I was gifted three “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” books when I first announced I was pregnant. And no offense to the lovely women who thought of me, buuuuuuut I got rid of every copy after browsing through the first few pages. In all fairness, the author does an amazing job of laying out…well…what to expect and all the possible scenarios that come with pregnancy and birth. But how to handle them (the more important info, IMO) is not only lacking, but also oftentimes incorrect.
[Deets on the whole story]— I offered the books to my midwife to pass on to clients, and she straight up declined. I proceeded to tell her I would donate them to Goodwill, so she took them (to the trash), saying she didn’t want three more copies readily available to the world. Eeeeek. It’s ~that~ bad, friend.
Needless to say, there are far better options than that book to prepare and guide women through the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum stages. And as a pelvic rehab therapist (and self-proclaimed book worm), books are one of my favorite ways to connect patients and inquiring friends with all the info they need beyond what I can provide in a typical physical therapy appointment or text thread.
Nothing lights me up more than the idea of women being proactive and educating themselves in all aspects of pelvic health, but especially when it comes to a season in life as empowering (and also ridiculously scary) as pregnancy. There are so many moving parts, mixed messages, expectations, and unknowns, but the more knowledge a woman can have in her body’s abilities and available options, she will naturally be more confident and prepared for the entire process— from conception to birth and beyond.
I’ve now been a mama for ~almost~ a year, and while Lolo’s arrival feels like ten years and ten days ago all at once, the struggles from that time are still fresh. Thankfully, there were and are experts in the subject of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, and those experts have written books. Quality information is out there for women who are looking for a little more guidance (and are willing to invest a little time reading) when it comes to caring for themselves and their growing babes.
So I’m sharing my favorites— the books I read as a pregnant mama and those I’ve recommended to patients looking for specific advice. Think of this as your curated and pelvic rehab therapist approved library for all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery.
For Pregnancy
This book is GOLD for the pregnant and postpartum woman who doesn’t want to “slow down” in these stages of life. Written by two physical therapists who take a realistic and smart approach to running during and after pregnancy, this guide is helpful, encouraging, and my favorite— doesn’t make you feel bad for wanting to keep moving. Instead, it lays out how to stay active in a way that’s best for your body and keeps your core and pelvic floor in mind.
Alcohol was personally easy for me to give up during pregnancy, but sushi, blue cheese, and lunch meat…the thought of ten months without some of my favorites was a harsh reality I was willing to accept, but reluctantly. Then a friend recommended this book to me, and after looking at the research presented by the author (my favorite part), I placed a takeout order for three sushi rolls that night. The forward claims “there has never been a more comprehensive and well-referenced resource on pre-natal nutrition”, and I couldn’t agree more.
This is “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”, but better…obviously. The author is an economist, meaning she isn’t a specialist in this area, buts he brings a whole new set of questions to the conversation of what’s “safe” and “acceptable” during pregnancy. Her prove-it-to-me attitude towards what’s been considered “normal” for decades was refreshing as a mama who tends to think the same. This is a well-rounded guide to all things pregnancy and a gentle dose of reality for those who tend to overthink the whole thing.
For Birthing
I’ll be honest, when it came to reading about the actual birthing process, this is the only book I picked up— because I read it from cover to cover and didn’t feel like I needed anything else. It’s a little woo-woo at times with prompts for journaling and crafts, but it also provided Bob and I with a few tools that we came back to during labor (like the ice cube exercise…iykyk) and I truly believe it contributed to my successful, un-medicated home birth.
If you’re looking for a resource that goes over EVERYTHING you need to feel confident birthing a baby, this is your book. I often have pregnant patients voice a sincere fear around the pain and process of labor, but when I dig deeper, I find their fear is rooted in the unknown. This is a literal playbook for pain management, mindset shifts, and communication on the day go into labor, and I’ve been told this book is a game-changer.
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth-
My fellow thinkers, norm questioners, boundary pushers, “why!?” askers…this one’s for you. In my opinion, this is the book that should be gifted to women when they find out they’re pregnant! After reading this, I felt empowered to make medical decisions for myself and my baby including a home birth, a doula and midwife on my medical team, an alternative for the blood glucose test, and more. If you want to know alllll your options (not just the ones that are convenient for the OB or will make the hospital the most money), then you must pick up this book.
For Postpartum
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding–
I’m thankful every day that I brought on a doula for my pregnancy, home birth, and postpartum journey. The best thing about her was that she’s a trained lactation consultant and she taught me positions, tips, and strategies to ensure breastfeeding was/is never painful. She also let me borrow this book, and I learned so much just by flipping to chapters as needed that I ended up buying my own copy. This is a library essential for every mama who wants to breastfeed.
Reviving Your Sex Life After Childbirth–
It doesn’t matter if you’re 40 days or 40 years postpartum, if you’re still having pain with intercourse, then this book is for you. Written by one of the most brilliant and incredible pelvic floor PTs I’ve been lucky enough to actually learn from in person, this read is actionable, easy to understand, and both you and your partner would benefit from going through it.
This is a one-stop-shop for help with mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual healing postpartum. The author is a doula, postpartum consultant, yoga teacher, body worker, and women’s health care advocate, which all come across beautifully in her holistic approach to surviving and thriving once baby comes. You know I like my medical advice just a little crunchy, and the advice in this book is the ~perfect~ middle that I’m always searching for.
Once you become a mama, you’re forever postpartum. Yep…let that one sink in a bit. This book is a guide written for mothers anywhere in their postpartum journey, and because it’s written by a physical therapist (can you tell I’m biased!?), it’s full of conservative approaches and realistic guidance for all the things that happen in the female body post-baby. It’s common for things to feel “different” or “not right” months and even years after giving birth, but that doesn’t have to be your normal (shall I say that louder for those in the back!?), and this book covers just about everything to help get you back to your “normal” no matter how long it’s been.
Turn on that bedside lamp, friend!
Even with my background in women’s health, I felt it was impossible to ever feel fully prepared for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. But knowledge is power, and grabbing a book [or three] that you feel would be the best use of your time and address where you need the most support is a great way to ease the fears and instill a sense of readiness and confidence.
You can bet that at least one of these books makes it in my baby shower gift or postpartum meal bags every time.
As I mentioned, these are the books that I’ve personally come in contact with in one way or another, but if you have any other suggestions, PLEASE COMMENT BELOW! I’m a firm believe that there’s no such thing as too many good books, so share away friend! And thank you in advance.
-Amanda
PS- I haven’t written a book (…yet *wink wink*) but you can find my best tips for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in this blog post, complete with printable guides, personal stories, and a 20-minute a day routine for all of the above. Think of it like a pelvic rehab therapist’s quick round-up of what I would share with a patient if I was only given one appointment with her. AKA— the good stuff.
Disclaimer: The content provided here does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for personalized healthcare. If you have concerns about a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. No pressure, but I have a feeling you’re gonna like what I’ve taken the time to put my recommendation behind.
