Best Pregnancy Reads

[Prettyplease202]

I have just found out that I am pregnant. I’m looking for some suggestions for good books to read. One step by step what to expect type book and another about what to eat when expecting. Please hit me with your suggestions!!

More for after birth but my friend got me Blissful Baby Expert by Lisa Clegg. I'm only 34 weeks so no idea if any of her advice will work but I've found the book really useful in terms of what to expect when baby comes x

I can recommend ‘How to Grow a Baby and Push it Out’ by a midwife and mum called Clemmie Hooper. It goes through pregnancy week by week, birth, and a little bit about afterwards. It’s light hearted but very informative, tells you exactly what you need to know without being too frilly. I’ve read a few pregnancy related books and this for me was the best one.

I have bought a few but my favourite is definitely "The Day by Day Pregnancy Book" by Dr Maggie Blott. Each day has a page with what's happening and then a round up each week. I have it on my bedside table and really look forward to reading it each evening before bed. I got mine from Amazon

Thank you all for your recommendations!

Not a pregnancy book- but The Gentle Sleep Book is worth a read before baby arrives. Helps prepare you for the sleep deprivation in a helpful way!

Expecting Better by Emily Oster is brilliant.

It goes into the actual science behind different recommendations so you can make an informed choice. Most other books/websites/recommendations are based on at least a degree of fear mongering.

Would also recommend the how to grow a baby and push it out book - we got it from a charity shop (I've seen it in loads of them) on recc from friends. Just had my baby last week and we found it to be a great reference point that was easy to jusy dip in and out as required.

We've also got your baby, week by week by Caroline Fertleman which focuses on post birth that again a friend got for us. Only on week zero obviously but have found it really handy these last few days to get reassurance that the uphill mountain we happen to be climbing is a well trodden one!

Expecting Better

Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth

The Positive Birth Book is excellent, I also enjoyed How to Grow a Baby and Push it out x

How to grow a baby and push it out by Clemmie Hooper. She also brought out a journal to go alongside it which is lovely.
And the positive birth book by Milli Hill. I learned a lot from that one.

As an alternative opinion, I didn't like How to Grow a Baby and push it out. I found the info too basic and things I already knew even though I'm a FTM. I do have lots of friends who've had babies and have researched loads already. If you know nothing/not a lot about having a baby you might like it, but if you know quite a bit already you might something more detailed. I did really like the Positive Birth Book.

Thank you all have started reading How to Grow a Baby and Push it Out. Keeping an eye out for the others at a reasonable price!

@Prettyplease202 the very best one is Your No Guilt Pregnancy Plan by Rebecca Schiller (CEO of Birthrights). So useful, so non-judgemental - just pure info and encouragement to make your own choices. It's lovely. Can't speak highly enough of it!