Pregnancy & Birth Books « Back to Group Discussions

[amanda bee]

Any recommendations?

[nettlesoup]

I loved Birthing From Withing by Pam Horowitz, and also Ina May's Guide To Childbirth. I felt that they both really prepared me for my first birth, and I will be re-reading them for this one too. Both really well worth reading.
 

[mamaw/two]

I love the Ina May books as well.  I'm a fan of From Birth to Conception, it's really amazing for the very first part of pregnancy. 

[100%mom]

What nettlesoup said.

[MsBe]

I was thinking of starting a thread on this very topic so I am so glad to see other interested readers have beat me to it!  I liked the Ina May book a lot too, it was one of the first I read last time around.  "Birthing From Within" is one of my top three, last time I didn't discover that one until 8 or 9 months and I am looking forward to doing more of the exercises in it this time around.  My other favorites are "Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives" by Deepak Chopra and "Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful"  by the amazing and inspiring Gurmukh.    I've heard good things about "Adventures in Tandem Nursing" and look forward to exploring that since my 30 month old still really loves his nursies and I am trying to stay committed to allowing him to self-wean (despite the increasing sensitivity and ansy-ness I'm experiencing now).  I am really looking forward to the suggestions other mommas (and mommas-to-be) have!
 

[letniaLynne]

If you are looking to get your hands on any of these books recommended here try going to a local La Leche League meeting. It is a nursing mom group that has local groups all over the world. Each group usually had a great library that you as member can borrow from. They are extremely welcoming to pregnant moms as well. I have made many long lasting friendships within those groups.
llli.org

[CookAMH]

For my first pregnancy, I enjoyed the following:

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (highly recommend some sort of childbirth education for one seeking natural birth)

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth (helped us make decisions about where and how to give birth)

Dr. Sears' Pregnancy Book

Also during my first pregnancy, I read The Nursing Mother's Companion and have referred to it and refreshed many times since that time.  I've also referred to the above books during my second pregnancy and anticipate perusing them this time.

[splath]

If you're interested in herbs at all, I really enjoyed Aviva Romm's Natural Pregnancy book, as well as Susun Weed's Childbearing Year.
Love all of Ina May's books as well.
And don't forget the movie The Business of Being Born

[splath]

For nursing, I loved The LLL's Womanly art of Breastfeeding. I used that book SO much after my first was born.

[Serafina33]

I loved Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way and for beyond the birth, The Continuum Concept & A General Theory of Love

[nettlesoup]

I agree on The Continuum Concept.
 

[dakipode]

Any good recommendations for DH? I picked up "She's having a baby--and I'm having a breakdown" by James Barron at the library earlier today. I'd like him to feel a bit more involved. It's the first time for both of us and I think he's worried sick and doesn't know what to do.

[Serafina33]

We just ordered Penny Simkin's The Birth Partner third edition and natural childbirth the Bradley way

[Margo Nelson]

I cannot recommend Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering enough!!!!!  It is written by a doctor from australia who is an amazing woman.  Through my midwifery apprenticeship I have read most of the common ones out there, and none of them hold a candle to this one.  It is not fear based or unemotional like some can be, and it is PACKED with science/sources to back up her ideas (footnoted throughout).  There are dozens of pages of her sources in the back.  It is an awesome book that will help you understand the science of labor and birth and feel confident that it is designed to work, and you are designed to intuit how the process is going for yourself.  I include it for couples that take my childbirth ed class because I really believe it is important.

here is her website!  http://www.sarahbuckley.com/

[splath]

I am loving Sacred Pregnancy. I also like The Pregnancy Journal-- not really a journal, but a daily guide to pregnancy with small places to journal if you wish.

Just requested Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering via ILL.

[Mama Ana]

I'm having DH read The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin & Birthing From Within. 

I love Ina May's books, The Birth Book by Dr Sears, I will also reread Birthing From Within, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin.