Learning doesn’t end when you walk across the graduation stage. Life is filled with lessons to learn and new knowledge and wisdom to acquire, and that becomes even more clear when you become a parent. As you move into this next phase of life — motherhood! — there’s no doubt you’ve got plenty of questions, concerns, and thoughts keeping you up at night.
Some of the answers you seek can only be discovered through experience. Others can be found in our handpicked list of books that were written with new and expecting mothers in mind. Take your pick and learn something new!
Crib Sheet — Emily Oster
Feeling confused by conventional parenting wisdom? Emily Oster says ignore it. This data-driven book shares some of the most common myths of parenting to help make better parenting decisions you can feel good about.
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What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood — Alexandra Sacks and Catherine Birndorf
Pregnancy and new motherhood can take a toll on your mental health, and Drs. Sacks and Birndorf believe not enough attention is given to the brain during these critical months. This book reinforces the idea that mothers are “being born” at the same time as their little ones and offers tips and guidance to weather this perfect storm of emotions and what-ifs.
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Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy: Navigating the Wild, Weird, and Wonderful Journey From Conception Through Birth and Beyond — Leslie Schrock
Made for the modern mom, this book explores the entire pregnancy journey and pulls back the curtain on some of the most confusing parts. It’s a mix of practical advice, science, and first-hand experience that can save expecting and postpartum moms some guesswork.
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Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood—and Trusting Yourself and Your Body — Erica Chidi Cohen
Made with new moms and their partners in mind, this book focuses on inclusive pregnancies. Written by a doula that has supported hundreds of families, you’ll discover how to take a holistic approach to your pregnancy and the first few weeks post-partum.
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The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby — Lauren Smith Brody
After a blissful maternity leave of bonding with your baby and nurturing a healing body, your first day of work postpartum comes too soon. What happens next, you wonder? This is what many moms call the Fifth Trimester, as you must now navigate life as a working mom. Get expert insights, advice, and brutal honesty to help you make the transition.
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The Bottom Line for Baby: What the Science Says about Your Biggest Questions and Concerns — Tina Payne Bryson
From sleep training to first foods to finger sucking and more, good parents wonder what’s best for their baby. This book offers a science-first insight into some of the most common parenting questions, despite what “the experts” may say.
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Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five — John Medina
Babies learn so much in their first year of life. Their brains grow quickly and they’re constantly absorbing the world around them. You can use this period of growth to their advantage by helping them develop their brains and promote a healthy life of learning with the information shared in this book.
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Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
Written by a group of obstetricians, take a deeper dive into your pregnancy month by month. Know what to expect at every trimester, track your baby’s growth, and explore everything from meal planning to medications use while pregnant.
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Strong As a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and (Most Importantly) Sane from Pregnancy to Parenthood: The Only Guide to Taking Care of YOU! — Kate Rope
Mothers truly are superhumans when they’re growing, birthing, and raising a baby. This compassionate book covers a myriad of new mommy topics in depth to help you feel prepared for delivery day and the weeks ahead.
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Why Did No One Tell Me This?: The Doulas’ (Honest) Guide for Expectant Parents — Natalia Hailes
There are a lot of things you probably already know about pregnancy and motherhood. But when you don’t know what you don’t know, how do you know the right questions to ask? This book helps to shed some light on the less-talked-about topics you didn’t know to ask about.
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Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong—and What You Really Need to Know — Emily Oster
Another winner by Emily Oster (see the #1 spot on our list of best books for new and expecting moms), you’ve probably heard that sushi, wine, and deli meat are off the menu. But did your doctor ever tell you why? Don’t feel bad — many moms don’t know the why behind the rules of pregnancy. This book is changing that.
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Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting — Pamela Druckerman
Ever wonder what the new mommy journey looks like outside of the US? Get a glimpse into French parenting to see how it stacks up and learn some of the most underrated secrets of parenthood.
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Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births — Amber Winick and Michelle Millar Fisher
Birthing and raising babies is a natural part of life, not something we associate with the word “design.” But from bras to forceps to bottles and more, the objects that surround pregnancy and motherhood lend to the experience as much as the process itself. This intriguing book explores the design of motherhood through the ages and offers an interesting perspective on how objects affect the relationship between mom and baby.
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Like a Mother — Angela Garbes
One of the most heavily researched books on human reproduction, this book is a mainstay in pregnancy culture. Going beyond statistics and perfectly rehearsed quotes from your doctor, new moms can embark on a journey of self-education about pregnancy and the first days of motherhood.
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Which of these best books for new and expecting moms are you most excited to read?
