February 13, 2025
Top 10 Pregnancy Books Recommended by Birth Doulas
If the idea of pregnancy and birth makes you nervous, you’re not alone. For something so natural, sometimes it doesn’t feel like you know what you’re doing. And that’s okay! We weren’t meant to do this alone.
Thankfully, there are some great resources out there. Our award-winning doulas at Gold Coast Doulas have rounded up the best pregnancy books to help you feel more confident, nourish your body, and have an empowering birth. Our team has personally read all of these suggestions and recommends them for new moms-to-be–keep scrolling for all the good reads!
Our Top Picks:
- Overall Best Pregnancy Book
- Best Pregnancy Book for an Unmedicated Hospital Birth
- Best Pregnancy Books on Nutrition
- Best Pregnancy Book for VBAC Preparation
- Best Pregnancy Books for Partners
- Best Pregnancy Books for Mental Preparation
- Best Pregnancy Book for Breastfeeding Guidance
Overall Best Pregnancy Book
Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase
This is truly the 360-degree pregnancy guide that touches on just about everything. Inside, you’ll find a roundup of insider tips from elite award-winning doulas, a lactation consultant, pediatrician, mental health therapist, prenatal yoga instructor, and a VBAC educator. It’s the modern pregnancy book that gives you practical advice throughout conception, pregnancy, birth, AND postpartum. Simply put, this book has it all–and that’s how we intended it to be.
“This book is an invitation for all moms and new parents to have the reassurance and confidence they need, every step of the way, as well as an opportunity to avoid the misinformation and contradictions often found online.” – Kristin Revere, Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator
Length: 228 pages | Year Published: 2024 | Kindle: Yes | Audiobook: Yes
Best Pregnancy Book for an Unmedicated Hospital Birth
Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds by Cynthia Gabriel
One thing’s for sure: if you’re planning on having an unmedicated hospital birth, brushing up on pain relief techniques is a must. This book teaches you this and way more. In Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds, you’ll learn all about how to avoid unnecessary medical interventions, create your own birth plan, and what each stage of labor really feels like so you know what to expect. And of course, you’ll learn how to consciously prepare for an unmedicated birth with tangible tips you can use. We personally love the chapters with raw birth stories from dozens of women who’ve had successful unmedicated hospital births.
“If my clients are seeking an unmedicated hospital birth, this is the book I recommend. Cynthia offers practical tips on navigating the hospital system and gives useful techniques for pain relief.” – Kristin Revere, Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator
Length: 272 pages | Year Published: 2017 | Kindle: Yes | Audiobook: Yes
Best Pregnancy Books on Nutrition
Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition by Lily Nichols
It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time mom-to-be or a pro with multiples–prenatal nutrition can be overwhelming. Real Food for Pregnancy is an evidence-based guide on how and what you should eat while pregnant–all backed with research for every recommendation made. This book made our list because it’s mapped out in a way that’s super digestible and easy to understand. Our favorite part is the chapter with full recipes and meal ideas. Yep, that’s right. No more trying to figure out how to nourish your body and baby all by yourself.
“A healthy pregnancy starts with good nutrition. I can’t recommend this book enough to clients. Lily also has a book focused on gestational diabetes that’s a great read, too.” – Kristin Revere, Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator
Length: 346 pages | Year Published: 2018 | Kindle: Yes | Audiobook: Yes
A guide sharing exactly what you should eat week-by-week during pregnancy is invaluable. As your body and baby grow, so do nutritional demands. That means one week it might be more beneficial to fill up on extra proteins, while another should focus on healthy veggies. This book is a catch-all that explains every food recommendation and gives you a week-by-week look at what you should be eating in real time. The best part? There are over 100 nourishing recipe ideas inside you can steal.
“I love this book because it’s well organized by trimester (including postpartum), with recipes and information on the right foods and nutrients for each phase. It also has easy-to-follow recipes and even charts for visual learners. It’s simple, colorful, and dense with nutritional information, just like the food on our plates should be.” – Colleen Christophersen, Birth and Postpartum Doula
Length: 220 pages | Year Published: 2016 | Kindle: Yes | Audiobook: No
Best Pregnancy Book for VBAC Preparation
Baby Got VBAC: An Inspiring Collection of Wisdom for Better Births After a Cesarean
Having a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) is a very individualized experience. Reading just any pregnancy book will not cut it, you need a highly specialized resource. Baby Got VBAC is filled with stories from women who’ve had successful VBACs. This really gives you a feeling of hope and inspiration. Not only that, but you also get to hear from birth experts to soak in their knowledge and wisdom with practical birthing tips. And it’s not just our favorite either, so many reviewers agree–you’ll finish this book feeling more empowered and ready to take on your VBAC.
