Best Pregnancy Books: The 25 Top Maternity Books Of All Time (2020)

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Looking for the best pregnancy books of all time? You’re in the right place!

Pregnancy is one of those things you don’t really need to know about until the first time you really need to know about it. And then one day, you’re expecting a baby (or trying to get there), and it becomes the most fascinating topic in the world.

The good news? I know how that feels! Which is exactly why I created this list of the 25 best pregnancy books of all time.

Whether you’ve just started your pregnancy, or you’re 30 weeks through; whether it’s the first time you’re pregnant or the tenth; whether you’re an expectant mom or dad – you’ll find tons of must-read books on pregnancy, maternity and childbirth on this ultimate list.

Bonus Tip: If you enjoy this list of maternity books, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy these lists of the best books on babies and the best books on parenting.

The 25 Best Pregnancy Books Of All Time

Why these top pregnancy books and not others? The best pregnancy books below are the top picks from my master database, ranked by a combination of Goodreads rating, the number of Goodreads reviews and first publication date. The goal is to balance what’s most loved, what’s most popular and what’s proven timelessly relevant advice.

Think something’s missing? Leave a comment or email me and I’ll add it to the next round of updates. I honestly love hearing from you so please, do get in touch!

1. Spiritual Midwifery (1975), Ina May Gaskin
   482 pages. Rated 4.4 over 5,500 reviews on Goodreads.
2. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth (2003), Ina May Gaskin
   348 pages. Rated 4.4 over 18,100 reviews on Goodreads.
3. The Birth Partner (1989), Penny Simkin
   337 pages. Rated 4.3 over 5,200 reviews on Goodreads.
4. Expecting Better (2013), Emily Oster
   Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong – and What You Really Need to Know
   336 pages. Rated 4.3 over 12,200 reviews on Goodreads.
5. Pregnancy, Childbirth And The Newborn (1984), Penny Simkin
   512 pages. Rated 4.2 over 2,200 reviews on Goodreads.
6. What to Expect When You’re Expecting (1969), Heidi Murkoff
   597 pages. Rated 3.8 over 46,100 reviews on Goodreads.
7. Active Birth (1983), Janet Balaskas
   The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally
   272 pages. Rated 4.1 over 1,500 reviews on Goodreads.
8. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy (2004), Roger Harms
   614 pages. Rated 4.1 over 4,800 reviews on Goodreads.
9. Pushed (2007), Jennifer Block
   The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care
   316 pages. Rated 4.2 over 2,600 reviews on Goodreads.
10. The Pregnancy Book (1997), William Sears
    A Month-By-Month Guide Tag: Everythg. You Need to Know from America’S..
    448 pages. Rated 4.2 over 900 reviews on Goodreads.
11. The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth (1999), Henci Goer
    384 pages. Rated 4.1 over 3,100 reviews on Goodreads.
12. Birthing from Within (1998), Pam England
    An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation
    331 pages. Rated 4.0 over 5,100 reviews on Goodreads.
13. Natural Hospital Birth (2011), Cynthia Gabriel
    The Best of Both Worlds
    272 pages. Rated 4.3 over 1,500 reviews on Goodreads.
14. The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy (1995), Vicki Iovine
    255 pages. Rated 3.7 over 8,700 reviews on Goodreads.
15. The Expectant Father (1995), Armin A. Brott
    Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be
    271 pages. Rated 3.8 over 4,400 reviews on Goodreads.
16. Birth (2006), Tina Cassidy
    The Surprising History of How We Are Born
    320 pages. Rated 4.1 over 2,600 reviews on Goodreads.
17. The Mama Natural (2017), Genevieve Howland
    Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth
    528 pages. Rated 4.4 over 1,000 reviews on Goodreads.
18. Like a Mother (2018), Angela Garbes
    A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy
    256 pages. Rated 4.3 over 4,700 reviews on Goodreads.
19. Birth without Violence (1974), Frédérick Leboyer
    144 pages. Rated 4.0 over 500 reviews on Goodreads.
20. Birth Skills (2007), Juju Sundin
    Proven pain-management techniques for your labour and birth
    304 pages. Rated 4.2 over 600 reviews on Goodreads.
21. HypnoBirthing (1998), Marie F. Mongan
    The Mongan Method
    302 pages. Rated 3.8 over 4,600 reviews on Goodreads.
22. Nurture (2017), Erica Chidi Cohen
    A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood—and Trusting Yourself and Your Body
    256 pages. Rated 4.4 over 500 reviews on Goodreads.
23. Real Food for Pregnancy (2018), Lily Nichols
    The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition
    348 pages. Rated 4.6 over 500 reviews on Goodreads.
24. Pragnancy Day By Day (2014), Maggie Blott
    496 pages. Rated 4.5 over <100 reviews on Goodreads.
25. Our Bodies, Ourselves (2008), Boston Women’s Health Book Collective
    Pregnancy and Birth
    384 pages. Rated 4.1 over 500 reviews on Goodreads.

Enjoyed these best pregnancy books of all time? You might also like…

II. Best Books Of All Time

These are the overall best books to read (by type).

III. Best Nonfiction Books (A-Z)

These are the best nonfiction books to read (by topic).

IV. Best Fiction Books (A-Z)

These are the best fiction books to read (by genre).

Arthur Worsley

Arthur is a thinker and writer who helps people who want more from their lives learn to be more productive, find more balance and live life more meaningfully. Want to know more? Take this 2-minute quiz to discover your Productivity Quotient (PQ) and learn how to get BIG things done. Take the Quiz →