5 Best Books to Read During Your First Pregnancy

You can learn all about the most common pregnancy symptoms from top websites, but what if you want to gain deeper insight? Pregnancy books are an excellent source of information, and a quick search of Amazon and similar sites reveals over 100 choices. Even if you read a new book every week, or if you made your way through two pregnancy books per week, it would be impossible to read all the best-selling pregnancy books on the market. We’ve scoured dozens of reviews to bring you this list of five of the best books to read during your first pregnancy. Most are also available as ebooks and/or audiobooks, so you can read in the format of your choice.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

There’s a reason this all-in-one guide is a best-seller: It provides clear, concise details in an easy-to-read format. It’s well-indexed, making it very easy to find what you’re looking for even if you are pressed for time, and it is revised and updated regularly. This being said, not all reviews are positive. It’s probably best to balance this book with others that provide more holistic views.

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

Birth stories take center stage in this beautifully written book, which also includes vast amounts of information about the labor and delivery process and how you can help make your experience a positive one. As an experienced midwife, the author offers a wealth of insight into natural birthing. Whether you’re interested in alternatives or simply want to gain greater understanding of your body’s transformation, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth will prove helpful.

When We Became Three: A Memory Book for the Modern Family by Jill Caryl Weiner

Many pregnancy books focus on the nuts and bolts of the pregnancy process. Some offer opportunities for fun and memory-making, and this is one of the best-rated in the second category. When We Became Three offers insightful prompts including checklists and questions, along with a touch of humor and plenty of adorable illustrations.

The Whole 9 Months: A Week-By-Week Pregnancy Nutrition Guide with Recipes for a Healthy Start by Jennifer Lang, MD

Wondering what to eat when you’re expecting? There are lots of books that focus on the connection between pregnancy and nutrition, and The Whole 9 Months is one of the best. With more than 100 easy recipes with plenty of options for those who follow vegetarian, vegan, and/or gluten-free diets, it also includes tips and tricks for dealing with cravings and other issues, plus it offers a wealth of nutritional information.

The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include one of the top-selling pregnancy books written with expectant dads in mind. The Expectant Father provides sound advice for men, with tips for a variety of situations that range from helping a partner cope to dealing with the demands of a new baby. You don’t have to read it cover-to-cover: Like many of the best books on pregnancy, this one is ideal for skimming on an as-needed basis.