As an expecting parent, a huge part of preparing for the arrival of your little one's arrival is gathering as much knowledge and understanding about pregnancy, birth, and parenthood, as possible! To help you navigate this exciting journey, we've put together a list of some must-read books to help you learn everything you need to know. These books cover topics such as baby development, nutrition and fitness, and everything you need to prepare for labour and delivery. If you're about to go on maternity leave and looking for some reading materials, we've got you covered! Take a look over our top picks and find the book right for you.
Our Best Buy
Your Baby Bible is like having a best friend who's an expert in all things baby-related. It's the ultimate go-to resource for expecting parents, jam-packed with everything you need to know about having a healthy pregnancy and taking care of yourself and your newborn.
This book covers it all, from the exciting moment you decide to start a family to those sleep-deprived early days of parenthood. It's divided into easy-to-read sections, so you can easily dip in and out, flipping through to easily find answers to all your burning questions.
Parenting isn't all sunshine and daisies; it's tough! Whether this is your first baby or your third, there are probably a million questions going through your sleep-deprived mind at any one time, but no answers to follow. Thatʼs where Your Baby Bible comes in.
Behind this book is a team of dedicated baby experts whose expertise shine through in every page, giving you the confidence to navigate this exciting yet sometimes overwhelming phase of your life. Get ready to embark on this incredible journey with confidence, armed with the expertise and support you need to help you along the way. Your Baby Bible is the ultimate guide to birth and parenthood, authored by experts who are passionate about helping you navigate this exciting new chapter of your life. We're even giving away the e-book version for FREE when you sign up to Your Baby Club.
In this guide
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Best Book on Baby Development- Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby's Behaviour and Development
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Best Book Tackling Maternal Mental Health and Birth Trauma- Birth Debrief: Reflecting on and Redefining Your Birth After the Baby is Born
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Best Book for Preparing for Birth and Life as a Parent- Your Baby Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Having a Baby
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Best Book on Baby Needs Week by Week- Your Baby Week by Week: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your New Baby
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Best Book for Birth Empowerment- Give Birth Like a Feminist
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Best Book for Hypnobirthing Advice- Hypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better
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Best Interactive Pregnancy Journal- Growing You: Keepsake Pregnancy Journal and Memory Book
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Best Book for a Healthy and Nutritious Pregnancy: Deliciously Healthy Pregnancy: Conception, Pregnancy, Parenthood
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Best Book for Staying Fit and Healthy Throughout Pregnancy- Bumps & Burpees: Staying Fit During Pregnancy
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Best Book for Self-Care During Pregnancy- The Little Book of Self-Care for New Mums
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Best Book for Feel-Good Relatability- The Unmumsy Mum: The Hilarious Highs and Emotional Lows of Motherhood
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Best Book for Dads-to-be- Pregnancy for Men: The Whole Nine Months
Join Louise Broadbridge, senior midwife & the face of instagram's @thehonestmidwife for a live, online class preparing you and your partner for natural labour, birth and beyond. Enjoyed by 1000's of expectant parents like you.
The Best Books to Read While Pregnant
Best Book on Baby Development- Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby's Behaviour and Development
Price: £13.99
Buy Now From AmazonOur Review
This bestselling book provides valuable insights into your baby's behaviour and development, helping you understand their leaps, growth spurts, and fussy phases. The book presents a unique concept called "wonder weeks", which refers to specific periods when babies experience significant cognitive, physical, and emotional changes. It also comes as a downloadable phone app to keep a track of your little one's developmental milestones.
With practical tips and guidance, it enables you to navigate the early stages of your baby's life with confidence and ease. By offering detailed explanations, the book empowers parents to support their child's growth while managing their own stress levels.
What we like
- Practical advice
- Unique concepts
Useful product information
- Associated app
- 512 pages
Best Book Tackling Maternal Mental Health and Birth Trauma- Birth Debrief: Reflecting on and Redefining Your Birth After the Baby is Born
Price: £14.95
Buy Now From AmazonOur Review
Addressing postnatal mental health and birth trauma, this book offers a safe space for reflection and healing. By engaging readers in the process of reflection, the book empowers them to reframe their narratives and find a sense of closure, understanding, and even celebration.
This book provides valuable tools and support for processing difficult birth experiences, empowering women to redefine their narratives and find closure. It goes beyond the traditional focus on physical recovery and provides insights into the profound impact of birth experiences on mental health. By reading "Birth Debrief", you can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of their emotions, learn effective coping strategies ahead of time, and feel supported during this transformative phase of their lives.
