Recommended Reading 

 

Pregnancy 

  • Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood – and Trusting Yourself and Your Body by Erica Chidi Cohen

  • Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong – and What You Really Need to Know by Emily Oster

  • The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth by Genevieve Howland

  • Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes

  • The Natural Pregnancy Bookby Aviva Jill Romm

  • Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: A Complete Guide by Penny Simkin

  • The Healthy Pregnancy Book: Month by Monthby William and Martha Sears

  • The Essential Homebirth Guide: For Families Planning or Considering Birthing at Home by Jane E. Drichta and Jodilyn Owen

Birth

  • Birthing From Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparationby Pam England and Rob Horowitz

  • Mindful Birthing: Training the Mind, Body, and Heart for Childbirth and Beyond by Nancy Bardacke

  • The Doula’s Guide to Empowering Your Birth by Lindsay Bliss

  • The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer

  • Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturallyby Janet Balaskas

  • The Birth Partnerby Penny Simkin

  • Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin 

  • Your Birth Plan by Megan Davidson

For Siblings

·       Baby on the Wayand What Baby Needsby William and Martha Sears 

·       Welcome with Love by Jenni Overend 

·       Mama Midwife by Christy Tyner 

·       We Have a Baby by Cathryn Falwell (also available in Spanish)

·       Mama’s Milk by Michael Elsohn Ross

·       Will There be a Lap for Me?  by Dorothy Corey

·       On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott

·       One Special Day by Lola M. Schaefer

·       What Makes a Baby by Cory Silverberg (amazing inclusive book that does not give much detail about sex specifically) 

·       It’s NOT the Stork by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberely (for older kids that need more detail)

Postpartum and Nursing

  • The First Forty Days: The Essential Act of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou

  • The Fourth Trimester: a Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Hormones, and Restoring Your Vitality

  • Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothersby Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tacket

  • The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning by Dr. Sears

  • ​Ina May's Guide to Breastfeedingby Ina May Gaskin

 

Beyond!

  • The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longerby Dr. Harvey Karp

  • The Baby Bookby William and Martha Sears

  • Sweet Sleep by La Leche League International

  • The Informed Parent: A Science-Based Resource for Your Child’s First Four Years by Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham

  • Naturally Healthy Babies and Children: A Commonsense Guide to Herbal Remedies, Nutrition, and Health by Aviva Romm

  • The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child by Dr. Sears

  • The Whole-Brain Childby Daniel J. Siegel

  • Peaceful Parent, Happy Kidsby Laura Markham

  • Connection Parenting: Parenting through Connection instead of Coercion, Through Love instead of Fearby Pam Leo

  • How to Talk So Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

  • Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

  • Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen