January 29th – Feb 4th is National Storytelling Week 2022 and we wanted to share with you our favourite books on pregnancy, childbirth and parenting.
Whether you are looking for a book for yourself or for someone else as a gift, we’ve got you covered:
The New Mum’s Notebook, by Amy Ransom
What do new mums want most of all (apart from sleep)? They want someone to tell them what they’re feeling is ‘normal’. That they’re doing ok. That they will be ok. The New Mum’s Notebook, written by Amy Ransom – mum of three and creator of the Surviving Motherhood blog – does all this and more.
From night feeds, napping and weaning, to which films to cue up on Netflix, finding some headspace and getting all the support, coffee and cake you need, Amy has been there – and this is the book she wishes she’d had by her side.
Babby: A Soppy Story, by Philippa Rice
Babby: A Soppy Story, by Philippa RiceBaby is a collection about the small, intimate, heart-warming experiences of a couple expecting their first baby. From planning and pregnancy to childbirth and raising a newborn, Baby focuses on the everyday moments of parenthood.
Easily read between naps, it is the perfect gift for new or expectant parents.
The Newborn Handbook: Your Guide to Bringing Home Baby, by Dr Smita Malhotra
The Newborn Handbook: Your Guide to Bringing Home Baby, by Dr Smita MalhotraThe old saying “babies don’t come with a manual” may be true–but newborn books for first time moms are still a good place to start. The Newborn Handbook will gently and sequentially lead you through each week in the first three months of caring for a newborn–weeks that can be both exhilarating and nerve-racking.
From preparing your home for the baby’s arrival to both parents’ contributions in the stages of early development, this standout in newborn books for first time moms gets you ready for all of the challenging situations to come.
The Mama Natural’s Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Genevieve Howland
The Mama Natural’s Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Genevieve Howland This book is the modern (and yet ancient) approach to pregnancy and childbirth. “Natural” recognizes that pregnancy and birth are normal, and that having a baby is a wondrous biological process and rite of passage–not a medical condition. This book draws upon the latest research showing how beneficial and life-changing natural birth is for both babies and moms.
Full of weekly advice and tips for a healthy pregnancy, Howland details vital nutrition to take, natural remedies for common and troublesome symptoms, as well as the appropriate (and inappropriate) use of interventions.
Your Baby Week By Week: The ultimate guide to caring for your new baby, by Simon Cave
Your Baby Week By Week: The ultimate guide to caring for your new baby, by Simon CaveThe first six months with a new baby is a special and exciting time full of milestones and new experiences. This updated edition of Your Baby Week by Week explains the changes that your baby will go through in their first six months.
Each chapter covers a week of their development so you’ll know when your baby will start to recognize you, when they’ll smile and laugh for the first time and even when they’ll be old enough to prefer some people to others!
Paediatrician Dr Caroline Fertleman and health writer Simone Cave’s practical guide provides reassuring advice so you can be confident about your baby’s needs
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, Teresa Pitman
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, Teresa PitmanBreastfeeding offers a variety of nutritional and protective health benefits for your baby. But it can also come with challenges, from sore nipples to busy work schedules that don’t line up with feedings.
La Leche League International is an organization that provides information and support to breastfeeding women. They want you to have all the tips and advice you need to successfully breastfeed.
Letters on Motherhood, by Giovanna Fletcher
Letters on Motherhood, by Giovanna FletcherLetters on Motherhood is a collection of heartfelt and deeply poignant letters written by Giovanna to her three young sons, her husband and the family and friends who have inspired and supported her to become the mother that she is today.
Never one to glamorise the idea of a perfect family, Giovanna writes about the priceless highs and the challenging lows as she talks about the deeper universal truths of parenting.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide, by Penny Simkin
It is already one of the bestselling pregnancy books on the market, with more than one million copies in print!
Now newly revised and redesigned, this comprehensive, authoritative “bible” provides expectant couples with abundant, valuable information about pregnancy, labor, birth, the postpartum period, and newborn care.
The Little Book fo Self-care for New Mums, by Beccy Hands
The Little Book fo Self-care for New Mums, by Beccy HandsRead this book for an instant pick-me-up. Whether this is your first or fifth baby, The Little Book of Self-Care for New Mums is your handy survival guide to managing the emotional and physical rollercoaster of becoming a new mum.
Bringing together decades of experience from a midwife and a doula, you’ll find invaluable tips and tricks to boost confidence and calm frazzled nerves – plus answers to all those questions you may be too embarrassed to ask.
Other great book recommendations:
The best books to buy new mums | Penguin
The Best 7 Books on Pregnancy | Healthline
