My Top 7 Uplifting and Informative Pregnancy Books helped me understand pregnancy much deeper for my first pregnancy. These books are hands down the best and all you need for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
My Top 7 Uplifting and Informative Pregnancy Books:
Every new mom MUST read these books. From having a Gratitude Journal for pregnancy to learning how to breastfeed with The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, to infant pottying. Even if you’re not expecting…yet, I highly recommend reading Ina May’s book Guide to Childbirth to establish a natural birth narrative in your mind. Birth can seem scary based on many other people’s fears and perspectives. However, many positive birth stories should be your main focus. There are many positive, and wonderful birth stories in Supernatural Childbirth and Childbirth in the Glory.
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” Psalm 127:3
Gratitude Changes Everything
This handy “One Minute Gratitude Journal” has been very helpful. Research has proved the effectiveness of gratitude. This is especially important now for growing a human who shares the same emotions as you. They will feel everything you feel, mama. So stay positive and cast your cares on the Lord.
1. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
The fear around birth is prevailing more than ever in modern times. Ina May does a wonderful job at dispelling fear in childbirth. With her 40+ years of experience, she helps mothers realize the power of being a woman and birthing babies naturally.
I read this book years before I got pregnant and again while pregnant. It is encouraging to read story after story and see uncensored pictures of birth with women even smiling while a baby is coming out!! I thought these images were incredible! Mrs. May assisted many women in their unique and uplifting birthing events. The statistics are impeccable for how many natural, unmedicated births she has seen and been a part of.
Changing the Birth Narrative
I think it is important to assess your cultural fears surrounding childbirth and remember women have been birthing for centuries before hospitals and delivery room technology were available. Most of the time, the wisdom and technology of our bodies surpass man-made technological interventions.
More than forty years of experience as a midwife have not lessened my awe and respect for the efficiency and beautiful design of the female body as expressed in labor and birth. In fact, the years only increase my sense of wonder about how well our bodies can work – given the right circumstances. The outcomes of our births demonstrate how rare it is for complications and difficulties to occur when women are properly prepared for birth and when technological interventions are kept to a minimum — that is, used only when necessary. –Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
Pain-Free Birth With God
There are also many ways to connect spiritually with the Holy Trinity during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all a part of this journey with you too. Together, they provide everything you and your baby need for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
“The Spirit has given us a better way. We can bring our children forth in a heavenly way, bringing them forth in the glory. It is time to raise the standard. Let us no longer be controlled by past negative outcomes or the traumatic experiences of other women when God has something much better for us.
God definitely has something better for you. Jesus has come to give you an abundant life in the glory, a life that is overflowing with supernatural blessings in every way, and that includes the realm of childbirth.” – Janet Mills Childbirth in the Glory
In my life, I am days away from giving birth and I 100% believe my body was designed and created to give birth without pain, tearing, or trauma. I write this in full anticipation of a quick, glory-filled labor and delivery. I know my healthy baby will be here soon, and I can’t wait to share the update on how it went.
2. & 3. Christian Books for Pregnancy
Since the beginning of my pregnancy, I have been listening to the Childbirth in the Glory audiobook by Janet Mills, and the Supernatural Childbirth audiobook by Jackie Mize.
These are wonderful books to have in your pregnancy library, especially if you are a believer. They contain loads of positive, even pain-free birth stories full of encouragement and the Holy Spirit. I listened to them on audio and had them playing on repeat from time to time.
I also plan to play Janet Mill’s Childbirth in the Glory album while in labor. It is anointed with grace, and peace specifically for childbirth. I am so excited!
4. The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide To Pregnancy & Childbirth
I loved this practical guide to pregnancy week-by-week. It is full of informative knowledge about the changes that occur within a pregnant woman’s body and the growing baby inside. It is fascinating to read and see pictures of how pregnancy develops, especially for a first-time mom.
She emphasizes natural tips for a natural pregnancy and childbirth. This book is for crunchy mamas who want to learn how to avoid ‘common’ hospital routine procedures like:
- frequent anatomy scans and unnecessary ultrasounds
- glucose tests
- non-emergency medical interventions
- heel poke test for newborns
- episiotomies
- epidurals
- what to do with your placenta
- and non-life-threatening caesareans
This book helps ensure you know your birthing rights in a hospital setting.
I also bought Mama Natural Affirmation cards which have helped a lot. I categorized them into three trimesters and hung them in my room for constant reassurance and positive support throughout pregnancy.
5. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
If you have any concerns about breastfeeding, this book is for you. However, it is more than just a book about breastfeeding, it answered all my questions about
- tongue tie
- co-sleeping
- childbirth
- thoughts on pacifiers
La Leche League is a great resource that has leaders in more than 80 countries. What is great about this resource is that it can be found local to you! There is a list on their website with every topic you can think of and resources to help guide you through any scenario. It really covers all the bases for new moms.
Overall, this book is very helpful to read before you give birth so you are prepared to breastfeed naturally and with ease.
6. Go Diaper Free
This book is essential if you are planning on doing Elimination Communication. This is a method of infant pottying and not relying on diapers 100% of the time.
I will give a brief introduction to this topic, but I plan on writing a further detailed blog post and creating a video for more information as I practice it more.
Instintucally, every mammal has the desire not to soil themselves or sit in their waste. The same goes for humans… so, the built-in nature of babies mustn’t go unnoticed. They give signs and cues for elimination just as they do to communicate their hunger and other needs.
It is simply a matter of observing these cues and placing them over an appropriate receptacle other than their diaper. This doesn’t have to be full-time or perfect, but giving it a try is something unheard, in our culture. Some moms even get offended at the idea. It is not for everyone to practice elimination communication, but information on it should be made more available if a mother chooses to try it out.
Andrea Olsen at godiaperfree.com is the go-to mother and thought leader who made this information more readily available in a modern book format.
7. Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth, and Babies
Finally, as a user of essential oils, I found this book to be helpful when looking up remedies I had during pregnancy. For example, with pregnancy swelling, came tender joints. I used this handbook as a reference to know which essential oils were safe to use.
My Top 7 Uplifting and Informative Pregnancy Books
Those are my thoughts on My Top 7 Uplifting and Informative Pregnancy Books. I know there are thousands of pregnancy books, but personally, these were perfect reads during the past nine months I carried my first child.
If you enjoyed this list, be sure to grab a FREE Download of my Pregnancy Checklist below to help further support your pregnancy.
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