Firstly, congratulations on your pregnancy. For many women, this is an exciting stage of rapid growth and change. It is natural to have questions and desire more evidence based knowledge during this time. We know it can be overwhelming to get started so we have compiled a list of the best pregnancy books in Australia that offer guidance, support, and practical tips for every stage of pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Whether you are after empowering birth stories, practical tips during your trimesters, or advice to best support you and your baby, we have you covered. So, grab a cosy blanket, get comfortable, and let’s dive into our favourite pregnancy literature, starting with the 10 best pregnancy books in Australia.
*Disclaimer, this is not a sponsored post. All recommendations are genuine and based on personal experience or community input. This article does feature a referral link where we offer you 10% off our favourite book store and will be rewarded with a small store credit if you sign up.
Table of Contents
Our Top 10 Best Pregnancy Books Australia.
Let’s dive into our top ten pregnancy books that offer support and guidance for pregnancy health, wellbeing, birth and beyond.
1. The Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Birth
The Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Birth is Australia’s #1 pregnancy book that offers a comprehensive and accurate resource to help you navigate pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience. Co-authored by Sophie Walker, mother, major in public health, and founder of Australian Birth Stories, and Jodi Wilson, a writer and prenatal yoga teacher. Divided into five chapters, this book covers different stages of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, drawing on the knowledge and input of many doctors, midwives, and health professionals to provide up-to-date and relevant information. Rated 5 stars by readers.
2. Life after Birth
Life After Birth is an in-depth guide to Motherhood, with a focus on caring for yourself as the Mother. The book is co-authored by Jessica Prescott, a mother of two and postpartum doula, and Vaughgne Geary, a qualified naturopath and doula. Life After Birth covers topics, including herbal wisdom, nutritional support, sleep and breastfeeding guidance, navigating change for siblings, and nourishing your body. Life After Birth is designed to help you thrive, learn how to tune into your body, and honour the cyclical nature of womanhood. Included are also recipes from Mama Goodness, the author’s postpartum food delivery service. An excellent book for pregnancy, rated 5 stars by readers.
3. Nine Golden Months
Nine Golden Months is brought to you by the same best-selling authors of ‘First Forty Days’. It encourages pregnant women to focus on nourishing themselves, not just their babies. Nine Golden Months offers guidance and wisdom from various practitioners and wisdom-keepers specialising in prenatal care, drawing from traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. The Authors, Heng Ou and Amely Greeven aim to provide women with a sense of connectedness and calm during a time that can be overwhelming for many. Thi book explores all aspects of the pregnancy experience and offers practices that focus on nourishing your body, soothing your mind, and elevating your spirit.
4. Birth Space
Gabrielle Nancarrows’ Birth space has left readers feeling supported, calmed, and empowered to make informed decisions that feel right for them. Known as a Doula’s guide to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, designed to highlight your choices within the birthing space. The Birth space is not only rich in knowledge but is complimented by the combination of moving photographs, and intimate real-life stories from contributors. Delicate storytelling that covers topics of pregnancy loss, IVF, same-sex conception, home births, caesareans, and more. The Birth Space will guide you in how to prepare your mind and body for pregnancy and labour. A captivating must-read for the pregnant mum.
5. Birth Skills
Birth Skills is a comprehensive and step-by-step guide to taking charge of your labour and birth. In Birth Skills, obstetric physiotherapist Juju Sundin shares the techniques she has pioneered over 30 years, while Sarah Murdoch takes you on a personal journey of her labour and birth. In addition to proven pain management techniques, you’ll discover how your body works in labour, how to turn your fear into positive action, why using movement and breathing is important, what to wear, how your birthing support person can help, and hear a range of other woman’s experiences using these techniques.
6. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
It’s time to restore our trust in the woman’s body and lean into giving birth without fear. “Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth” will not only captivate but open your eyes to the power of the woman’s body, allowing you to approach your birth with confidence. Ina May Gaskin shares her timeless wisdom, real-life stories of the positive birthing experience, tips on how to create a calm and uncomfortable environment, and the true capabilities of the woman’s body. Lean in and discover that not only can birth be empowering, but for some women, even enjoyable
7. Birth with Confidence
Rhea Dempsey, a birth educator, and experienced birth attendant taps into almost 40 years of experience to bring us the empowering and practical book ‘ Birth with Confidence’. Rhea covers topics such as physiological birth, navigating the birth culture, making savvy choices, and raising pain tolerances. This book is filled with inspirational birth stories, current birth statistics, and moments of reflection. Known as an invaluable resource to doulas, birthing woman, their partners, and midwives.
