These are the Books That Midwives & Doulas Suggest You Read

New and Expecting MothersBirth ProsLabor and Birth

Nov 19

Thanks for photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

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.

We had a bit of a firestorm on Instagram last week 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 birth pros feeling similarly, and moms who had also been tossing the books aside! (Note: I’ll get it up on YouTube shortly and link here.)

Here 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.

While I personally recommend many of the books below, me and many other midwives and doulas charge you with reading with a discerning mind, trusting your own intuition, and don’t feel obligated to ‘like’ a book just because it’s on a list like this! It’s rare that we also find a book in which we like every little detail, and of course there are other good books out there also. But this list can get you started at your local library….

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 Most advice about what to eat (or what not to eat) is well-meaning, but usually outdated or not evidenced-based.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.

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