Best Pregnancy Books Of 2020

Pregnancy is a wonderful life experience, but it is also one of the most challenging ones. Even though expectant mothers are joyful and just a bit nervous, the anxiety soon kicks in. However, there is nothing to be nervous about. There are plenty of books out there that will help you and guide you through this incredible time of your life. We have done our research well, and here we present you the best pregnancy books on the market. Enjoy!

Do you need to read about it?

You may be wondering why is reading pregnancy books so important. Well, we are here to tell you.If you are like the majority of the population, chances are you have tried searching for symptoms online. Most of those searches ended in tears and panicky calls to your doctor. Usually, the symptoms are completely wrong, and you freaked out over nothing – again.However, pregnancy is a delicate condition and requires only real information and researched facts. This is why many recommend reading only the best pregnancy books out there.The best pregnancy books will have different sections with different types of information. However, they will not have unnecessary details about everything that can go wrong during this time in your life. Most of those details usually are not even true.The point of the pregnancy books is to have everything you need to know in one place. Of course, you can find that online as well but beware. Not everything on the Internet is true.The authors of the best pregnancy books based them on facts, rather than click-baits. So, a good read will not do you any harm. It will just prepare you further.

What should the best pregnancy books contain?

A pregnancy book is not like any other book out there. First of all, it is not fiction. Of course, the author can include many true stories about other pregnant women. However, these stories are there to paint the picture. They are not something that would necessarily happen to you.Experts researched and wrote the best pregnancy books, so your best bet is that they are full of the right information. Sure, some details may seem scary, but you must not be afraid. No writer will put something like that in his book if it is not important for you to know about it.Furthermore, imagine where you would be if you didn’t have a pregnancy book by your side. Many pregnant women assure us that the anxiety is real and that the doubt about the pregnancy is always there.This is why it is crucial to find a book that will make you feel good about yourself. It is important to have a peace of mind while pregnant, and the best pregnancy books will give you just that.

Best pregnancy books – a reading guide

If you feel that you might not even have time to read every pregnancy book out there, fear not. That just won’t even be possible.However, do not get discouraged right away. What we mean is that pregnancy is an incredible experience and it is completely natural. No book will ever completely describe it. Therefore, there is no need to read all of them.Still, if you are in dire need of some important information, pick up a few books and read only the parts that you wish to know more about. Sometimes it is not a good idea to read everything all at once. Imagine being three months pregnant and reading about babies during their first year of life. All the advice and cautionary tales would drive anyone crazy, especially an already nervous mother-to-be.We recommend taking it slow and going step by step. First, read about the basics, then go into the details. As time goes by, you will learn everything you need to.Also, it would be a good idea to read specific books about different subjects. Often, the most general pregnancy books don’t have too many details about every part of the pregnancy. If you wish to know more about, for example, breastfeeding, consider researching it by reading books that deal with just that.

How to choose the right book

When you finally go to the bookstore and you approach the pregnancy section, remember what you are looking for.It is vital to determine what you want to gain from this book. If you are someone who loves lists and facts, maybe a book that details every part of the pregnancy is just right for you.However, if you feel that you need something that will make everything easier for you, consider a more relaxed book. This type of a pregnancy book will give you all the facts you need to know, but it will not suffocate you with information.There are also many entertaining pregnancy books out there. You can always choose a book written by a popular celebrity. You don’t have to be a fan of the said celebrity, but it will help. Nevertheless, such books offer insights into the minds of women who have already gone through all of that. Furthermore, they are often quite funny and filled with experiences and helpful advice.

Top 5 Best Pregnancy Books

These are the books that will give you all the information you want and need. They may serve you as guides while pregnant or even if you are planning to get pregnant soon. However, they were not written to scare you and cause you anxiety about your pregnancy or your infant. Remember, it is a completely natural process, and most of the time everything runs smoothly. Still, it will not hurt to know more about it.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Believe it or not, this pregnancy classic is now in its fifth edition. Written by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel, this book has been a popular choice since when it first hit the shelves in 1984.A frequent best seller since then, What to Expect When You’re Expecting offers a week-to-week guide to your pregnancy. The advice features a rather popular Q&A format, which helps when it comes to new mothers. Not many of them know how to recognize the important information right away.The best part of this book is the fact that it has changed substantially since the first edition. The book features frequent updates and, because of that, it is a valuable resource for any mother-to-be.A sort of a pregnancy Bible, What to Expect When You’re Expecting has 18.5 million copies in print. Furthermore, research shows that 93% women picked this book as their go-to guide for everything about babies and pregnancy.

