The Best Books to Read When You’re Pregnant, According to New Moms and Ob-Gyns

"This book is amazing. It reviews ALL the gear for you so you can decide which ones you want to spend money on versus save money on. They have a website, but I liked using the book."
—Dara Kapoor, Health executive digital editor, New York City

"By far the most honest book I've read about mom-ing. It's not sugar-coated, it's not cute, it's not a ra-ra-ra go you! book. I read it after I had a baby, and man, could I relate. Especially about the breastfeeding part. As a new mom, I found myself nodding YES to just about everything. Pregnancy, labor and delivery, and mom-ing/parenting are not glamorous. This book really makes a new mom feel normal. There's no right way to do any of it, and as an expecting and new mom, sometimes you just need to hear that. I read the whole thing in two hours, the first time I was away from my baby."
—Heather Mayer Irvine, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

"This was the only book I read, and I liked it a lot. It was funny and gave a different perspective."
—Brittany Cutrell, Boston, Massachussetts

"This amazing book goes week by week. It was (and will be, since I'm pregnant again) my go-to for each week after baby is born so you know what to expect in terms of baby's feeding schedule, crying, sleeping problems, etc. It's also good for mom to help you know what's happening with your own body. It's a few pages each week, which is all you can manage to read at the start, as you're so tired and your memory is like a sieve."
—Meryl Smith, Bristol, United Kingdom

"Labor Day is a collection of birth stories from women who also happen to be beautiful writers (including Dani Shapiro, Cheryl Strayed, and Julia Glass). I loved reading their essays in the weeks before I had my son, because they represent the uniqueness of every mother’s story."
—Catherine DiBenedetto, Health features director, New York City

"I really enjoyed this book; it's thoughtful and encouraging about labor and having a baby, which honestly is the scariest thing."
—Lindsey Jerutis, New York City

"If you want to be prepared for the addition to the family, you must read this book. It will tell you everything you need to calm a fussy baby down in minutes with Dr. Karp's '5 S' approach. If you don't have time to read the book, the DVD will give you a quick recap in a few minutes flat. The book was a godsend when dealing with my newborn who had reflux."
—Dwyer Frame, Brooklyn, New York

"I always go with ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) publications. I like it because I think it's readable and has information well organized to the part of pregnancy you're in. And your provider will probably be on board with almost all the information in the book."
—Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an ob-gyn at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut

"This one by the Mayo Clinic has really good reviews. It's written by doctors who are pregnancy experts, too."
—Dr. Greves