Recommended Reads, Trends
As cliché as it sounds, having a baby is life changing. Suddenly, your evenings and weekends are full of activities, bedtimes, and washing everything (dishes, laundry, the floor, maybe the dog, who knows?). Your time is not your own anymore. Your body isn’t yours anymore. Add a bunch of sleepless nights to the mix, and you’re sure to be overwhelmed.
But, like all tunnels, there are lights and there is another side, and we can all get there together. Pregnancy and parenting books have been around since the days of Dr. Spock, and there are so many wonderful ones to guide you through a time that can be joyous, confusing, and emotional.
They say it takes a village, and while not everyone has one, support can come from many places. A village is made up of those who love and support you, who will hold your hand, hold your baby, bring you food, listen, and offer advice. And every good village has resources—whether in the form of a library, digital resources, or trusted advice from others—to give you assistance and guidance during this life-changing time.
If you live by the numbers...
🎧 Audiobook
If I ever meet Emily Oster in person, I’m going to give her the biggest hug ever (if she’s comfortable with that), because this book, along with her follow-up, Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool, helped me stay calm (enough) during my own pregnancy and postpartum time.
While Oster is not who you’d expect to dole out sage pregnancy and parenting advice, as she’s an economist, she’s a mother herself. While she was pregnant, she dove into all of the studies that she could to see if commonly held beliefs about pregnancy and parenting held true... by the numbers. She breaks down all of these things so that you don’t have to and presents all of her findings in a non-judgmental and conversational way. You’ll want her in your corner when you need that book buddy to get you through the tough moments and decisions.
If you’re all about that baby...
🎧 Audiobook
Did this book maybe make it on to this list only because I always get a bit jazzed to see someone else who spells their name the same way I do? I’ll never tell...
Famed singer and mom herself, Meghan Trainor, is here to tell you a few things about pregnancy and having a young child that other people may want to gloss over. She’s not afraid of getting into the good, the bad, and the straight disgusting, in a way that is funny, fun, and actually quite informative. She acts like a friend to the reader, explaining her own issues with her changing body, her hormones, and grappling to understand just how much change was on its way. You’ll walk away from this book feeling like you’ve just had a great time talking to a friend.
If you don’t think there’s a book that represents you...
🎧 Audiobook
Goodman and Rachlin are queer midwives and come into the pregnancy and parenting advice space knowing that everyone needs a guide that reflects their experiences. Having and raising children as an LGBTQ+ parent or even making the choice to raise a child alone is not something that often comes with the helpful guides nuclear families have in mainstream spaces.
With this book, Goodman and Richlan demystify those areas that are often so difficult to navigate, such as finding a donor, and show that building a family is really for everyone who wants it. In addition to their advice, there are plenty of real-world examples of those who have grown their families and had success raising children. This book brings important advice with a side of hope.
If you want a no-nonsense guide...
🎧 Audiobook
Sometimes you just want that good book that’s going to break everything down step by step and give you the advice you need. Schrock has got all of that and more in her pregnancy manual that will have you feeling confident throughout all three trimesters. She’s done the research and broken down what you need to know about being pregnant, staying healthy, getting ready for the birth that you want, and what you need to have ready to bring that kiddo home.
In her revised edition, she adds bookends, addressing fertility and ways to manage getting pregnant, and also talks about breastfeeding and postpartum care to make sure that you aren’t left alone after this huge addition to your life.
If you’ve still got to grind...
🎧 Audiobook
Many of us have to deal with being a working parent and all of its ups and downs, but how much thought have you given to working while pregnant? Pregnancy comes with tons of side effects, one of which is lots of doctor's appointments, which can affect your job. You likely want to balance your excitement for your upcoming baby with your desire for privacy for your medical needs. Kramer is here to offer practical advice for the whole period, from telling work that you’re expecting to getting ready for the realities of being a working parent, all with great examples from parents who have made it through to the other side.
If you want good advice, that’s given like a friend...
Black women have a higher rate of maternal complications during pregnancy and birth in the U.S., which is why Allen-Campell and Dr. Greenidge-Hewitt wrote this guide specifically for women of color to ensure their pregnancies and deliveries are healthy and safe. With month-by-month tips, healthy eating advice, how to approach your doctor's visits, and more, this book contains all that a mom-to-be will need in order to be empowered to have the pregnancy that they want and deserve. Add in the fact that it's written like you’re getting advice from a good friend or family member, and this is one that you can’t miss.
If you want to know what's changing...
🎧 Audiobook
They say having a baby makes you into a completely different person, but it wasn’t until recently that we really had any idea just how much that is true. Jones has had two children of her own, so her interest in how motherhood changes a person comes from a place of intimate knowledge and genuine inquisitiveness. This book is part memoir, part science, part deep look into the societal institutions that have been built around motherhood, forming one book that tries to capture the overall experience of becoming a mother and what’s expected of you. Your body and brain change, and the way you live in the world does as well. Jones has a profound way to view these changes that should be read and reflected upon.
If you need some balance once your kiddo arrives...
The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality by Kimberly Ann Johnson
🎧 Audiobook
So, the baby has arrived. Now what?
After you give birth, there are many, many guides on how to raise your baby and take care of them, but how many books are being written about how to take care of yourself after you’ve had a baby? Johnson is a doula and postpartum consultant, so she knows a thing or two about giving birth, but also recovering and regaining yourself after you’ve performed this amazing act. She focuses on ways to heal your body and strengthen your relationships during this complex time. You’ll learn how to return to many of the things that brought you joy and comfort before you gave birth, all while continuing to focus on being an involved, loving parent.
If you just need a little bit of sleep...
The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Dr. Harvey Karp
If you’ve spent even a few minutes of research on getting babies to sleep, then you’ve heard of SNOO, created by Dr. Karp. Assuming you don’t have the thousands of dollars to buy or rent one, this book is going to help you stay sane!
Dr. Karp has been an industry leader for decades with many turning to him for advice on how to soothe their babies and help them sleep, especially during the time immediately postpartum. With this book, you’ll master the five S’s, learn the power of the cuddle, and never leave home without a white noise machine again. Trust me, sleep is precious for everyone when you have a new kiddo, so you’ll definitely want to give this one a read!
If you just need a break...
🎧 Audiobook
So please do not take any of the words in this book as advice on pregnancy and/or parenting. This is simply a cute, cozy mystery, with a twist: All of the “detectives” are pregnant.
When Alice and Joe move to a quiet village to begin their lives as parents, the last thing that they expected to encounter at their prenatal class is a dead body (and to find themselves also suspects). Determined to find out what really happened, Alice and her newly formed team of fellow pregnant sleuths try to discover who’s a murderer—but they end up finding that sometimes the smallest of towns hold the biggest of secrets. Can Alice and her friends find out who is the killer, preferably before going into labor?
*Title availability may vary.
Wherever your journey to parenthood takes you—whether through pregnancy, adoption, or surrogacy, there are so many great books to support you. Kick up your feet and borrow them on the Libby app. You’ve got this!
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Published Mar 26, 2025
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