10 best pregnancy books that help to prepare expectant parents for birth and beyond

Best: Overall

Just discovered you’re pregnant? This book is a great place to start. Rather than just providing a load of hard and fast rules that you “must” follow, Oster looks at the statistics and studies around all elements of pregnancy and birth. Clearly laying out the information behind many common pregnancy rules, you’re then trusted to make your own mind up. In short, you might not feel quite so guilty about indulging in the odd glass of wine or second cup of coffee.

Best for: Hypnobirthing

Intrigued about hypnobirthing? This practical book does its best to eradicate any fear you may have surrounding your birth experience. Siobhan Miller, founder of The Positive Birth Company and mum-of-three, calmly explains the many different types of birth you may encounter and provides helpful advice on how to work with your body, rather than against it. It genuinely left us feeling excited rather than anxious about welcoming our new bundle of joy into the world – whether they end up arriving via a water birth or unplanned caesarean.

Best for: Feminists

We were in two minds as to whether to include this book as, unlike the hypnobirthing book above, Milli Hill lays out some scary statistics, which at times feels like a history lesson to birth. However, ultimately it’s worth facing these fears head-on, as it offers much the same advice. Hill believes that a well-informed woman is a powerful one; and that with clarity comes a calmer, confident birth. Building on the #MeToo movement, Hill explains that actually, yes we do have choices and we should absolutely retain our dignity and doctors must seek consent. Because a mother’s experience is every bit as important as the healthy, happy baby at the end of it. A powerful read whether you’re pregnant or not.

Best: All-rounder

If you’re only going to read one book, this one offers advice on everything from pregnancy, birth and those first few days afterwards – and all through the eyes of a midwife. Split into manageable sections, Louise has created a truly modern tool kit for first-time parents. We liked the upbeat, positive tone, helpful illustrations, and key point recaps at the end of each chapter.

Best: For self-care

Hopefully, you’ll have a textbook pregnancy, bouncing back to the fully recovered version of yourself in good time – however, for some, this is not the case. For far too long these common issues – including pelvic floor problems and general post-op healing – have just been considered par for the course when it comes to bringing a baby into the world. Brockwell doesn’t agree and instead urges new mums to tackle treatable postnatal problems, rather than put up with them.

Best: For baby’s first year

Once you’ve got your head around pregnancy and the birth itself, parenting coach Hollie de Cruz guides you through the baby’s first year. This book is designed to make new parents feel empowered, or at the very least like you’ve got this. By providing a host of tactics, including meditation guides and exercises, you’re encouraged to leave the new mum comparisons at the door and tune into your baby’s unique needs instead.

Best: Book on feeding

When we first started compiling our maternity reading list, we gave a lot of focus on the nine months leading up to big day, as well as the birth itself. However, we suddenly realised we knew very little of what to expect once the baby was here, including how the hell to feed the poor mite. Thankfully this book offers non-judgemental advice on all aspects of feeding your baby, whether you’re going with breast or bottle, through to the introduction of solid foods.

Best: Book to gift new parents

Hollie McNish documents her experience of pregnancy and beyond through a series of short, snappy poems and stories, opening up with a recollection of finding out she was pregnant while at Glastonbury festival. It’s accessible, even if you only have a few minutes before bed, and whether you read along as your child grows or gobble up in one sitting, we appreciated how it was funny, raw and relatable in one. A beautiful book to gift to parents-to-be.

Best for: Couples

It’s fair to say, having a baby changes everything. If you’re embarking on this new adventure with a partner, this book aims to make sure your foundation is rock solid, making you better parents in the process. Consisting of 10 fundamental principles, it aims to put you on the same page – taking you from being a strong team of two, transitioning into a unit of three, and finally thriving as a family. Because of lack of sleep, explosive nappies and just simply feeling overwhelmed will test even the strongest of couples.

Best: For those short on time

Despite being very honest, this collection of short stories manages to avoid scaremongering, without shying away from the nitty-gritty bits of parenthood. Covering the good, the bad and the ugly, it includes more than 100 real-life experiences – from trying to conceive, breastfeeding, and the importance of self-care – showing you that there really is no one-size-fits-all approach. We read it cover to cover in one weekend, but the bitesize sections are also perfectly suited to dipping in and out.