Top 12 Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Books

Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein is very much about all of your options in birth, from doctors and hospitals to homebirths and midwives. The book is not preachy at all and really seeks to help you understand how they perceive the birth climate and what you can do to have the birth that you want. It is written in the tone of your friends giving you the real scoop on labor and birth.

This comprehensive, easy to read book is written by the leaders in the field. You've got all of the pregnancy and birth topics covered in an easy to understand, practical manner. This doesn't have a tone of waiting for something to go wrong and proactively helps you make decisions based on fact not fiction. You'll enjoy this book immensely.

This book is an instant classic! With great advice, humor and birth stories, Lothian and DeVires share the truth about birth and how to make it a wonderful time in your life. The factual information is provided in a practical way, including how to pick a place of birth, talk to you doctor or midwife and most importantly how to trust your body.

This book is a great starting places for all things pregnancy related. It's easily broken down into month-by-month and answers your most basic questions quickly and efficiently.

The title says it all. In a nonjudgmental way, the author gives you advice on all the ways to relieve pain in labor from water to epidurals and beyond.

A great primer on getting pregnant and avoiding pregnancy. This book is the basic text on every fertility specialists list because it gives you enough information about your body to help pin point problems and maximize your chances of conception.

This book is great for helping to define your birthing philosophy and getting through pregnancy and labor. With sound advice about dealing with the emotions of pregnancy and birth, you can't go wrong. A very unique read.

A great resource for the new family. It discusses many of the joys and frustrations of new parenting. Written by Elisabeth Bing, founder of Lamaze.

A pediatrician's family inspired this book and his theory of parenting. Up-to-date medical information allowing you to make the choices necessary to raise a healthy, happy child.

This treasure helps make sense of all the recent medical literature on the tough issues like vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), breech birth, home birth, breaking the waters, and having an IV. What you may have always thought was in your best interest may not actually be...

The most comprehensive guide to supporting a laboring woman available. This work is designed to be used before and during delivery, including quick reference guides for the on the spot coaching. by Penny Simkin

My personal favorite in breastfeeding books. This is an easy to read book that is well divided into sections that you use as you need them, this makes for ease of use when holding a fussy baby in one hand and the book in the other.