1) “hoping for better” by emily oster
me. love. East. book. emily oster is an economist at brown (aka she knows how to review the literature, the data, and comprehensively analyze the research on a given topic), and what she does in this book is break down the “myths” and the “rules” of pregnancy by shedding light on them through real data. includes topics and questions that have been dramatized or perhaps even downplayed during pregnancy, such as:
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Can you drink coffee during pregnancy?
You are reading: Books to read before getting pregnant
what is really the risk of eating sushi during pregnancy? cold cuts??
What does the evidence really say about epidurals?
How long does it normally take to get pregnant?
answers all of these questions with facts, but in a super fun, easy to read, and never dry way. there are tons of questions that everyone has about pregnancy, but no one is willing to ask; she breaks it all down with real evidence.
I love, I love, I love this book. I read it once before I got pregnant (it was actually recommended by my OB doctor!), and then I read it one more time during my pregnancy. it has simply helped me to have the information to make the best decisions for me. hands down my favorite part of this is that emily doesn’t tell you what to do, she gives you all the information so you can make your own informed decision & decision. I really couldn’t recommend this more highly.
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click here to see the link to the book
2) “crib sheet” by emily oster
this is emily oster’s follow-up book, and it covers post-baby topics like parenting, sleep training, breastfeeding, and more. are all these common questions about parenting, what the hell am I doing?, but backed up by data, and that allow you to make the best decision if you have the opportunity. and again you can read it all in an easy to understand way and then decide which route you want to take. I love these books, I think they are very enriching, revealing, informative and fun. highly recommended!
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click here to see the link to the book
3) “vintage repair manual” by lara briden
This is one I recommend reading before getting pregnant. Getting off birth control can be confusing: It’s hard to know things like how to prevent pregnancy if you’re not ready, or how to start trying to get pregnant if you *are* ready. The Vintage Repair Manual is a super tangible, evidence-based approach to these topics. It’s basically my women’s health bible and I’ve been recommending it on this blog since day one.
I also feel like this was the book that gave me the tools to really know my menstrual cycle as I entered the conception phase of pregnancy. so while this one isn’t necessarily related to pregnancy, it’s definitely related to hormones, women’s health, conception, birth control and deserves its place on this list. (especially if you’re feeling a bit lost on how to track your cycle, know when you’re ovulating, etc.)
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click here to see the link to the book
4) “raising baby” by pamela druckerman
*cue moira rose voice* this book is about an american woman who is very ingrained in american parenting styles… who then moves to paris and sees that parisian kids tend to be much quieter, more independent, more open to trying new foods, etc. realizes that Parisian parenthood doesn’t seem all that dramatic (especially when it comes to things like lack of sleep in the newborn stage, etc.) and in this book discusses the biggest differences she, as an American, sees between parenting styles in the united states and paris.
This is another super easy read: it’s really funny, it’s funny, it’s goofy… but there were also a lot of things that I really related to. So this was one that both Adam and I read and really enjoyed. At the end of the day, I want to parent in my own unique way and not necessarily subscribe to any singular “parenting style,” but rather use different influences and ideas that I like, and I got a lot of those ideas from this book. It really resonated with me personally, and was a really fun read to add to your list!
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click here to see the link to the book
5) “it starts with the egg” by rebecca fett
I know I mentioned this during my blog post on preparing for pregnancy, but that’s because I highly, highly, highly recommend it if you think you’re going to start trying to have kids in the next year (or next month). ). !). This book is full of tangible, step-by-step things you can do to help improve the health of your eggs, the health of your sperm, and optimize your chances of a successful pregnancy. I found it concrete, supported by evidence, well-founded, reliable, and easy to understand. I highly recommend it if you are looking to get pregnant somewhat soon. one of my favorites, without a doubt!
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click here to see the link to the book
6) “real food for pregnancy” by lily nichols
oh my god… what a wealth of information in this book. if you are someone who says, “what do I eat? How do I best feed my body? this is the pregnancy book for you. again, the author of this book is a registered dietitian and presents a ton of evidence. And even better, it’s *current* evidence: many of the things we’re told to eat as pregnant women are frankly very out of date, so this is an updated functional and holistic approach to what to eat during pregnancy. I’ll admit, it’s pretty “dry” and requires a lot of research, but I found it to be a beautiful resource and it really inspired how I ate during this pregnancy.
See Also: The Best Guitar Book to Learn Guitar | Beginner Guitar HQ
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click here to see the link to the book
7) “the natural breast week by week guide to pregnancy and childbirth” by genevieve howland
this was just fun to read! is a week-by-week guide that literally starts at week one through delivery, where each week has a different theme ranging from health-related stuff to more fun stuff (like what to put on your registry, prepping for nursery, etc. .). I really enjoyed flipping through it each week and focusing on the specific theme of each week. there were some more “crisp” ideas in this one and it was definitely less backed by evidence than some of the other books on this list, but it’s a great read for someone who is more natural, holistic, and wants an uplifting and fun read. read while pregnant!
See Also: The Best Guitar Book to Learn Guitar | Beginner Guitar HQ
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click here to see the link to the book
8) “ina may’s guide to childbirth” by ina may gaskin
this is a book by the legendary ina may gaskin, who is probably the most famous midwife in the world, and in it alone she shares a ton of birth stories and an empowering perspective on pregnancy, childbirth, labor , etc. If you are someone who is afraid of giving birth or something like that, I recommend this reading. I personally found it so beautiful and inspiring to read these different birth stories, and in fact, I’ve listened to this one a lot on audible. it’s more geared towards a drug-free birth, but I think hearing all the birth stories, in general, can be inspiring. I really like this book – it makes me feel empowered and comforted by all the women who have gone before me (and the different ways labor can look!)
See Also: The Best Guitar Book to Learn Guitar | Beginner Guitar HQ
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click here to see the link to the book
and that’s it!
I really believe knowledge can be very empowering and personally I just try to strike that balance between knowledge and intuition. Like this blog and my approach to health, I look for the concrete, black and white evidence, and the intangible aspects of health.
…this is similar to how I’ve felt during pregnancy and how I intend to be a mother!
I know how important it is for mothers and mothers-to-be to trust our guts and intuition, but it’s also very helpful to have tools and perspectives along the way that can offer additional information, resources and guidance to help us find meaning. of the balance between the concrete evidence and that intangible maternal instinct.
and these were the eight books I read while walking that line by myself.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, and let me know if there are any other books you read and loved in the comments section below.
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