Pregnancy is such a miraculous experience. Although she feels her bump grow and notes that those first kicks are tremendously precious moments, she likely has a lot of questions and concerns. Your midwife will obviously be your first point of contact for professional advice, but an invaluable resource to turn to for all the ins and outs of pregnancy and postpartum comes in the form of the best pregnancy books for parents-to-be.
Uncertainties during pregnancy are common, so preparing for the birth of your child requires a lot of thought and planning. From morning sickness to gestational diabetes, all women will find different paths during pregnancy. Talking to her midwife to discuss her options and combining this advice with a good book can help her prepare for a personal experience that leaves her feeling positive and empowered.
You are reading: Best pregnancy books 2022
So, which pregnancy books are the best? From books for new moms, to guides on positive birth, hypnobirthing, home births, water births, and the fourth trimester, there is a wide variety on the market to choose from. We’ve reviewed some of the best pregnancy books and also provided a brief guide on what to look for when buying them.
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best books on pregnancy: at a glance
- the best for new moms: the modern midwife’s guide to pregnancy, childbirth and beyond by marie louise
- the best empowering your choices: the positive birth book: a new approach to pregnancy, labor, and the early weeks by milli hill
- best for hypnobirthing: hypnobirthing: ways practices of improving your childbirth by siobhan miller
how to choose the best pregnancy book for you
what topics are covered?
There are a wide variety of pregnancy books available on many different topics. You may be interested in a book that focuses on one main topic, such as hypnobirthing, or perhaps a full book is more suitable for you. New parents might choose a read that covers everything from morning sickness to placental delivery, while new parents might be looking for something more specific: mental health during pregnancy, for example, or dealing with a new baby. baby when you already have other children. The variety of books on the market allows you to search for specific topics and choose one that meets your needs.
what are the different formats?
Most pregnancy books come in traditional hardcover or softcover print versions and are great for taking notes and putting up post-its, but many are also available in an eBook reader, which is lightweight and can be easily transported. Beyond that, pregnancy books are available in a variety of formats and writing designs. some books are written in a much more formal tone, with a lot of scientific jargon, while others are more conversational and incorporate a friendlier tone. some provide a detailed table of contents, with plenty of subheadings and chapters throughout, making it easy to jump back and forth as desired, while others are written more like a novel or memoir.
how much should i spend?
A good book on pregnancy can cost between £5 and £20. Although new parents may feel like they need to buy every pregnancy book on the shelf, the good news is that they don’t. Picking one or two that speak to you and your concerns is a good place to start, and you can always add more along the way if you have more questions or other avenues you’d like to explore.
this price will also depend on whether you are buying the physical copy of the book or opting for the kindle or audiobook version.
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the best pregnancy books you can buy in 2022
1. The modern midwife’s guide to pregnancy, childbirth and beyond by marie louise: the best book on pregnancy for new moms
price: £12 (paperback) | buy now on amazon
Many new moms have expressed how much they loved this humorous, family-friendly book. Written by senior midwife Marie Louise, this comprehensive read packs plenty of advice and information into its binge-worthy pages. presents helpful advice and valuable tips on how to create a positive mindset and stay informed about key aspects of care during pregnancy.
is an easy read that offers information not only about pregnancy and childbirth, but also about the first days of motherhood. This is a great book to help put any new mom’s mind at ease about labor and any anxieties around the baby’s due date.
key concept: a guide to support any woman, whether in the first or third trimester, by helping to bring the science of pregnancy to real life. louise covers complex topics like the nervous system during pregnancy, the journey a baby takes through the birth canal, and anatomical facts about breastfeeding.
key features – editor: vermillion; date: March 5, 2020; length (print): 368 pages; formats: paperback, kindle, audiobook
2. The Pregnancy Day-by-Day Book (ed. Maggie Blott): The Best Pregnancy Book for Daily Expectations and Personal Experiences
price: £19 (hardcover) | buy now on amazon
Moms-to-be will feel informed and positive after reading this informative book. With a handy reference guide that outlines everything from emotions during pregnancy to talking about what’s to come, this book is one you’ll turn to again and again during those magical nine months. there is a lot of information about the changes in your body, the baby growing inside, and also a section at the end about the different stages of labor.
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It’s a colorful read with lots of unique pictures and diagrams, and also includes helpful tips on eating plans and exercise. we especially loved that this book is packed with personal stories and experiences, which makes it feel so much more relatable.
key concept: a non-stop, illustrated pregnancy guide, fully stocked with information from the moment of conception through the first few weeks of a newborn’s life.
key features – editor: dk; date: February 1, 2018; length (print): 496 pages; formats: hardcover, audiobook
3. brain health from birth by rebecca fett: the best book on pregnancy to support the well-being of your baby and yours
price: £13 (paperback) | buy now on amazon
To feel more empowered during your pregnancy and to make sure you’re really taking charge of your pregnancy, read this book by rebecca fett. You and your partner will have a better understanding of your baby’s brain development during pregnancy, along with many other issues from vitamin use through your baby’s first year.
