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
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
Parenting and Relationships Beyond The Baby Years
- The Family Firm by Emily Oster
- How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids by Jancee Dunn