When Ben and I learned we were expecting a baby, the very first things I did were (A) Sign up for a variety of apps like What to Expect and Expectful, and (B) Buy a bunch of pregnancy books! So far, the books I’ve chosen have proven to be really useful for us — so I’m excited to share which I chose to purchase!
The First Pregnancy Books I Purchased
What to Eat When You’re Pregnant
What to Eat When You’re Pregnant is a week-by-week guide to the foods and nutrients most beneficial to your baby from one week of pregnancy to another. I purchased this book, for a couple of reasons: (1) Because I was genuinely curious about nutrition best practices for pregnancy, and (2) Because my appetite had diminished so much during Week 4, and I was hopeful that reading about different foods or recipes would help my appetite. To me, this book is helpful, because it not only shares about food and nutrition, but it also shares about baby’s development week by week — so it is a two-fold learning experience!
The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide
The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide is a week-by-week resource for those who prefer to pursue a more natural and holistic approach to pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Because I follow a plant-based, vegan diet, I was excited to hear some holistic perspectives — specifically, natural ways to help with nausea and exhaustion. 😴
We’re Pregnant: The First-Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook
We’re Pregnant: The First-Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook is a book I purchased for Ben. This book is a very quick and easy read — with just a few pages per week of pregnancy. It’s kind of cute, because it provides helpful perspectives for partners, and ways to encourage and help your pregnant partner.
Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy
Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy is similar to The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide, because it describes and approaches pregnancy in a holistic way. I’ve realized how much I appreciate balancing scientific, actionable books with encouraging, inspiring books. I think all perspectives really add value, in a well-rounded way, to the entire experience of pregnancy.
The Montessori Baby
The Montessori Baby is a parenting book which follows the guidelines of Montessori education. The book’s description is, “Drawing on principles developed by the educator Dr. Maria Montessori, The Montessori Baby shows how to raise your baby from birth to age one with love, respect, insight, and a surprising sense of calm… It’s a book filled with hundreds of practical ideas for understanding what is actually happening with your baby, and how you can mindfully assist in their learning and development.” So far, this has been my favorite book to peruse, because I love bite-sized, actionable tips.
More Motherhood Posts
I’m sharing more about our journey in my Motherhood category. There, I’m gathering up my favorite resources and documenting pregnancy week by week!
