Books to Read During Pregnancy

Looking for the best pregnancy books? Here’s a great list of nine books to read during pregnancy! Funny books, honest books, informative books, natural books, and classic books! There’s a book here for every pregnant mama!

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One year ago today, I published my pregnancy book, Preggers. It was a long process, took a lot of hard work, and it was 100% worth it.

Since today is the anniversary of my book’s publication (and coincidentally my oldest son‘s SIXTH birthday!), and because March is National Reading Month, I thought it would be fun to write a post featuring the best books to read during pregnancy! 

There are TONS of pregnancy books out there, and lots of them didn’t make my list. I tried to pick a wide variety of books that have great reviews, I’ve loved myself, or I’ve heard recommended several times. They aren’t all for everybody (depending on if you’re planning on a natural birth or a medicated birth), but hopefully, you’ll find a book on this list that speaks to you! 

1. Preggers. Of course I’m kicking it off with my own guide to pregnancy! Preggers is NOT your mother’s guide to pregnancy. It ranges from trying to get pregnant all the way up to labor and delivery. It’s informative without being overwhelming or too medical, and it will make you laugh, cry, and feel like someone else actually understands what you’re going through. It’s bright pink, awesome, and definitely worth checking out! 

2. What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Another classic. It’s great for learning about what’s going on with your body and your baby. I liked following along with it each month with my first pregnancy. It also has answers to a lot of common questions and talks about labor and delivery. 

3. 50 Things to Do Before You Deliver. This book is written by my friend Jill Krause of Baby Rabies, and it’s a great book to help moms prepare for the arrival of their baby. It’s really easy to read and has cute pictures. Jill is a pregnancy genius, so of course, her book is fabulous! Plus it was published around the same time as mine! 

4. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. If you’re worried about the actual birth part, this one is perfect for you. I’ve heard this book recommended over and over again. It’s filled with birth stories and information on the birth process. It’s focused on natural birth, but even if that’s not what you’re planning, it’s still a great way to prepare for childbirth!

5. The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy. A book I haven’t read, but I have heard good things about it. The tagline is “or everything your doctor won’t tell you.” It’s written like it’d be written to a best friend and is filled with things you’re too scared or embarrassed to ask about. A practical and funny book for moms-to-be! 

6. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic is a very well-known and respected name in medicine, so you know the Mayo Clinic’s pregnancy book is going to be full of helpful information about pregnancy! It has week-by-week updates on baby’s growth and month-by-month changes for mom, a 40-week pregnancy calendar, a symptoms guide, and a review of important pregnancy decisions. A great read if you want a book more on the medical side of things! 

7. The Sh!t No One Tells You About Pregnancy. The fourth book in Dawn Dais’ “The Sh!t No One Tells You” series came out in 2017, and it’s all about what pregnancy is REALLY like. It’s blunt and very honest and doesn’t cover a ton on the medical side, so if you’re looking for a medical book, don’t get this one. It’s a great book for preparing yourself for the realities of parenthood! 

8. Birth Without Fear. This book actually just came out yesterday, but I’ve listened to January Harsche on a few podcasts and I’m sure her books is a great resource for pregnant mamas. It’s described as “an honest, positive, and passionate message of empowerment surrounding everything that involves having a baby. It’s a guide that fills in the considerable cracks in the information available to women and families when they’re preparing to welcome a child–covering care provider choices, medical freedom, birth options, breastfeeding, intimacy, postpartum depression, and much more.” If I have another baby, I’ll definitely be picking up a copy! 

9. The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth. If you’re planning on a very natural pregnancy and childbirth experience, this one is for you! It’s written by Genevieve Howland, writer of the pregnancy and parenting blog Mama Natural. The book “demystifies” natural pregnancy and goes through pregnancy week-by-week, which as a pregnant person I always appreciated. This probably isn’t for everyone, but if you’re on the holisitic side, I’m sure you’ll love it!

Pregnancy is a special, magical, uncomfortable, confusing, crazy time of a woman’s life. Fortunately, there are lots of great pregnancy books to help you through the joys and miseries that come along with growing a baby. Hopefully this list of books to read during pregnancy was helpful and taught you about a few new pregnancy books to read, and if you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment and let me know!