8. Real Food Pregnancy
‘Real Food for Pregnancy’ will challenge everything you think you know about nutrition in Pregnancy and boost your confidence in how to nurture your body during this sacred time. Lily Nichols, a clinician, and specialist in prenatal nutrition, questioned the status quo and “took prenatal nutrition advice of the dark ages”, offering us an easy-to-follow book on everything our body needs during pregnancy. Bringing together the latest research and comparing it to the wisdom from traditional cultures, Lily’s book ‘Real Food for Pregnancy’ is the ultimate guide to optimal health during this time.
9. Nurture
Nurture, described as a friendly, non judgemental and gently straight talking book that covers various aspects of pregnancy and the first few months after birth. Written by Erica Chidi, founder of LOOM, doula, and chef. Erica guides us through beginning motherhood from a comprehensive and holistic perspective. Dive into topics such as building strong relationships with your baby, optimal nutrition, exercise, the birthing process, breastfeeding and more.
10. Up the Duff
Up the Duff is known as Australia’s best-selling and most trusted pregnancy book. Written by Kaz Cooke, a respected author, and cartoonist, this book covers everything you need to know from week-to-week developments to birth preparation, breastfeeding, and those early newborn days. This book takes important concepts throughout pregnancy sharing in an engaging, humourous, and comprehensive way. You’ll learn everything you need to know in the wittiest way. Filled with cartoons to keep things feeling light, while not skimming past any of the important topics in pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
Where to Shop for the Best Pregnancy Books Australia?
Many of the books listed above can be found at typical book retailers such as Amazon Au (hard copies and Kindle), Booktopia and Dymocks. However, if you are hoping to support a smaller Australian business, there are a few mindful stores that have a range of pregnancy books, postpartum books and parenting books. Here are some of our favourite pregnancy stores offering books:
- Big Little Things : For Life After Birth and Birth Space (sign up and save)
- The Memo: For the Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, Life After Birth, Birth Skills, Up the Duff, The Birth Space and more.
- Woom Woman: For Life After Birth, Birth Space, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Birth with Confidence, Birth Skills and more.
Do I really need to read Pregnancy Books?
While not necessarily essential, pregnancy books can provide a sense of comfort during a period of significant change. These books, often written from a place of experience and guidance, have been known to offer solace to many women. However, it’s important to note that everything you need to know will be covered during your antenatal appointments. You’ll be provided with access to a wealth of resources to look up at home following your first antenatal visit. Furthermore, free knowledge on the subject can be found online through blogs, Instagram accounts, and podcasts.
Where can I read other Pregnancy related resources online?
If you prefer small-bite-sized information or don’t consider yourself a fan of books, there are other fantastic sources of information available online. Instagram is full of birth and pregnancy focused and midwife ran accounts that share their knowledge freely in an easy-to-consume way. Similarly, you could subscribe to a pregnancy-based podcast or sign up to audible to get the above books read to you while you go about your daily routine. If you’re after something a little more in-depth and interested in evidence-based websites, there are a few pregnancy favourites mentioned by mums within our community.
Books to read during Pregnancy about Postpartum?
Of course, among every good list of pregnancy books online are a scatter of informative and supportive books that prepare you for postpartum. Many of our pregnancy books also touch on the significance of the postpartum period but some stand-alone books deserve a mention. Designed to support you through the fourth trimester as a new mother, nurture you within the change, and guide you through those first months with your baby. Here are some of our favourite books to prepare you for postpartum.
- The Fourth Trimester
- Afterwards
- Village of Mama
- The First Forty Days
- The Postnatal Depletion Cure
All four bottom books available in the pregnancy and postpartum books tab on Woom Woman.
Kirsten
Great book ideas!
Moumita Islam
Very useful post <3
Makayla
As someone who is hoping to become pregnant soon, this is a super helpful list of resources to look into and prepare. Thanks!