What we like
- Perfect 'pick up, put down' book
- Focus on being your own advocate
Useful product information
- 304 pages
- Kindle version available
Best Book for Preparing for Birth and Life as a Parent- Your Baby Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Having a Baby
Price: £9.99
Buy Now From AmazonOur Review
Your Baby Bible is like having a best friend who's an expert in all things baby-related. It's the ultimate go-to resource for expecting parents, jam-packed with everything you need to know about having a healthy pregnancy and taking care of yourself and your newborn.
This book covers it all, from the exciting moment you decide to start a family to those sleep-deprived early days of parenthood. It's divided into easy-to-read sections, so you can easily dip in and out, flipping through to easily find answers to all your burning questions.
Parenting isn't all sunshine and daisies; it's tough! Whether this is your first baby or your third, there are probably a million questions going through your sleep-deprived mind at any one time, but no answers to follow. Thatʼs where Your Baby Bible comes in.
Behind this book is a team of dedicated baby experts whose expertise shine through in every page, giving you the confidence to navigate this exciting yet sometimes overwhelming phase of your life. Get ready to embark on this incredible journey with confidence, armed with the expertise and support you need to help you along the way. Your Baby Bible is the ultimate guide to birth and parenthood, authored by experts who are passionate about helping you navigate this exciting new chapter of your life. We're even giving away the e-book version for FREE when you sign up to Your Baby Club.
What we like
- Covers all things parenthood
- Written with experts
- Real life parenting advice
Useful product information
- Download your free copy when you register for Your Baby Club
- 376 pages
Your questions answered live by senior midwife Louise Broadbridge. A workshop covering what to expect in the early days, coping with morning sickness and planning for your first antenatal appointment.
Best Book on Baby Needs Week by Week- Your Baby Week by Week: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your New Baby
Price: £14.99
Buy Now on AmazonOur Review
This comprehensive week-by-week guide is a trusted resource for new parents. It covers essential aspects of baby care, development milestones, and offers expert advice on sleep, feeding, and soothing techniques. It's the perfect companion for understanding your baby's changing needs and fostering a nurturing environment.
The book is structured in a week-by-week format, providing parents with a clear roadmap for the developmental milestones, physical changes, and emotional adjustments that occur during each stage of their baby's first year.
It includes practical strategies for establishing routines, managing sleep patterns, and navigating through common issues such as colic, reflux, and teething. The authors also highlight the importance of bonding and communication, promoting a nurturing and loving environment for both parents and baby.
What we like
- Chapter dedicated to each week
- Written with experts
Useful product information
- 336 pages
- New and updated version from 2018
Our Review
In this empowering book, Milli Hill challenges traditional birthing narratives and encourages women to take control of their birth experiences. Drawing on research and personal stories, she advocates for informed decision-making, compassionate care, and the importance of women's voices in the birthing process.
Hill challenges a lot of the patriarchal thoughts that often try to control women during childbirth. She's all about informed decision-making, owning your body, and recognising birth as a powerful and personal journey. In "Give Birth Like a Feminist", she encourages you to take charge and make choices that truly reflect your values and desires.
What we like
- Feminist perspective
- Challenges outdated views
- Empowering tone
Useful product information
- 304 pages
- Kindle version available
Best Book for Hypnobirthing Advice- Hypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better
Price: £8.28
Buy Now on AmazonOur Review
This practical guide introduces the concept of hypnobirthing, offering techniques to reduce anxiety and increase relaxation during childbirth. Siobhan Miller empowers expecting mothers to trust their bodies, embrace a positive mindset, and create a calm birthing environment for themselves and their baby.
With relaxation techniques, self-hypnosis, visualisations, and breathing exercises, she shows you how to minimise discomfort and anxiety, and keep your cool during labour. Siobhan breaks it down step-by-step, so you can easily incorporate hypnobirthing into your daily life. You'll learn how to create a peaceful birthing environment, communicate effectively with your healthcare team, and get your birth partner on the same page. It's all about feeling prepared and in control!
What we like
- Perfect to learn more on hypnobirthing
- Simple step-by-step explanation
Useful product information
- 272 pages
- Kindle version available
Best Interactive Pregnancy Journal- Growing You: Keepsake Pregnancy Journal and Memory Book
Price: £29.97
Buy Now on AmazonOur Review
Capture and cherish every precious moment of your pregnancy journey with this beautiful keepsake journal. From documenting milestones to recording thoughts and feelings, this journal becomes a treasured memento of your unique experience as you prepare to welcome your little one into the world.