What We Liked

• checkIt is a staple in any mother’s library because of the amount of advice it offers.
• checkContains a male perspective as well, which helps fathers feel included.
• checkHas a great and helpful Q&A structure.

What We Didn’t Like

• exclamation-triangleWe live in a digital world, so it might not be for mothers that prefer apps since it is quite a long read.
• exclamation-triangleIt offers advice about the rare things and complications that might happen. This might be a good thing, but it often just scares the mother.

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Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

Written by the Mayo Clinic pregnancy experts that are also parents, this book is another staple.Filled with accurate information, the Mayo Clinic book offers a rare insight into all things pregnancy. What makes it so popular is all the helpful and detailed information parents get while reading this book. It includes the how-to’s for getting pregnant, as well as a symptoms guide.The Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy also features reviews of some important pregnancy decisions, as well as essential guides to medication use and meal planning.The best part of this book is that it is not necessarily a difficult read. Even though it is written by doctors, the language used is not strictly medical. Therefore, you will not have to search every word in the dictionary and try to figure out the meaning.

What We Liked

• checkWritten simply and understandably.
• checkGreat for detail-orientated mothers because it has a 40-week pregnancy calendar and many other features that help you track your pregnancy perfectly.
• checkWritten by expert doctors, so the research is indisputable.

What We Didn’t Like

• exclamation-triangleIt does not have a “scientific” angle that some mothers might be looking for.
• exclamation-triangleOffers a rather general overview of the pregnancy. It does not go into details about specific parts of birth, postpartum and breastfeeding.

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The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth

Written by Genevieve Howland, a blogger and YouTube star, this book offers a rare insight into the natural parts of pregnancy and childbirth.What the author means by “natural” is the obvious fact that women have and will continue to get pregnant and give births. It is important to remember that because, often, it is perceived as something complicated and frightful.This book recognizes pregnancy as a wonderful and natural process. Therefore, it does not rely on just medical advice, but it also offers advice from women of all backgrounds. That way, you have stories by other women that have already been through everything you are now experiencing.Some of the helpful tips in this book are about creating a perfect pregnancy diet, natural pain relievers during labor and many other topics.

What We Liked

• checkAn engaging and informative book about all types of births.
• checkFeatures useful pregnancy tips & tricks, which are not given through facts only.
• checkSupports the natural view of pregnancy and demystifies it.

What We Didn’t Like

• exclamation-triangleIt might not be great for mothers that need a lot more details about their pregnancy.
• exclamation-triangleThe content is similar to the Mama Natural blog, so you might find all this information on the Internet.

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Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong-and What You Really Need to Know

If you are someone that wants to know why you should not drink alcohol while pregnant, then this is the book for you.Written by Emily Oster, this book is the go-to guide for all the facts and doubts about the pregnancy. However, it does not just list why you should not do this or that. It also answers the many questions you might have about it.This pregnancy book does not point out all the rules and makes you stick to them. Emily Oster carefully researched all the topics inside it and wrote them out for your convenience. After reading it, you may choose which rule you wish to follow.

What We Liked

• checkIt is not just a guide; it is a myth debunked.
• checkOffers a more relaxed approach to pregnancy.
• checkPresents data based on thorough research.

What We Didn’t Like

• exclamation-triangleIt is not a how-to guide, so it might not help with your morning nausea, for example.
• exclamation-triangleIt might encourage unhealthy behavior such as drinking and smoking.

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Belly Laughs

Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth by Jenny McCarthy is one of those entertaining books we have talked about.Written by the famous actress, this book offers an insight into her pregnancy and her personal story. The author reveals to us the “naked truth” behind this natural process and offers advice about everything and anything.The most interesting thing about this book is the fact that it covers even the embarrassing questions that most women dread asking their doctors. Furthermore, it is comic relief. It will help women laugh their hearts out and maybe feel less lonely while going through many physical and emotional changes.

What We Liked

• checkA funny and relating book that will make you feel like you are reading a friend’s pregnancy diary.
• checkAnswers even the most embarrassing questions, even about hemorrhoids and granny panties.
• checkA rather quick read, so it will not take up much of your time.

What We Didn’t Like

• exclamation-triangleEven though it is supposed to be funny, the situations described can frighten new mothers.
• exclamation-triangleIt does not offer enough detailed information.

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The verdict

Although all of the best pregnancy books offer something unique and wonderful to the new mother, there is only one winner. That, of course, is Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.The Mayo Clinic guide should be a must for everyone that is trying to get pregnant or is already pregnant. It offers sound advice, and it is written by doctors, which validates the information you can find in this book.Furthermore, it does not sugarcoat the pregnancy process. It gives you all the facts you need, and it prepares you in the best way possible for this new chapter in your life.