Reading Recommendations

General Pregnancy Information:

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin : Not divided by month, as pregnancy books usually are. This book goes through pregnancy issues by subject. Very detailed and informative.

The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger : Anything byKitzinger is fantastic - in this thorough guide she presents childbirth as a normal, natural process. She talks at length about prenatal exercises and water birth. She also has one of the best descriptions of labor I've ever read.

Psychology of Labor:

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin : I consider this book necessary reading for pregnant women. The first half is empowering birth stories, and the second half addresses the psychological issues in labor. She talks at length about how your mindset can affect your labor.

Childbirth Without Fear by Dr. Grantly Dick-Read : The first book to discuss the fear-tension-pain cycle. It's a bit outdated (it was written in the 50's), but the principles are still true. It was out of print until recently and is now available on Amazon - the old editions can be found at most libraries.

Birthing From Within by Pam England : A wonderful workbook for pregnant women. This book takes women on a creative journey to deal with their fears of labor and birth and find out what birthing method would work best. It is written with the perspective that a woman is the expert of her own body and birth.

Birth Practices:

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon : An excellent book about using the Bradley (husband-coached) method during labor and birth. She discusses techniques for early and active labor and pushing. As with all Bradley teachings, prenatal nutrition and non-intervention during labor and birth are emphasized.

Active Birth by Janet Balaskas : All about how listening to your body during labor can help ease pain and tension and help labor progress. She talks at length about strengthening squatting muscles during pregnancy to prepare them - and you - for delivery.

HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method by Marie Mongan : A great overview of HypnoBirthing philosophies, including dealing with fears, visualizations and positioning, and nutrition. The new version includes a practice CD with a relaxation and imagery script.

Doulas:

The Doula Book by Marshall Klaus : Written simply and clearly, this book is an introduction to what a doula can do for laboring women. By the end of it you'll understand why we say "don't give birth without one!"

The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin : A very thorough guide on supporting women in childbirth. Though not specifically about doulas, it can give women an idea of how a dedicated support person like a doula can help them. Women also read this to find out what to expect of their own bodies and needs during birth.

More Information:

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer : A detailed investigation into each of the medical interventions imposed on laboring women, including all risks and benefits. Required reading for women who wish to be informed about what hospital staff might not tell you about the actions they routinely take to alter labor and birth.


Birth Reborn by Dr. Michel Odent : This is an introduction to Dr. Odent's understanding of birth as a natural process that works best when it's left alone. A short but wonderful book about the birth practice he created at Pithiviers in France, where midwives allowed mothers to labor with privacy and did nothing to interfere.

Breastfeeding:

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Gwen Gotsch, et al : Among the most reassuring books on the subject. This flagship publication of the La Leche League is encouraging and discusses some of the most common breastfeeding difficulties. However, it is not a very complete resource about problems...

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Jack Newman : Recommended because it talks more thoroughly about breastfeeding difficulties not mentioned in the LLL book. For example, this book has a section on recognizing dehydration, something not mentioned at all in The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. However, it has been criticized for being arrogant and difficult to read. But together, these two books make an excellent addition to a breastfeeding library.