My top 5 must-reads...
Pregnancy.
It can be so awe-inspiring and beautiful and exciting. At the same time it can be a time of uncertainty and fear. Knowing that now you must make so many decisions in the next 9 months that no longer only affect you can be daunting. While some mamas prefer to take a relaxed stance on the unknown, reading during pregnancy is a wonderful and important way to be educated about your body and physiological birth.
These books are some that I believe every pregnant woman should read in order to know more about this journey and what to expect. I've selected books that both ease some of those fears, as well as give the honest truth.
The purpose of these books isn't so that you can understand every detail of every type of birth. That's impossible, and honestly, will probably make you anxious.
You can't plan every aspect of pregnancy and birth. But educating yourself on the life you are creating, as well as what your own body goes through, can help you feel more in control of your birth, which is a right every woman has.
Here are my top 5 selections:
"Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn, The Complete Guide" -Penny Simkin
"Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" -Ina May Gaskin
"The Thinking Women's Guide to a Better Birth" -Henci Goer
"Pushed" -Jennifer Block
"What to Expect When You're Expecting" - Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
These books show that birth is an empowering and natural process that shouldn't be feared.
Know your body. Understand its changes. Learn about your growing child. And learn about birth.
You owe it to yourself.