“If you are preparing for a vaginal birth after cesarean, this book is for you. It shares inspiring stories from both moms and professionals.” – Kristin Revere, Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator
Length: 463 pages | Year Published: 2020 | Kindle: Yes | Audiobook: No
Best Pregnancy Books for Partners
The truth is, being supportive during pregnancy and birth doesn’t come instinctively to our partners like birth does to us. Sometimes, they need a little extra help, whether that’s your spouse, friend, or family member. The Birth Partner is the ultimate guide to genuinely helping a woman through labor and birth. Your partner will learn how to spot when labor has started, its different phases, techniques for easing pain, and even breastfeeding and newborn care tips. This is a very meaty book you won’t regret handing over to your companion!
“This is the book I wished I had read while pregnant. I first read it while training as a doula and found it invaluable. I come back to it often whenever I run into a dilemma with a client.” – Lisa Newhouse, Birth Doula and HypnoBirthing Educator
Length: 440 pages | Year Published: 2018 | Kindle: No | Audiobook: Yes
We’re Pregnant! The First-Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook by Adrian Kulp
This is the perfect handbook for dads. It’s easy to read and breaks pregnancy down month by month, so dads always know what’s happening and how to help. From doctor visits to birthing support and even baby bonding tips, it’s packed with must-know information–without all the fluff. Plus, dads will find milestone trackers inside, practical advice, and ways to keep the relationship strong through it all. Dads, this book has your back.
“I love that this book is fun and has a sense of humor. It’s a great resource to introduce dads with zero experience to parenting. They’ll learn tips from day one of pregnancy to three months post birth.” – Lindsay deOliveira, Baby Registry Consultant
Length: 292 pages | Year Published: 2018 | Kindle: Yes | Audiobook: Yes
Best Pregnancy Books for Mental Preparation
HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method by Marie F. Mongan
It’s your goal to have a calmer, more comfortable birth. And we don’t blame you–it’s a great way to birth! It’s all possible with Marie’s amazing HypnoBirthing guide. You might be familiar with HypnoBirthing, or you might not. Either way, this book teaches you how to replace birthing fear with relaxation through breathing techniques, visualization, and positive affirmations. You’ll get to read the actual science behind pain-free labor to prepare for an empowering birth experience. If you’re wanting a HypnoBirth, this is a great place to start.
“This book is an excellent resource no matter how or where you plan to give birth. It focuses on mental and physical preparation techniques.” – Lisa Newhouse, Birth Doula and HypnoBirthing Educator
Length: 326 pages | Year Published: 2005 | Kindle: Yes | Audiobook: Yes
No one really tells you how much mental preparation labor and birth require. Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful made our list because it’s a unique guide to pregnancy that blends Kundalini yoga, meditation, and timeless wisdom to help you feel more mentally prepared. Renowned yoga teacher Gurmukh shares countless easy-to-follow exercises, breathing techniques, and inspiring stories in this guide. Think of this as your pregnancy map, helping guide you through every trimester and beyond in a more mindful way.
“This book is very empowering and focuses on the physical and spiritual transformation of birth and becoming a mother. There are also wonderful tools for meditation, breathing, and yoga that can be easily implemented into daily practice.” – Colleen Christophersen, Birth and Postpartum Doula
Length: 264 pages | Year Published: 2004 | Kindle: Yes | Audiobook: No
Best Pregnancy Book for Breastfeeding Guidance
. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Diane Wiessinger
If you’re planning on breastfeeding, this is a must-have resource. Our doulas recommend getting a head start and reading this during pregnancy so you’ll know what to expect when the whirlwind of birth is over. Inside, you’ll find real-mom wisdom on breastfeeding, avoiding sore nipples, latching strategies, and so much more. But what we love most is that this book touches on extra information on how to nurse after a C-section and even how to breastfeed special-needs infants, premies, and multiples. These little additions are the one thing other breastfeeding books lack. Thankfully, it’s all in here for you.
“I love how this book uses stories and testimonies to help guide mothers on how to intuitively breastfeed while providing the science behind it, too. There’s also a great chapter for fathers inside that I recommend all partners read. I always tell my clients to keep this at their favorite nursing spot to thumb through when they need a little help.” – Colleen Christophersen, Birth and Postpartum Doula
Length: 576 pages | Year Published: 2010 | Kindle: No | Audiobook: No
Gold Coast Doulas is an award-winning, certified doula team in West Michigan. We provide full-service doula offerings like childbirth education classes, support for your birth and postpartum period, newborn care, lactation help, and sleep consulting. If you’re in the area, check out our full scope of services. For more pregnancy and motherhood support, tune into our founder’s podcast, Ask the Doulas Podcast.
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