Best Books to Read While Pregnant

Motherhood is just around the bend and what better companion to take with you on this journey, than a parenting book that promises to be of assistance? We won’t lie―being a mother is no walk in the park and comes with a ton of responsibilities. But eventually, you’ll learn the ropes and be great at it. For help, we’ve enlisted some of the best books to read while pregnant.

“You never understand life until it grows inside of you.”
― Sandra Chami Kassis

There are a bevy of books on parenting that tout various claims of how they can solve all your problems, whether maternity-related or as a full-fledged parent. Not every author that has ever penned a book on parenting, will be applauded―the truism is that no one can really pinpoint the perfect way to handle parenthood, especially in its initial years.

Some people may tell you to quit obsessing over your steadily growing mountain of parenting books, but we’re here to tell you that while not every author can adeptly address the issues of parenting, others have undoubtedly done it better without sugarcoating the perils of being a parent―which is a breath of fresh air and a relief that comforts to-be-moms that they’re not alone. The following books cover all sorts of things that expectant mothers can depend on for guidance.

The Best Books to Read During Pregnancy

To-be-moms aren’t the only ones who can enjoy these reads, where dads too can join in and take a peek at what these books have to impart. If you haven’t read our article on must-read books for new parents, you should, where you’ll stumble upon some just-as-good options.

Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures, by Amber Dusick

Sometimes, we just want authors to lay it on us; the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Even if it’s frightful, we want it candidly revealed―even if in a humorous or biting tone―because parenthood is something that jilts us to reality, even if there are moments of bliss thrown in the mix. That’s what Dusick has done in her highly-acclaimed book on parenting, where she unapologetically conveys incidents and little stories of what it’s like to be a mom. She believes that, “The crappiest moments make the best memories.”, and right she is. Celebrities like Gywneth Paltrow have bestowed the book with well-deserved praise for its witty and starkly-honest material.

From the Hips, by Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris

Another refreshing read, From the Hips covers an unbiased view of parenting, leaving no room open for honey-doused tidbits that veil the woes of becoming a mother. What’s great about such books is that they address fears that most women experience, which they fail to confront because many authors try so hard to make pregnancy sound like a trip to Disneyland. Which it isn’t. Odes and Morris cover everything that a to-be-mother could possibly need to know, like natural vs. medical childbirth, less-discussed postpartum emotions, and how to minimize perfect-parent pressure. Its colorful pages are a sight for sore eyes. You’ll never have to worry again about how to handle your maternal fears.

In the Womb, by Peter Tallack

How would you feel if someone were to present a series of images that chronicled the life of your baby within you, where you could clearly see its progress? As surreal as this sounds, In the Womb expertly reveals to expectant parents, what their little baby looks while it’s in the womb. With advanced 3D and 4D imaging technology, the book is a soul-stirring read that captures every stage of a fetus’s development, including facial expressions, adorable quirky behavior, and other captivating revelations. Based on National Geographic‘s documentary aired back in 2005, In the Womb is a beautiful book that allows parents to appreciate and experience firsthand, the quiescent beauty of birth.

Birthing from Within, by Pam England CNM, MA & Rob Horowitz, PH.D

Barring medical intervention, Birthing from Within embraces the raw nature of childbirth as a transcendental experience for a mother, as she undergoes major changes not just in her body, but in her spirit. It snuffs common fears that to-be-moms have about becoming a parent, with helpful advice on how to deal with labor pains without taking drugs, work with a midwife, and care for a baby once it enters the world. Even other factors that inadvertently crop up like postpartum depression are addressed with compassion, helping expectant moms view childbirth as a period of adjusting to change and not as a burden to shoulder. Morning sickness, lethargy, an aversion to certain food, and other maternal eye-openers, are dealt with brilliantly in the following parenting books as well. Be sure to check them out, too.

These books assure you that not only will a scintilla of hope take form, but a whole basketful of it. To-be-moms are in for the ride of their lives, where there are sure to be a bunch of happy moments that you’ll never forget. Give in to your gut instinct because that is exactly from where the best answers come from, with of course, a little help from the above reads on parenting.