What books should I read before having a baby?
From hilarious to practical, light-hearted to deeply moving, there are first time mom books out there for every mood, time, and taste.
Here are some of our favorites:
50 Things To Do Before You Deliver: The First-Time Mom Guide for Your Baby, Your Body and Your Sanity
1. 50 Things To Do Before You Deliver: The First-Time Mom Guide for Your Baby, Your Body and Your Sanity
By Jill Krause
This no-nonsense book by a mama-of-four cuts through the heaps of pregnancy advice out there and narrows it down to the fifty most important things to focus on.
It’s packed with useful guidance from mamas, OB-GYNs, and midwives to help ease those first-time nerves.
Buy 50 Things to Do Before You Deliver here
Say No to Placenta Pics: And Other Hilarious, Unsolicited Advice for Pregnant Women
2. Say No to Placenta Pics: And Other Hilarious, Unsolicited Advice for Pregnant Women
By Jillian M. Parsons and Allison Baerken
Pregnancy can be magical, but it can also be, well, gross. And hilarious.
This guide to pregnancy is written by best friends Allison Baerken, who is pregnant, and Jillian M. Parsons, who is not.
And it takes us through all the weird parts of pregnancy we hardly ever speak about. It’s also a real nod to the importance of best friends.
Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Navigating the Wild, Weird, and Wonderful Journey from Conception Through Birth and Beyond
3. Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Navigating the Wild, Weird, and Wonderful Journey from Conception Through Birth and Beyond
By Leslie Schrock
Well-researched, approachable, and practical — and written by someone who is a new mama herself — Bumpin’ gently cuts through all the noise around this whole having-a-baby thing.
The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant
4. The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant
By Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D.
If you’re trying to conceive, or wondering whether you should, you’re probably dealing with a whirlwind of advice, suggestions, and options.
Author Jean Twenge compassionately talks through all aspects of this journey, from a social, medical, and sexual perspective.
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong–and What You Really Need to Know
5. Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong–and What You Really Need to Know
By Emily Oster
Think you know all there is to know about pregnancy?
Economist Emily Oster’s Expecting Better is going to challenge that.
Oster walks us through all the conventional wisdom about pregnancy — and how it sometimes might be misleading or wrong.
This book mixes hard facts with a soft approach so that you can make the best decisions for yourself and your little one.
Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood and Trusting Yourself and Your Body
6. Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood and Trusting Yourself and Your Body
By Erica Chidi
Written by doula Erica Chidi, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from early pregnancy to your newborn’s first weeks.
Useful illustrations and calm explanations take us through every stage of the process.
Bonus? It includes plenty of self-care tips.