There are so many fantastic books out there about pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Here’s a selection of my favourites that I have read and highly recommend.
The Positive Birth Book – Milli Hill
This book is the starting point for educating yourself about your options for birth in a completely non-judgemental way. Whether you are planning a hospital birth, home birth, caesarean or vaginal birth, this book helps you to understand your rights to make your experience as positive as possible and the birth that’s right for you.
From the publisher:
“Challenging negativity and fear of childbirth, and brimming with everything you need to know about labour, birth and the early weeks of parenting, The Positive Birth Book is the must-have guide for pregnant women. A widely acclaimed bestseller since it was first published, it has empowered hundreds of thousands of women worldwide to make informed, positive choices about their births.”
If you retain visual information better than text take a look at this amazing book from The Naked Doula. Packed full of information and tips on how to have the birth that’s right for you.
From the publisher:
“Organised into 4 chapters: Brain, Body, Birth, and Baby and Beyond, this is a fresh, and empowering approach to the birth experience. Emma brings in her hypnobirthing skills, using short, snappy language and soundbites, to make this book fresh and appealing.
Illustrated with Emma’s own distinctive drawings this is an approachable and engaging book that will speak to Emma’s 160K+ followers and anyone expecting a baby, who wants engaging and informative support.”
The Modern Midwife’s Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond – Marie Louise
Similar to The Positive Birth Book this guide gives another perspective from a practicing midwife, giving you a really good overall understanding of what happens in each trimester and birth and tips for enjoying the journey.
From the publisher:
“Whether you are planning for a baby, just found out you are pregnant or well into your third trimester, this book will help you to feel confident, informed and inspired about your exciting journey ahead.
Through years of work with families, Senior Midwife Marie Louise reveals the key things that will make the biggest, most positive difference to you and your baby as you navigate these life-changing months.
As well as this, Marie Louise is renowned for bringing complex science to life.”
Your Baby, Your Birth – Hollie de Cruz
This book is a lovely introduction to hypnobirthing – I see it as a great way to get an idea of whether hypnobirthing might be for you and if so to then look into attending some specialist hypnobirthing classes – I can recommend practitioners in the local area so let me know if this is of interest.
From the publisher:
“Your Baby, Your Birth is a truly modern hypnobirthing book for ALL births.
In-demand hypnobirthing coach Hollie de Cruz provides you with the skills and tools to make any birth feel safe, calm, connected and empowering. Drawing on her experience working with new mums, including Fearne Cotton and Giovanna Fletcher, Hollie de Cruz helps you prepare for a positive (not ‘perfect’) birth experience and approach motherhood with confidence in yourself and your instincts.”
Birth of a Mother – Stern
The Birth of a Mother covers the concept that when a child is born, a mother is also born. Stern covers the whole psychological process of becoming a mother starting from the moment you find out you’re pregnant and the milestones and hurdles that women experience in this ongoing process. Really interesting and definitely one to help you prepare for the mental challenges that we sometimes face in becoming a mother.
From the publisher:
“As you prepare to become a mother, you face an experience unlike any other in your life. Having a baby will redirect your preferences and pleasures and, most likely, will realign some of your values.As you undergo this unique psychological transformation, you will be guided by new hopes, fears, and priorities. In a most startling way, having a child will influence all of your closest relationships and redefine your role in your family’s history. The charting of this remarkable, new realm is the subject of this compelling book.Renowned psychiatrist Daniel N. Stern has joined forces with pediatrician and child psychiatrist Nadia Bruschweiler-Stern and journalist Alison Freeland to paint a wonderfully evocative picture of the psychology of motherhood.”
Buddhism for Mothers – Sarah Napthali
This is one that I could read over and over, each page has a gem on how we can enjoy and survive the demands of motherhood. I would recommend this as an essential read both before and after becoming a Mother.
From the publisher:
“Become a calmer and happier mother with Buddhism for Mothers. ‘This is an excellent, practical guide to everyday Buddhism not just for mothers, but for everyone who has ever had a mother. ‘ Vicki Mackenzie, author of the bestselling Why Buddhism Parenthood can be a time of great inner turmoil for a woman yet parenting books invariably focus on nurturing children rather than the mothers who struggle to raise them. This book is different. It is a book for mothers. Buddhism for Mothers explores the potential to be with your children in the all-important present moment; to gain the most joy out of being with them.”
0 Comments