I know there is NOTHING in the world that you can actually do to prepare for parenthood. However, it can’t hurt to try and do some research right? I compiled a list of 6 books that I read this pregnancy and that I highly recommend – ranging from a book on all the vaccines a baby gets in its first year of life to a week by week guide on what to expect each week of pregnancy. Grab a booch and check it out. And if you have any other recommendations – be sure to let me know in the comment section!
- The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth. I have talked about this one before but this is my FAVORITE book ever. It truly helped me understand what to expect each week of pregnancy. And don’t be fooled by the word – “natural” – it discusses both western medicine and holistic alternatives when it comes to pregnancy. It chats about everything about ultrasounds, administered tests, eating your placenta, the babies growth and more! You can snag it on Amazon.
- The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child by Dr. Sears Regardless of your stance on vaccines, this book provides a very detailed account of each vaccine a baby receives in its early years. It goes through the purpose of the vaccines, the ingredients in each vaccines (including controversial ingredients) and the risk involved in not receiving each vaccine. I found it to contain a very balanced view of vaccines and what to expect as a newby parent. You can find it here.
- Meditations for the Expectant Mother This book contains 30 meditations for the new mama to be! Since I purchased this so late in my pregnancy, I’ll be using it the last 30 days (presumptively) leading up to Baby Lizzie’s arrival. But I am LOVING it so far. But I am pairing it with my renegade mama cards as part of my morning ritual.
The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality I was recommended this holistic guide SO MANY times by so many mama’s. Again, I cannot attest to how it will play out – time will tell – but right now I am feeling so informed about postpartum. It offers practical advice to “support women through postpartum healing on the physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual levels—and provides women with a roadmap to this very important transition that can last from a few months to a few years.” You can find it here.
The Baby Manual: The ultimate guide for new parents This was a QUICK READ and I found it particularly helpful for my husband. As it has the VERY basics of taking care of a baby and just enough information as to not overwhelm you. If you are looking for a book to breeze through in an hour or two – this is your go to. I found it on Amazon.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: If you plan on breast feeding, this is a great GUIDE by the Leche League. It truly helps educate and empower mothers for this natural art. I am so excited to put this guide into practice. I also purchased this one on Amazon.
Full disclosure: When you purchase one of these books using my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale (super micro) from Amazon that helps keep BYOK website up and running. These opinions are 100% my own, authentic + I would never post something that I didn’t stand behind. Thanks for supporting BYOK!
