birth | Fort Worth Favs: Top 5 Pregnancy & Birth Books
"What birth books do you recommend?"
We get this question all of the time, and we love it because it shows our clients are looking to get informed! There are so many options out there so we've narrowed it down a bit for ya.
2022 Additions
Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood (Britta Bushnell)
Why Did No One Tell Me This? (Hailes, Spivak)
The First Time Parent’s Childbirth Handbook (Mitchell)
2020 Additions
Expecting Better (Emily Oster) - If you’re a data person at all, this book is the BEST for the do’s and don’ts of pregnancy.
The Thinking Guide to a Better Birth (Henci Goer) - reviews data and implications around interventions and routine procedures - which hopefully you won't need any of - but it's good to know things ahead of time.
The First Forty Days (Heng Ou) explores the concept of nurturing and nourishing the new mother/baby dyad during the 4th Trimester. Also has some wonderful recipes, as well.
birth | Fort Worth's Top 5 Pregnancy & Birth Books:
5. Mind Over Labor by Carl Jones
We love this book because it does a great job at mentally preparing you by incorporating guided imagery and giving you relaxation exercises to practice before labor. The book is easy to read and does a great job of preparing you for what's to come.
4. Birthing From Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England
This book is a great read during pregnancy for every woman, but especially those women who feel they may have some unresolved fears or anxieties about the process. It focuses on the mind-body connection that is so important during labor and encourages couples to get in touch with their hopes, fears, and expectations regarding the labor process.
3. Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin
This book does a wonderful job of covering every aspect of pregnancy- what to expect, exercise and diet tips, interviewing care providers (including doulas) and how to write a birth plan. It then spends a great deal of time covering labor stages and tips for dealing with each stage. Another thing we love about this book is that it doesn't assume you are wanting an un-medicated or "natural" birth. It finishes up by providing information on the immediate postpartum period, including breastfeeding.
2. The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
This is a fantastic read, and NOT just for partners! It thoroughly covers what to expect during each stage of labor and makes suggestions for coping techniques for each stage. A truly excellent read, especially for couples planning an un-medicated birth.
1. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
this book is all about inspiration! It is full of birth stories that make you feel like you were born to birth babies! This book does a wonderful job of instilling confidence about the upcoming labor and birth process.... but it's a little "hippy" so fair warning, lol. I kept it on my nightstand toward the end of pregnancy and re-read the positive birth stories to help get me in the right frame of mind for what was to come. I recommend my clients do the very same thing.
