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Best Pregnancy Books: The 25 Top Maternity Books Of All Time

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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. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth – Ina May Gaskin

Published 2003 // 348 pages // Rated 4.4 over 18,100 reviews on Goodreads

2. Spiritual Midwifery – Ina May Gaskin

Published 1975 // 482 pages // Rated 4.4 over 5,500 reviews on Goodreads

3. Expecting Better – Emily Oster

Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong – and What You Really Need to Know

Published 2013 // 336 pages // Rated 4.3 over 12,200 reviews on Goodreads

4. The Birth Partner – Penny Simkin

Published 1989 // 337 pages // Rated 4.3 over 5,200 reviews on Goodreads

5. Like a Mother – Angela Garbes

A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy

Published 2018 // 256 pages // Rated 4.3 over 4,700 reviews on Goodreads

6. The Positive Birth Book – Milli Hill

A new approach to pregnancy, birth and the early weeks

Published 2017 // 320 pages // Rated 4.4 over 1,200 reviews on Goodreads

7. Pushed – Jennifer Block

The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care

Published 2007 // 316 pages // Rated 4.2 over 2,600 reviews on Goodreads

8. Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy – Roger Harms

Published 2004 // 614 pages // Rated 4.1 over 4,800 reviews on Goodreads

9. Real Food for Pregnancy – Lily Nichols

The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition

Published 2018 // 348 pages // Rated 4.6 over 500 reviews on Goodreads

10. Natural Hospital Birth – Cynthia Gabriel

The Best of Both Worlds

Published 2011 // 272 pages // Rated 4.3 over 1,500 reviews on Goodreads

11. The Mama Natural – Genevieve Howland

Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth

Published 2017 // 528 pages // Rated 4.4 over 1,000 reviews on Goodreads

12. Pregnancy, Childbirth And The Newborn – Penny Simkin

Published 1984 // 512 pages // Rated 4.2 over 2,200 reviews on Goodreads

13. Nurture – Erica Chidi Cohen

A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood—and Trusting Yourself and Your Body

Published 2017 // 256 pages // Rated 4.4 over 500 reviews on Goodreads

14. The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth – Henci Goer

Published 1999 // 384 pages // Rated 4.1 over 3,100 reviews on Goodreads

15. Birthing from Within – Pam England

An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation

Published 1998 // 331 pages // Rated 4.0 over 5,100 reviews on Goodreads

16. Active Birth – Janet Balaskas

The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally

Published 1983 // 272 pages // Rated 4.1 over 1,500 reviews on Goodreads

17. What to Expect When You’re Expecting – Heidi Murkoff

Published 1969 // 597 pages // Rated 3.8 over 46,100 reviews on Goodreads

18. The Pregnancy Book – William Sears

A Month-By-Month Guide Tag: Everythg. You Need to Know from America’S..

Published 1997 // 448 pages // Rated 4.2 over 900 reviews on Goodreads

19. Birth – Tina Cassidy

The Surprising History of How We Are Born

Published 2006 // 320 pages // Rated 4.1 over 2,600 reviews on Goodreads

20. Pragnancy Day By Day – Maggie Blott

Published 2014 // 496 pages // Rated 4.5 over <100 reviews on Goodreads

21. Birth Skills – Juju Sundin

Proven pain-management techniques for your labour and birth

Published 2007 // 304 pages // Rated 4.2 over 600 reviews on Goodreads

22. Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way – Susan McCutcheon

Published 1984 // 336 pages // Rated 4.0 over 2,600 reviews on Goodreads

23. How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out – Clemmie Hooper

A guide to pregnancy and birth straight from the midwife’s mouth

Published 2017 // 224 pages // Rated 4.1 over 900 reviews on Goodreads

24. The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy – Vicki Iovine

Published 1995 // 255 pages // Rated 3.7 over 8,700 reviews on Goodreads

25. The Expectant Father – Armin A. Brott

Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be

Published 1995 // 271 pages // Rated 3.8 over 4,400 reviews on Goodreads

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Natalie says:
You left out Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Childcare by Sally Fallon Morell & Thomas S. Cowan MD. It is different from all because it describes how women from long ago and from indigenous groups prepared way before they got pregnant and so did the father. Healthy habits and traditions that are now gone.

21 April 2021 at
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