Pregnancy Books Midwives Actually Recommend
Midwives and doulas tend to be passionate about their clients knowing their options, feeling and being empowered, and having the information they need to make truly informed decisions for themselves and their infants.
There was a bit of a firestorm on Instagram when I went on a rant about the disempowering and dangerously inaccurate information in the What to Expect When You’re Expecting books. Seems there were a LOT of likeminded midwives and doulas feeling similarly, and moms who have also been tossing that book aside!
Below are some tried and true volumes that generally have reliable info, respectful tones, and empower their readers to more capably navigate their birth journeys and health care experiences. These books will also help you understand connections you might not expect—like how your birth team's approach can significantly influence your breastfeeding experience. (Learn what to look for in a breastfeeding-friendly birth team here.)
A couple of things to know: First, I recommend reading with a discerning mind. Trust your own intuition, and don't feel obligated to agree with everything in a book just because it's on this list. It's rare to find a book where we like every detail, and there are plenty of other good resources out there. But this list can get you started at your local library.
Second, none of these authors know your particular situation, your body, or your baby. Use these books as guides and teachers, but remember that you are the expert on yourself.
IF YOU ONLY READ ONE book on natural birth and all your choices, make it
Dr. Sarah Buckley’s
Gentle Birthing, Gentle Mothering!
Dr. Sarah Buckley's book is a treasure for anyone seeking to understand the profound wisdom of physiological birth and instinctive parenting. As both a family physician and mother of four home-birthed babies, Buckley weaves together solid research with lived experience, showing how our bodies are designed to labor, birth, and nurture without routine intervention. The first half examines the science behind common maternity practices—from ultrasound to the hormonal orchestration of labor—while the second provides reassuring guidance on attachment, breastfeeding, and bed-sharing that validates what so many parents are intuitively drawn to. What I love most is how Buckley empowers families with her BRAN framework (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, and Nothing) to ask good questions, trust their bodies, and choose the birth path that feels right for them.
“I was excited to discover that many birth and parenting practices that I had instinctively chosen—for example, homebirth, bed sharing, and child-led breastfeeding—were well supported by evidence from science, anthropology, psychology, and medicine. I felt strongly that parents deserve to know this, so that they can distinguish cultural disapproval from genuine risks when they evaluate birth and parenting choices.”
Additional trusted resources include:
Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition, by Lily Nichols. A most comprehensive and well-referenced resource on prenatal nutrition. Most advice about what to eat (or what not to eat) is well-meaning, but usually outdated or not evidenced-based. Here are clear answers, with research to back up every recommendation. We love that Lily explains why plenty of healthy salt and way more protein than you image is so important; she also has a volume about GD.
Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation, by Pam England. Here is a holistic approach to childbirth that examines this profound rite-of-passage not as a medical event, but as an act of self-discovery. Exercises and activities such as journal writing, meditation, and painting help mothers analyze their thoughts and face their fears during pregnancy. I love her easy-to-grasp chapters about pain and for husbands/partners; start here if your mate has limited time or attention span.
Natural Hospital Birth 2nd Edition: The Best of Both Worlds, by Cynthia Gabriel. This book shows how to apply the guidelines and tactics of natural birth in a hospital setting, where the majority of births are taking place in the US. Cynthia shows what to do to avoid unnecessary medical interventions, and how to take initiative and consciously prepare for the kind of birth you want to have.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Updated, by Ina May Gaskin. Drawing on decades of midwifery experience, Ina May shows women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, this volume includes both comprehensive information on natural birth and insightful birth stories from her early midwifery years.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the the Newborn: The Complete Guide, by Penny Simkin. An extremely complete and detailed pregnancy guide, this comprehensive book is the "bible" for childbirth educators. Penny is universally beloved, and one of the original champions of the extraordinary work of ‘Doula’; look for her lovely videos on YouTube.
The Natural Pregnancy Book, Your Complete Guide to a Safe, Organic Pregnancy and Childbirth with Herbs, Nutrition and other Holistic Choices, by Aviva Jill Romm. Specializing in an holistic and integrative approach, Aviva draws on her experience in both midwifery and allopathic medicine in this comprehensive guide that emphasizes natural remedies.
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: Revised Edition, by Susan McCutcheon. A classic guide to an unmedicated childbirth, fully revised for the twenty-first century; for women birthing vaginally, 90% of Bradley births are drug-free. My experience is that couples taking the Bradley course are among the most bullet-proof for feeling empowered and being comfortable making decisions that work for them.
Tale Charge of Your Birth series, by Henci Goer. An award-winning author and birth options expert with a 40-year career, Henci provides complete, neutral information on the pros and cons of all your options so you can make the decisions that are right for you.
Other books that Instagram mothers mentioned they especially liked included:
The Birth Book,by Dr. William Sears, MD
The Book of Birth, Volume I: A Sevenfold Approach to Your Ideal, Perfect Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth,by MariMikel Potter, CPM, LM, RN-BSN
Your Pregnancy Week By Week, by Glade Curtis
The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Genevieve Howland
Special Delivery, by Rahima Baldwin
Want more than books can give you?
If you're ready to dive deeper with an experienced midwife in your corner and a community of like-minded families preparing alongside you, check out my Navigating Birth course. It's a comprehensive, partner-connected pregnancy and childbirth education program where you'll get over 30 hours of teaching, practical tools for every stage of your journey, and me walking alongside you as you prepare—not just to get through labor, but to step into parenthood feeling informed, connected, and ready. Join the waitlist here, coming Summer 2026!
Whether you are a stories person, or relax into lots of good data and studies, find the book(s) that help find your ballast and grow your confidence.
Good books will introduce you to new information, expand your understanding of both details and broader picture, and help you more effectively navigate your childbearing year with clarity and peace.
Our pregnancies give us the opportunity to expand the skills that we’ll need in parenting. Keep asking questions, seeking support, and trusting your intuition to have a birth that is the safest and most satisfying to you!