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When I found out I was pregnant a little over four years ago I had no idea what I was in for. But luckily there are many, many different books for new mothers. You can find books about your baby’s health, their development, baby names, and other mother’s experiences. This is a list of the books that got me through both of my pregnancies and the first year of parenting. Each one of these helped me prepare for the changes of motherhood. 

1. Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy (And Surviving First Year of Motherhood) By Vicki Iovine

This was like my bible! Other people will tell you “What to expect” was their favorite, but this one takes the cake for me. This is a not so serious book while also giving you the information you need. I found her humor about the subject of pregnancy refreshing.  The author is extremely down to earth and uses stories her friends have told her to help you through your experiences. It is also a very easy read!

The best thing about this book is that it doesn’t give you “horror” stories. I have a very active imagination and I am prone to very vivid dreams so I can’t read a book that tells me everything horrible that can happen. This book gives you very relatable stories without having you freak out about all the possibilities that could or could not happen.

The main takeaway from this book that I think pregnant women should always remember is that your relationship with you OBGYN is different from other doctors. Tell them everything and don’t hesitate to ask questions. I’m horrible at bringing up stuff at the doctor’s office so I bring Luke with me. He remembers my questions or concerns I have and isn’t afraid to bring them up to the doctor, even if I’m too embarrassed.

The downside to this book is that it’s not written by a doctor so all the stories and tips are written by a mother. If you want a more factual and informative book by a doctor or an expert (although I would argue a mother of four is technically an expert on being pregnant/motherhood) then my next favorite book is for you!

2. What to Expect When You’re Expecting By Heidi Murkoff

Ok I’m going to be very honest with you all. This is my least favorite book. Mostly because I wanted to read it like a regular book and that is not the purpose of this. There are sections that are set up like a Q & A but most of those questions won’t apply to you. But instead of skipping those, I read them and freaked myself out with things that could happen.

The only parts I read in this book were the pages that told you where you were at in your pregnancy. They said developmentally where your baby would be and what to expect at your doctor’s visit. So I would use this book once a week. But I do know plenty of women who use this book more often than I did.

This book is good for you if you want lots of information that is brought to you by experts. I would say it has the most accurate information of all the books I’ve read. Even though it’s not a favorite of mine I do suggest you get it because it’s still very useful. Just don’t read sections or questions that don’t apply to you.

3. Belly Laughs By Jenny McCarthy

This was the first book I read after I found out I was pregnant. I wanted a more relaxed book and I like Jenny McCarthy. Let me tell you this book had me cracking up! Her whole pregnancy was a rollercoaster of emotions and plenty of ups and downs. She doesn’t shy away from her experiences and acknowledges the crazy moments rather than gloss over her difficulties.

Remember, this book is her first hand account of her pregnancy. It’s not meant to be an informational guide to the stages that your baby will be at. Also just because these things happened to her doesn’t mean it will happen to you. The whole purpose of reading this book is to laugh but to also gain insight into things women don’t talk about. Jenny embraces her complicated pregnancy and isn’t afraid to tell you how it is.

4. Bringing Up Bebe By Pamela Druckerman

If you’re ever wondering what my #goals are for a parenting style just read this book. I love the French way of parenting! The hands off but still attentive style. This book is all about one American woman who moved to France and raised her baby the French way. Pamela was a former journalist so she has a knack for observations. Living in France gave her insight into this interesting parenting style. If you ask the French they will say they don’t have a special technique that they can recommend, its just how they were raised. Son they raise their children that way too.

This book is a very easy read with very helpful tips. Pamela not only uses her observations of French children and their parents, but she also has a lot of research to back her main points. But not every parenting philosophy is for everyone. And that’s just fine! I suggest you go to a book store and read the first chapter before buying it. This book reads like she’s telling you a story rather than “this is what you need to do!”. If it feels like she’s speaking to you or you find yourself interested in her observations, dive in! Please remember while reading this book there is no “right” or “wrong” way to raise a child. I used some tips from this books to help raise mine but I also use the advice of the many women in my life.

5. We’re Pregnant! The First Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook By Adrian Kulp

My last book on my list is for future dads. Luke didn’t read any pregnancy books when we were pregnant (and it showed). He seemed very unprepared for certain things that happened in the delivery room. That’s not something you want when you’re at your wits end trying to deliver a baby. So I suggest you get this book for your partner and hope they read. Don’t get me wrong, Luke is an amazing father and partner! He just didn’t know what to expect in the delivery room.

According to Amazon, this book is the best reviewed book in the “fatherhood” department. It has some really good illustrations throughout the book. One of the comments that people have said in the reviews is that this book doesn’t have the sexist over tones that most dad-to-be books have. This book basically says what’s going to, or might happen, and why. The general over tone of this book is to just step up and be there. But my advice for future dads is be prepared for what goes on in the delivery room.

Final Thoughts

Being pregnant with your first child can be pretty stressful and terrifying, if you don’t have the resources you need. I really hope one of these books helps you understand your pregnancy, prepares you for what’s to come, or gives you advice to help shape your parenting style. Please remember not every book is for every person. But if you end up enjoying or learning something new from one of these books please let m know! I’d love to hear from you.

Kel

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