Central Park Midwifery
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  • WELCOME
  • About Us
  • Services and Fees
  • Contact Us
  • Why Choose CPM
  • Our Office
  • What is a Midwife?
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Client Portal
  • Recommended Reading
  • Testimonials

Recommended Reading / Listening 

Here are some recommendations for recommended books, podcasts, and websites. We have compiled this list based on our own reading and client recommendations. 

Midwifery Care

  • "Call the Midwife - Why a growing number of U.S. mothers are turning to midwives, rather than physicians, for prenatal care, labor, and delivery" Atlantic Magazine, June 12 2015
  • Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

Fertility awareness, Trying to conceive

  • ​Taking Charge of Your Fertility
  • Spiritual Fertility Integrative Practices for Journey to Motherhood by Julie Von
  • Awakening Fertility: The Essential Art of Preparing for Pregnancy by Heng Ou, Amely Greeven, and Marisa Belger​

Pregnancy 

  • ​​​Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood
    •  A great book that includes pregnancy, birth and postpartum
  • The Mama Natural Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth 
    • Great week by week guide
  • The Doula's Guide to Empowering Your Birth
    • Really great book by a doula we know, Lindsey Bliss
  • ​A Is For Advice (The Reassuring Kind): Wisdom for Pregnancy by Ilana Stanger-Ross
  • Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know
  • The Positive Birth Book: A new approach to pregnancy, birth and the early weeks by Milli Hill​
  • The Panic-Free Pregnancy: An OB-GYN Separates Fact from Fiction on Food, Exercise, Travel, Pets, Coffee, Medications, and Concerns You Have When You Are Expecting by Michael Broder
  • Fearless Pregnancy: Wisdom and Reassurance From a Doctor, a Midwife and a Mom by Victoria Clayton, Stuart Fischbein and Joyce Weckl
  • All Natural*: *A Skeptic's Quest to Discover If the Natural Approach to Diet, Childbirth, Healing, and the Environment Really Keeps Us Healthier and Happier by Nathanael Johnson​
  • Our Bodies Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth  (and also the original Our Bodies Ourselves)
  • What to Expect When You're Expecting
  • The Mindful Mom-to-Be: A Modern Doula's Guide to Building a Healthy Foundation from Pregnancy Through Birth by Lori Bregman
  • The Whole 9 Months: A Week-By-Week Pregnancy Nutrition Guide with Recipes for a Healthy Start by Jennifer Lange
  • Real Food For Pregnancy by Lily Nichols

Childbirth

  • Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
  • Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon
  • Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel
  • Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally by Janet Balaskas
  • Childbirth Without Fear: The principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth by Grantly Dick-Read and Ina May Gaskin
  • Natural Birth Secrets: An Insider's Guide...How to Give Birth Holistically, Healthfully and Safely, & Love the Experience! by Anne Margolis

Postpartum

  • After the Baby's Birth...A Woman's Way to Wellness: A Complete Guide for Postpartum Mothers by Robin Lim
  • The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou
  • How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids by Jancee Dunn

Breastfeeding and Lactation

  • The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk by Diana West
  • Go Milk Yourself by Francie Webb
  • Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tacket
  • The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning by Dr. Sears
  • ​Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin
  • The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding from La Leche League International
  • Breastfeeding Without Birthing: A Breastfeeding Guide for Mothers through Adoption, Surrogacy, and Other Special Circumstances by Alyssa Schnell

Infant Care

  • The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Dr. Harvey Karp
  • Naturally Healthy Babies and Children: A Commonsense Guide to Herbal Remedies, Nutrition, and Health by Aviva Romm
  • A great article about baby's second night - changes that occur with sleep on baby's second night 
  • The Happy Sleeper by Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright
  • Bringing Up Bebe  by Pamela Drukeman
  • Bebe Day by Day by Pamela Drukeman
  • Weird Parenting Wins by Hillary Frank
  • Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby's First Year
  • Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina
  • Crib Sheet A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster
  • Brain Health From Birth by Rebecca Fett
  • The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan by Alison Scott-Wright

Fun, Childbirth-Related Reads

  • Laboring: Stories of a New York City Hospital Midwife by Ellen Cohen
  • Make Room For Daddy: The Journey from Waiting Room to Birthing Room by Judith Walzer Leavitt
  • Hannah, Delivered by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew
  • Brought to Bed: Childbearing in America 1750-1950 by Judith Walzer Leavitt

Useful Links

  • Mount Sinai West Hospital
  • Spinning Babies - fetal positioning and more
  • Choices in Childbirth - education for expectant parents
  • Mother's Advocate - free videos and print materials
  • Childbirth Education Association
  • La Leche League New York
  • LactMed - Database for Breastfeeding Medication Safety
  • BeFit-Mom - Prenatal and postpartum health, fitness and exercise
  • Our Bodies Ourselves Pregnancy & Birth
  • Bodily - Resource for bodies and maternal health

Podcasts

  • The Longest Shortest Time - "Stories about the surprises and absurdities of raising other humans—and being raised by them."
  • Birth Matters Podcast - Birth stories from NYC hosted by a Queens based childbirth educator
  • "Under the Hood is a podcast to strengthen and empower our thoughts around womanHOOD, sisterHOOD, motherHOOD."
  • Fourth Trimester Podcast: The first months and beyond
  • The Badass Breastfeeder - Really great info about lactation​
  • One Bad Mother - Funny podcast about the "thrills and embarrassments of motherhood"
  • Breastfeeding Outside the Box - aims to support the nourishing and nurturing of babies in exceptional families

Pregnancy Loss / Infant Loss / Bereavement Support

  • Still Birth Day
  • The Hygeia Foundation and Institute for Perinatal Loss and Bereavement
  • Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep - Free, professional remembrance portraits for parents suffering the loss of a baby
  • Pregnancy Loss Support Program
  • Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support​
  • The Japanese Art of Grieving a Miscarriage by Angela Elson - a beautiful piece published in the NY Times (1/6/17)
  • Waterbugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney - a poem to help explain death to young children
    • Recommended by a parent whose children loved this story
  • Loved Baby: 31 Devotions Helping You Grieve and Cherish Your Child After Pregnancy Loss by Sarah Philpott
    • Note from a parent who recommends this book: it is Christianity-oriented
  • The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust

Gynecology

  • The Happy Hormone Guide: A Plant-based Program to Balance Hormones, Increase Energy, & Reduce PMS Symptoms by Shannon Laparski
  • ​Taking Charge of Your Fertility - great for anyone wanting to be more aware of their cycle, not just those trying to conceive.

Books for Partners

  • The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
  • The Expectant Father 
    • Great guide for all partners, despite the title
  • ​The New Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year by Armin Brott

Nutrition and Exercise

  • Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar by Jessie Inchauspe
  • ​Super Fit Mama: Stay Fit During Pregnancy and Get Your Body Back After Baby

Parenting and Relationships Beyond The Baby Years

  • The Family Firm by Emily Oster
  • How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids by Jancee Dunn




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285 West End Avenue, Suite Y2, New York, New York 10023  (212) 531-2229
© 2014 Central Park Midwifery (EKD Midwifery, PC)