The author also shares her insights on the importance of the essential nutrient choline during pregnancy and other topics, including diet, supplementation, toxin reduction, daily care, and breastfeeding. Parents felt that the information and statistics provided in this book are not widely discussed elsewhere, making this a unique read.
key concept: scientific research covering evidence-based, practical recommendations and advice from pediatricians and obstetricians, on everything you can do during pregnancy and the first year .
key features – editor: franklin fox; date: August 27, 2019; length (print): 306 pages;formats: paperback, kindle, audiobook
4. the positive birth book, by milli hill: the best pregnancy book to empower your choices
price: £11 (paperback) | buy now on amazon
Many pregnant women, especially new mothers, can feel isolated and unable to make decisions for their growing and changing body. encouraging women to recognize and use their voice is imperative, and even more so during pregnancy. Author Milli Hill breaks down all those barriers in her book on positive birth and completely changes the narrative approach to childbirth.
This is a warm, informative and fun read that is designed to help you understand the process and journey of pregnancy, in order to help you have as positive an experience as possible. From the questions to ask the medical professionals treating you to the medical interventions that may be available, this book will make you feel more confident about your body choices in a world that can sometimes seem overly systematized.
key concept: positive delivery, hypnobirthing, information to help mothers understand the pregnancy process and how to make their own decisions.
key features – editor: pinter & martin ltd; date: March 16, 2017; length (print): 320 pages; formats: paperback, kindle, audiobook
5. hypnobirthing: practical ways to improve your labor, by siobhan miller: the best pregnancy book for hypnobirthing
Price: £10 (paperback) | Buy now from Amazon
Hypnobirthing has been around for over 30 years, with methods and techniques evolving over time. many women swear by this move, with some even claiming that labor can be euphoric. Whatever your journey into motherhood, this book on hypnobirthing is a great read and can be applied to all types of births. is a fun and informative read that addresses, among other things, the science behind childbirth.
If you’re feeling apprehensive about all of this, joining the hypnobirthing club might be the way to feel more confident, and possibly even excited, about giving birth. Whether you choose to embark on a hypnobirthing journey or not, this book provides plenty of advice for you and your birth partner to help each other feel relaxed and supported through the stages of labor. this is also one of those books that you will want to give to all your pregnant friends after reading it.
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key concept: a form of prenatal education; an informative guide to hypnobirthing with examples based on evidence and logic to change the approach and experience of childbirth.
key features – editor: piatkus; date: April 4, 2019; length (print): 272 pages;formats: paperback, kindle, audiobook
6. Your Guilt-Free Pregnancy Plan by Rebecca Schiller: The Best Pregnancy Book for Reassuring, Unbiased Advice
price: £12 (paperback) | buy now on amazon
If simplicity is what you’re looking for, this book is divided into three simple sections: pregnancy, childbirth, and after. Let’s face it, up-to-date, unbiased information and advice is what moms-to-be crave most during pregnancy, and this book offers all of that and more.
This is an easy and accessible read with each part separated by subheadings, boxes, and quotes from moms. This means you can jump from one side of the book to the other, referring to birth plans one minute and pregnancy exercise tips the next. With this book in tow, you’ll feel educated and ready for every stage of pregnancy.
Key Concept: A timeline of the pregnancy journey using pictures, boxes, and checklists to help describe possible pregnancy symptoms, exercise techniques, and more.
key features – editor: penguin life; date: May 3, 2018; length (print): 384 pages; formats: paperback, kindle, audiobook
7. what to expect when you’re expecting, by heidi murkoff: the best pregnancy book for month-to-month coverage
Price: £12 (paperback) | Buy now from Amazon
Some parents-to-be enjoy having a month-by-month summary of what’s going on with their body and their baby, and that’s just what you get in this book. we love it for its detailed index, which makes it easy to navigate and find specific sections when you need them. It also has a week-by-week guide to baby’s development, all written in a conversational tone that makes you feel like you’re chatting with your best friend.
Each chapter covers a wealth of information, including outlines on what to expect during medical appointments, all the possible pregnancy symptoms that could occur, helpful tips for couples, diagramming exercises, and much more. There’s also a lot about mental health and how to make the best decisions for you when dealing with a variety of issues that may arise.
Key Concept: A month-by-month guide to pregnancy, including a week-by-week summary of your baby’s development and other lifestyle trends, such as details on vitamins, publication of belly, multiple pregnancies and breastfeeding.
key features – editor: simon and schuster; date: January 12, 2017; length (print): 656 pages;formats: hardcover, paperback, kindle, audiobook, audio cd
8. mind over mother by anna mathur: the best book on pregnancy to prepare you for the fourth trimester and beyond
price: £10 (hardcover) | buy now on amazon
There’s already enough to complete on your never-ending to-do list before the baby arrives, and the last thing you want is information overload that could leave you more confused than before. Anxiety can take over at any time, which is why we recommend reading Anna Mathur’s mind about mother during pregnancy. This book aims to help mothers better understand mental health during pregnancy, before they meet their new bundle of joy.
Preparing to be a mother, or an extra mother, is never easy. In this helpful book, Mathur delves into her own personal experiences, covering definitions of anxiety, examples of intrusive thoughts, and preparing for the whirlwind of emotions that parenting brings, as well as how to deal with them. The author, psychotherapist, and mother immediately draws you in with her knowledge in this relatable must-read.
key concept: discussions and examples about mental health, anxiety, effects of anxiety, and mindfulness techniques during pregnancy.
key features – editor: piatkus; date: May 14, 2020; length (print): 272 pages;formats: paperback, kindle, audiobook
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