The amount of information available for expecting moms and dads on the internet these days can be overwhelming (to say the very least!) so I have taken the guess-work out by compiling a list of resources! If you are pregnant, here are my go-to book, podcast, and app recommendations:
Books: 📚
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin (one of the nation’s leading midwives, shares the benefits of physiological childbirth by showing women how to trust their bodies for a gratifying birth experience.)
Birth Without Fear: The Judgement Free Guide to Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum by January Harshe (an empowering guide to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum that offers guidance on the different options that matter most when preparing for a baby.)
Husband-Coached Childbirth by Robert A. Bradley (describes in-detail the states of pregnancy and labor, revealing the teamwork of husbands and wives in childbirth.)
The Birth Partner by Penny Simpkin (a how-to guide for dads, doulas, relatives and other labor companions who intend to help a woman through childbirth.)
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know by Emily Oster (a book that debunks pregnancy myths and helps expecting women enjoy a healthy, relaxed pregnancy.)
Podcasts: 🎙
Fear Free Childbirth (for those with a little bit of anxiety surrounding birth to those with full-blown tokophobia)
Natural Birth and Baby Care - Birth, Baby, & Life (tips for a great pregnancy, natural birth, and healthy baby-hosted by a mom of 8 who’s had all of her children unmedicated!)
Birth Matters (real-life fertility, pregnancy, birth and postpartum stories to help ease you into parenthood-hosted by an incredible childbirth educator and doula @birthmattersnyc)
Birthful (alternates between interviews with perinatal professionals and birth stories from new parents-as a birth worker this one is a favorite!)
Best of Both Worlds (learn how to thrive as a parent and a professional, discusses all things related to work-life balance: finances, meal planning, maternity leave, and postpartum health.)
Apps: 📱
Contraction Timer & Counter (a must-have for when you go into labor and are wondering when to head to your birthing place!
Flo (great for learning about reproductive health - and once you miss a period, it turns into a pregnancy tracker.)
Prodaddy (quick, 3 minute reads about all things pregnancy and baby-related for the expecting fathers!)
The Bump (tracks baby’s growth week by week, provides pregnancy and parenting articles tailored to your specific journey, and aids you in creating your registry.)
Sprout (encourages journaling as a means to keep track of both your and baby’s daily progress, as well as shows life-like movements and sounds that your baby may be doing.)
Be sure to save this post so you can reference these later! I will do a separate post with my postpartum resource recommendations. Have you read or listened to any of these resources? Which one is your favorite?
