Six Books to Get You Through Pregnancy, Labor and Motherhood
We know, we know. As if you wanted or needed more parenting advice. But we’ve polled the experts — moms! — to see which books helped them get through pregnancy and prep for motherhood. Here are six or our faves:
“Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” by Ina May Gaskin
Why Andrea, mom to 1-year-old Elroy, loves it: “This is an essential read if you’re pregnant and filled with doubt that you’re physically or mentally capable of pushing a child out of your body (like I was). After reading the birth stories and Gaskin’s explanations of the process, I was convinced that childbirth is an amazing natural process — something I was totally capable of accomplishing.”
“Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year” by Anne Lamott
Why Catherine, mom to 4-year-old Claire, loves it: “This is my favorite mom-moir because it doesn’t offer any advice at all — just one mom’s brutally honest account of her experience with motherhood — sometimes happy, sometimes sad, confused, in love, and sometimes utterly lacking in self-confidence. I could really relate to all of her feelings and emotions.”
“Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom’s Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work” by Jessica Shortall
Why Sara, mom to 2-year-old Charlie, loves it: “This one is great — helpful, funny, and 100% supportive of whatever you end up needing to do. And the first-day-back pump bag packing list alone is worth the read!”
“Riley Can be Anything” by Davina Hamilton
Why Michelle, mom to 3-year-old Leo, loves it: “This isn’t your traditional tips and tricks book; this is a children’s book. But as a women of color, it’s a book that helped me connect with my son while I was pregnant, and has continued to be our favorite nighttime reading book ever since he was born. Feeling connected, inspired and hopeful during my pregnancy was just as important to me as knowing the latest medical research, and this book helped.”
“The 4th Trimester Bodies Project: Celebrating The Uncensored Beauty Of Motherhood” by Ashlee Wells Jackson
Why Mary, mom to 6-month-old Henry, loves it: “If you’re feeling a bit down in the dumps about your postpartum body, check out this book. The photography beautifully captures how different motherhood can look on a wide variety of women.”
“Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives” by Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Why Kristen, mom to 5-year-old Jackson, loves it: “This book focuses on the magical time of pregnancy. It’s helped me to connect with myself, with my unborn baby, and with the broader world. The book offers practical information, mantras, meditations, birth positions and more in a holistic and spiritual way.”
In the end, remember that you are the expert of your body and books alone can’t take care of all your spiritual, emotional and physical needs. But with a little luck, the right book can make a bad day better, and get you closer to feeling more confident as you approach the next big motherhood milestone.
