. I consulted it several times a month, and it reminded me that I wasnt crazy and my child was in fact normal 🙂 You must get it!
Thank you for the advice! Thankfully they offer lactation consultants through our healthcare, and I will definitely reach out for help if we have a difficult time getting started. I haven't bought that book yet but will go check it out!
Nursing my babies was the best. I often tell people it is great for lazy people because the milk is always the right temperature, there is no mixing of (stinky) formula, washing bottles or boiling nipples. And that is the truth, but all that aside, it is natural!! The best advice I received when working out nursing was tummy to tummy, turn the whole baby so they are not turning their neck. Simple, but I am not sure that is always conveyed to new moms. Good luck and I can't wait to hear all about BV!
Do not be ashamed to go to a nursing consultant! I didn't when i really needed to and was in SO much pain. After a friend told me to go, I went. It changed my life. 🙂 you should pick up what to expect in the first year. My friends made the mistake of reading so much about labor, nursing, and pregnancy, they told me to focus more on reading about the BABY! ha! Such great advice. The what to expect in the first year book was a huge life saver. I consulted it several times a month, and it reminded me that I wasnt crazy and my child was in fact normal 🙂 You must get it!
Thank you Jennifer! I can't wait to nurse my baby too!
Thank you for the advice! Thankfully they offer lactation consultants through our healthcare, and I will definitely reach out for help if we have a difficult time getting started. I haven't bought that book yet but will go check it out!