Pregnancy Book Recommendations

When I first got pregnant with Gavin, I couldn’t wait to go to Borders to browse the pregnancy section and pick out a book to buy. I had heard about “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and I did end up having that one by my bed. I enjoyed reading it each week to mark my baby’s progress and learn about what was going on every few days.

The first chance I had to hit up a bookstore was in Kansas City (I forget if we were in Kansas or Missouri). I was so let down by the book selection for pregnancy. I wanted something more than just a weekly progress on the baby. I wanted to read about the connection between mom and baby, the emotional side of pregnancy, different options for childbirth, and much more. I couldn’t find anything! Luckily, after more research online and talking to other like-minded moms, I found some incredible books that I ordered online.

The first two that I got my eyes on were Iny May Gaskin’s Spiritual Midwifery or Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth   You could probably just pick one and get the same messages from it and not have to read two. But I had the time and I loved reading other womens’ birth stories and learning about what actually HAPPENS in labor and what the body is doing for you and how our minds interfere, etc etc. Reading the other stories helped me to see how each birth is SO different and there’s really no way to predict or plan out what mine could be like. So how could I plan? I could prepare my mind with spiritual and physical techniques on letting go, relaxing and being able to handle whatever may arise. More on this another time, but these two books were such a neat look into natural childbirth and the power of a laboring woman. And they gave me a wonderful education as well! Through these books, I knew I wanted to have a midwife and attempt for a home-birth with a hospital nearby.  More than anything though, Ina May made me feel so proud to be a woman and feel empowered that women were created to have babies and I COULD do this!

The next book that was recommended to me is  Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful by Gurmukh. She also has a beautiful Prenatal Yoga DVD that is about an hour long. This book and DVD are founded around the principals of Kundalini Yoga. Even if you have never done yoga before, I would highly recommend this book. Even if you never do any of the meditations in this book, I highly recommend reading this book. This book spoke to me and my spirit like no other. It spoke to me as a mother and a spiritual being and helped me to bond with my baby the moment I picked it up. The approach in this book is so loving and real and down to earth. It’s unlike any other book out there, but I think every pregnant woman, or woman wanting to get pregnant should read this book. It changed my life, therefore having a huge impact on my childrens’ lives. I ended up going and training with this woman, Gurmukh, in NYC for 8 days because she touched my heart so much.

Birthing From Within, by Pam England . I found this book at a used book store the same day that someone recommended it to me, so I took it as a sign:). If you are an artsy person with any interest in exploring your ideas of pregnancy and childbirth through birth art, then this is the book for you! It’s very different, but there are some fun activities to try. I loved it, because I like doing art and exploring the unknown. The author also gives some great techniques to practice contractions, as well as different breath work to use in labor.

Hypnobirthing by Marie Mongan has been recommended to me by just a couple people. One of my friends had a grueling, long, painful labor with her first. She was determined to have a different experience the next time around. She enrolled in a Hypnobirthing course, The Mongan Method and practiced many of the techniques she learned for the last month of her pregnancy. Her labor began at 11 PM and by 3 AM she had given birth to a healthy baby….. without any complications, drugs or interventions. She attributes most of her speedy and manageable labor to Hypnobirthing. The name always kept me away, to be honest. I didn’t really understand, and I didn’t really know how I felt about being hypnotized in birth. Well, that’s just what I thought the method was. I read the book my 2nd pregnancy and LOVED it. I feel like it sums up many of my thoughts and ideas of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. And the basis for “hypnobirthing” is breathwork and DEEP relaxation. Anyone can do it, and it’s a good technique to add to your toolbox if you are going to ever be in labor or be a mom.:)