I’m choosing a different path than many of the moms I know for my pregnancy and birth intentions, and I didn’t know where to go for information that was relevant to me. I wanted to be empowered to obtain comprehensive informed consent by weighing the pros and cons of all options and potential interventions. and I wanted this information now, not once when I was faced with the decision in an urgent setting. Doing my own research has been incredibly empowering, so I’m sharing with you my recommendation of the top five books for natural pregnancy and childbirth.
There is a lot of advice for pregnant women. let me add to it! I appreciated all the tips and highlights (and put up with too many negatives: why do people insist on telling a pregnant woman about the horrors of her birth experience?). What I was most grateful for were the books they recommended to me.
You are reading: Best natural birth books
As has been my path for the last ten years, arming myself with as much relevant information as possible and then making the decisions that make the most sense to me has been my focus during my pregnancy and when setting my intentions to give birth. .
I recognize that there is nothing certain about how nature progresses. I know that reading about stories of peaceful and calm births in no way ensures that I will have one. And to be honest, I can’t read (or watch) birth stories. they all make me incredibly uncomfortable.
What I can say with absolute confidence is that being armed with the knowledge and knowing what is possible has eliminated my fears of birth and that in itself is worth every little bit of effort I have made.
preconception reading (and planning)
See Also: Dont know where to start with Colson Whitehead? Heres a reading list. Literary Hub
There is not enough information about the importance of preconception planning and fertility. That’s why I wrote an entire post on preconception planning.
I mean the two years that we (men and women!) should take into account when planning to conceive (well, two years would be optimal, six months would be the minimum). it’s about how we support the most optimal hormonal balance, nutrient intake, detoxification and generally cultivate a state of health that allows us to support the growth and development of a healthy human being, without depleting mom of all her reserves . this is no easy task!
I haven’t read any books on the subject that I can confidently recommend that offer you insight beyond what I’ve shared in my preconception planning post, along with undiet and the undiet cookbook. there are some excellent resources to help decode infertility for couples.
I also believe that many struggling couples could be helped by reducing chemicals in their food, household and personal care products, adopting some daily lifestyle practices to maintain optimal health, and getting tested of functional medicine to check for nutrient imbalances and/or heavy metal loading. Ideally, this is the norm as a first step in trying to conceive.
There can be many factors involved in supporting fertility, but taking pre-conception steps for healthy living can help if your goal is to conceive naturally or improve results if you opt for fertility treatments.
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One of the best bits of wisdom when it comes to natural pregnancy and childbirth came from my midwife, who said that the first step in preparing for a natural birth is to live a natural life. and just like that, it becomes very simple. If we can eliminate chemicals, tune in to our bodies, move daily, take deep breaths, and generally take care of ourselves, we’re on our way.
best books for pregnancy and natural childbirth
See Also: Ashley Farley – Book Series In Order
When I say “natural pregnancy” here, I’m referring to a lifestyle, not necessarily specifically how you plan to conceive or deliver your baby. many times those decisions, despite our best intentions, are not ours. I was lucky enough to be able to get pregnant very easily and quickly, and have been working towards a natural birth, but it remains to be seen how things will play out for me.
All that to say that the following books have been invaluable in my education about pregnancy and childbirth, something that I was not interested in and knew very little about before I became pregnant.
the natural pregnancy book: your complete guide to a safe and organic pregnancy and birth with herbs, nutrition and other holistic options
by aviva romm
this was the first book i ever bought (okay maybe josh had this). serves as a great starting reference in the first trimester offering guidance on herbs and foods, and serves as a great general resource for finding natural solutions to some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. I didn’t love the nutritional recommendations, but overall I found this book to be a very helpful resource.
See Also: Essential books to make the most of the Year of St. Joseph – Our Sunday Visitor