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I genuinely think I read more books during my pregnancy than my whole life... cringe right?? But it paid off! Now, I have over 20 books in my collection for my client's lending library that I've personally read and loved. Today, I've shortened that list to 5 and WHY I chose them!
Best way to get reading? Every night make yourself a glass of your favourite tea, ditch your phone, and plop yourself in a quiet space - start with 10 minutes! One hand on the belly waiting for kicks and one hand on the book gathering knowledge that will last a lifetime. Worth it all the way!!
Here we go!
5) Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: Updated With New Material https://a.co/d/c0KBsa9)
She's a classic, and you know it! Ina was an amazing Birthworker who packed a bunch of preggo ladies onto a bus to commune and helped them birth blissfully. Almost no interventions, mother-lead, intuition-based, full-spectrum support - a.k.a. the way it should be. But... I put this book at the bottom because it's hard to relate to it in today's world! She was quite the hippie, and today's providers don't have the same confidence level in the woman's body as she did. It's great if you want abundant wisdom on birth and some kick-ass birth stories from women throughout time. She is a legend, crafted an amazing lactation education book, a true plethora of knowledge, and still leads the way for birthers of the future!
4) Birth Without Fear: The Judgment-Free Guide to Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum (https://a.co/d/3yY23Up)
What if I told you that you needed to stop worrying about what other people think? This book will guide you into realizing the societal impact of your birth experience and how you can overcome it! You aren't going to birth or raise your child like anyone else is, so learn to overcome the worry and the doubt at the root of your journey!
3) The Doula's Guide For Empowering Your Birth The Doula's Guide to Empowering Your Birth: A Complete Labor and Childbirth Companion for Parents to Be (https://a.co/d/14xMiUp)
Now, this is pretty straightforward. It says everything you need to know in the title! Not only does this contain my favourite smoothie recipe, but it also provides a breakdown of birth, an explanation of your Doula's role, and how we can create a positive outcome together! Super easy to read again, filled with great earth stories for all different outcomes.
2) Reclaiming Childbirth As a Rite of Passage: Weaving ancient wisdom with modern knowledge (https://a.co/d/hSx2PNh)
For my crunchy, home-birthing, information-hungry moms or future Birthworker, this is the book you want to read! Not only does it break down HerStory (the history of birth, its derailment and the lasting effects on today's generation), but it gives you education on physiological birth and the natural process the body does throughout labouring and delivery! When I say hippie, this book is hippie! But it also changed how I view labour and how I can alter the environment to support families better! This is a rite of passage as you read this book because it is such a legend!
1) Why Did No One Tell Me This? The Doula's Guide to Empowering Your Birth: A Complete Labor and Childbirth Companion for Parents to Be (https://a.co/d/20XqHt2)
Man, when I read this book, I'm pretty sure it changed my life! Not only does this give you a mini, thorough education about birth, but it truly covers what you think when you are pregnant and going into postpartum! Every chapter was like, they had pulled the information straight from my mind and given me all the answers. I need it! I have five copies of this book that are always in rotation of being lent out, and I use it for my childbirth education! If you're gonna buy any book, buy this one! Bring it to your labour if you don't have a Doula, make your partner read it; heck, even make your mom read it so that they are up-to-date on how to support you as well!
And there it is! There are the books I read during my pregnancy & could probably attribute my success today. I own all of these now and speed through them again for a brush-up here and there, and you should too!
Once you're done being a human incubator, check out my favourite parenting book ( insert link ) and keep reading, it's good for you!
xo,
Grace
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