These are some of my favorite books to recommend to those who are interested in researching more about the process of pregnancy and childbirth, want to understand their options, and choose to be informed.
- A Child is Born by Lennart Nielson
A pictorial guide of the developing baby through the entire pregnancy.
- The Pregnancy Book by Dr. William Sears, MD
An excellent guide on the choices and normal changes during pregnancy.
- Maternal Fitness by Julie Tupler
An easy to follow, clear guide to exercise during pregnancy.
- The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
A guide for the father of the baby, or anyone intending to help provide labor coaching and support.
- Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper and Suzanne Arms
The authors explore many of the available choices for birth.
- The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
One of my favorites! The author looks at many traditional interventions used in the medical world today, and explains why many of them are totally unnecessary.
- Obstetric Myths versus Research Realities by Henci Goer
The author pulls many abstracts from medical literature and puts them at your fingertips.
- The Birth Book by Dr. William Sears, MD
A very easy-to-read guide to labor and delivery-a great one to read!
- Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must be Fixed to Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner, MD
The author, a doctor himself, reveals how many of the US medical customs are actually harmful to the mother and baby.
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League
A great, inclusive, informative guide to breastfeeding and many possible problems.
