Helpful Pregnancy Resources
I am often asked for my book and resource recommendations during pregnancy so I thought I’d compile a list of my favourites. These resources have been so helpful to me in my career as a Midwife and also as a Mother. They are in no particular order or significance and please know that this list is by no means exhaustive – these are just the resources I have utilised over the years, but there are many more. Also please know that you don’t need to consume all of these resources. Michel Odent has a quote “I usually claim that pregnant women should not read books about pregnancy and birth. Their time is too precious. They should, rather, watch the moon and sing to their baby in the womb.” I try to remember that when making my recommendations. All of these books are available in my lending library, so please get in touch if you’d like to borrow any of them.
Books
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth – Ina May Gaskin
Spiritual Midwifery – Ina May Gaskin
Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding – Ina May Gaskin
Active Birth – Janet Balaskas
Birth with Confidence – Rhea Dempsey
(Rhea has also released a new book titled ‘Beyond the Birth Plan’ which I am yet to read but have heard it is just as wonderful and powerful as her first book).
Birth Skills – Juju Sundin
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering – Dr Sarah Buckley
Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage – Dr Rachel Reed
Real Food for Pregnancy – Dr Lily Nichols
Ten Moons – The Inner Journey of Pregnancy – Jane Hardwick Collings
Classes
Calmbirth or Hypnobirth – Available online or locally with Kassie from ‘Branches of Yoga’
New Life Birthing Education and Support – Cindy Matthews Port Macquarie
She Births
Core and Floor Restore has free antenatal classes on her website
Podcasts
The Midwives Cauldron – Dr Rachel Reed and Katie James
The Great Birth Rebellion – Melanie Jackson and B from Core and Floor Restore
Australian Birth Stories – Sophie Walker
Let me know in the comments if you have used any of the above resources and how you found them, or if there are others you’d like me to add.
Love and blessings
-Carly