Here’s a list (in no particular order) of our top 10 picks to read during your pregnancy.
- Birth – The Book
Co-written by midwife Catherine Price and childbirth educator Sandra Robinson, with over 35 years collective experience in working closely with women and their families, this book is Australian, current and it covers everything you could possibly think of. - Baby on Board
Written by leading Sydney Paediatrician Dr Howard Chilton. This book and his Facebook page (which we recommend you join) are super useful. For Sydney people he also does open classes at Royal Hospital for Women. - Bumpology by Linda Geddes
This is a fantastic book which is great for those fact minded people who want to see the evidence behind the myths. It basically explores all the research about babies and pregnancy and let’s you know what evidence has shown to work or not to work. - Conception, Pregnancy and Birth
Written by Dr Miriam Stoppard the new edition of this baby bible is now available – this edition has been fully adapted for the Australian market, and given a fresh new jacket. From a month-by-month development guide, to the latest on fertility, antenatal testing, diagnostic procedure, labour choices and caring for your newborn; reassuring, practical advice on all aspects of your antenatal care will help you every step of the way. Plus, find trusted advice for dads-to-be plus helpful case studies which look at a range of issues from infertility to caring for premature babies. - Baby Love by Robin Barker
Robin Barker is a registered nurse, midwife and early childhood nurse with over 30 years’ experience with families and babies. Australia’s bestselling babycare book is loved by thousands of new parents every year. With expert advice for the first 12 months of every baby’s life and full of Robin Barker’s wisdom and humour, this classic guide has been fully revised, including new material on nutrition, food allergy and intolerance, and updates on safe sleeping, breastfeeding, reflux and immunisation. - From the Hips – A Comprehensive, Open-Minded, Uncensored, Totally Honest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and Becoming a ParentWritten by Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris, From The Hips is a forward-thinking book that includes a wide range of voices and approaches, From the Hips reflects the many ways of being pregnant and parenting without suggesting that there is one right way.
- What to Expect When You’re Expecting, 4th Edition
What to Expect When You’re Expecting is a perennial New York Times bestseller and one of USA Today’s 25 most influential books of the past 25 years. It’s read by more than 90% of pregnant women who read a pregnancy book–the most iconic, must-have book for parents-to-be, with over 14.5 million copies in print. Having said all that I didn’t like it – it was very American and too prescriptive but clearly with 14 million copies in the world others liked it quite a bit. - The Attachment Parenting Book : A Commonsense Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Baby by Dr William Sears and Martha Sears
If you think you’d to explore attachment parenting this is the book for you. Attachment parenting is a style of parenting that encourages a strong early attachment, and advocates parental responsiveness to babies’ dependency needs. “The Attachment Parenting Book” clearly explains the six “Baby B’s” that form the basis of this increasingly popular parenting style: Bonding, Breastfeeding, Babywearing, Bedding close to baby, Belief in the language value of baby’s cry, Beware of baby trainers. - The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley
I had one of those babies, you know the ones that don’t sleep? Yep that was mine. I didn’t read this because I couldn’t read because I couldn’t see from being so tired but it comes highly recommended from friends, family and customers who have utilised some of her techniques to help babies get more sleep. Pantley’s successful solution has been tested and proven effective by scores of mothers and their babies from across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Based on her research, Pantley’s guide provides you with effective strategies to overcoming naptime and nighttime problems. The No-Cry Sleep Solution offers clearly explained, step-by-step ideas that steer your little ones toward a good night’s sleep–all with no crying. - Up the Duff by Kaz Cooke
If you like your advice with a giggle this is probably the book for you. Up The Duff’ is a cherished, recommended and important resource for all pregnant women. Written with good humour, sensible and medically sound research, the book covers almost any question you might have about being pregnant and giving birth. No bossy boots rules, just lots of cartoons and the soundest, sanest, wittiest advice you’ll ever get. Everything you need to know about the scary parts, the funny parts and your private parts.
Remember – you can choose to do only some of the things in some of the books, and some of the things in another different book, or you can choose to do none. Its your baby who you will come to know best, books are best to be enjoyed and take from them what you want but don’t expect your baby to have read it. 🙂