pregnancy reads

These are the best books we’ve come across so far, related to pregnancy, birth and babies.  I checked out lots of books from the library, read many of them and bought a few.  There are thousands of books on the subject so figuring out what to read can be tough and I hope this post is helpful to friends.



I realize that we haven’t actually applied most of what we’ve learned from these books, so perhaps our recommendations don’t mean as much as they might a year from now.  I’m sure I’ll have something else to write about by then…

• These both are written in a tone that could be annoying, but I didn’t mind too much.  Your Best Birth (and the related movie) made me change from an OB to a midwifery practice.  Origins was the first book I read on the subject, before I was pregnant, and all of the data it presents from huge population studies was fascinating.  It’s good, but not meant to be a practical guide and it might freak some people out.

• These two are by Penny Simkin, who is teaching the birth class we’re taking.  I’m letting Jack handle reading The Birth Partner. 

• I liked this Mayo Clinic book better than What to Expect In the First Year.
• I skimmed through most of this Brain Rules for Baby book and found it fascinating. 

• The sections which rated and contrasted strollers and car seats was really helpful.
• The Happiest Baby on the Block makes some pretty huge claims about soothing babies and debunks a lot of myths about colic.  It strives to be more evidence based than many other things I’ve read.  There’s a movie too that we’ll watch at some point.
• How to Have your Second Child First was a quick read, full of advice about all the corners you can cut to make life simpler with a baby, as people do when they get around to having more kids.

• Last but not least, I highly recommend this book.   It is about relationship skills that can help a couple get through the joyful but stressful time with a new baby.  The authors (also from Seattle) are famous for their studies on couples.  Reading the book I can recognize enough of the situations they describe to be really impressed and ready to trust their advice.  Most of it relates to any couple, regardless of whether or not they have a baby.