In this book, you can record significant milestones, document ultrasound images, and even add photos of your growing bump. There are also spaces for writing heartfelt letters to your baby, creating a beautiful memento that can be cherished for years to come.
What we like
- Record all the big milestones
- Room for photos and scans
Useful product information
- 112 pages
- Lined design
Best Book for a Healthy and Nutritious Pregnancy: Deliciously Healthy Pregnancy: Conception, Pregnancy, Parenthood
Price: £18.05
Buy Now From AmazonOur Review
Written by a renowned nutritionist, this book provides valuable guidance on maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy. It includes delicious recipes, tips for managing cravings, and nutritional advice tailored to support both you and your growing baby throughout this important phase.
Beyond pregnancy, the book also delves into parenthood, guiding new parents on transitioning into life caring for their little one. It offers valuable advice on establishing healthy eating habits for the whole family, introducing solid foods to infants, and fostering a positive relationship with food as children grow.
What we like
- Sets you up for a healthy lifestyle
- Science-backed
- Includes over 80 recipes
Useful product information
- 224 pages
- Kindle-version available
Best Book for Staying Fit and Healthy Throughout Pregnancy- Bumps & Burpees: Staying Fit During Pregnancy
Price: £13.19
Buy Now on AmazonOur Review
Designed for active mums-to-be, this fitness guide emphasises safe and effective exercises tailored to each trimester of pregnancy. Charlie Barker's expert advice helps you stay active, maintain your strength, and prepare your body for birth, all while promoting a positive mindset towards fitness.
We really love this book for its focus on tailoring fitness routines to individual needs and abilities. Barker emphasises the importance of listening to one's body, offering adaptable exercises suitable for different fitness levels, and providing modifications to ensure safety and comfort. The book includes detailed exercise demonstrations and illustrations, making it easy to follow along and implement the recommendations at your own pace.
What we like
- Tailored fitness routines
- Focuses on listening to your body
Useful product information
- Expert advice on what to expect during each trimester
- 224 pages
Best Book for Self-Care During Pregnancy- The Little Book of Self-Care for New Mums
Price: £11.95
Buy Now on AmazonOur Review
This self-care guide offers practical tips and suggestions for nurturing your well-being during the challenging early months of motherhood. From managing sleep deprivation to finding moments of tranquillity, this book reminds you to prioritise self-care and embrace the joys of being a new mum.
Drawing upon their own experiences as well as expert knowledge, the authors cover a wide range of topics that are essential for new mums. From physical recovery after childbirth to emotional well-being, from managing sleep deprivation to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, this book addresses all things self-care that are often neglected amidst the demands of caring for a newborn.
What we like
- Written by doula Beccy Hands and midwife Alexis Stickland
- Full colour design
Useful product information
- 218 pages
- Kindle version available
Best Book for Feel-Good Relatability- The Unmumsy Mum: The Hilarious Highs and Emotional Lows of Motherhood
Price: £9.99
Buy Now on AmazonOur Review
Laugh, cry, and find solace in this heartwarming and relatable collection of anecdotes from Sarah Turner, known as The Unmumsy Mum. With honesty and humour, she shares her experiences of motherhood, reminding you that you're not alone in the rollercoaster ride of raising a child!
What makes this book a must-read is Sarah's relatability. She's not trying to be the perfect mum or sugarcoat the realities of parenthood. She's just a regular mum, sharing her imperfect journey. And trust us, it's a refreshing read!
What we like
- Candid parenting truths
- Funny and educational
Useful product information
- No.1 Sunday Times bestseller
- 338 pages
Best Book for Dads-to-be- Pregnancy for Men: The Whole Nine Months
Price: £10.11
Buy Now From AmazonOur Review
This insightful book is specifically written for expectant dads, providing them with practical advice, tips, and guidance to support their partner throughout pregnancy. It covers topics such as emotional support, childbirth education, and navigating the transition into fatherhood.
Woods has cracked the code on how to be there for your partner through every step of the pregnancy rollercoaster. He dives deep into the crazy changes her body goes through, from morning sickness to those weird cravings. You'll learn how to be there for her in the best way possible, handle all the hormonal surprises along the way.
What we like
- Supporting men throughout pregnancy
- Teaches men how to best prepare and support
Useful product information
- 318 pages
- Covers the whole nine months