Childbearing Year Resources Recommended Reading

NOTE: Books and categories are not listed by order of importance. See Disclaimer. 

Perinatal Mental Health

• BIRTH RIGHTS - A Resource for Everyday People to Defend Human Rights During Pregnancy and Birth   Birth-Rights.pdf 
• Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Healy From Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson PsyD
• Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Human Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brenee Brown, PhD, MSW
• Beyond the Blues: Understanding and Treating Perinatal Depression & Anxiety 6th Edition by Shoshanna S. Bennett, PhD, Pec Indman, PA, EdD
• Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker 
• Gaslighting Recognizing Manipulative and Emotionally Abusive People - and Break Free by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD.
• In an Unspoken Voice How the Body Releases Trauma and Releases Goodness by Petter Levin, PhD.
• Moods in Motion: A coloring book for healing postpartum moms by Karen Klieman, Lisa Powell Braun 
• On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elizabeth Keubler-Ross M.D., David Kessler, Maria Shriver
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. 
• The Bully Free Workplace Stop Jerks, Weasels, and Snakes from Killing Your Organization by Gary Namies and Ruth F. Namie
• Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men, By Lundy Bancroft 
• When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress by Gabor Mate, M.D. 
• You Are Not Alone the NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health with Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families by Ken Buckworth, M.D.
• Postpartum Support International (PSI) Recommended Reads Recommended Reads | Postpartum Support International (PSI) 

Pre-conception & Pregnancy

• BIRTH RIGHTS - A Resource for Everyday People to Defend Human Rights During Pregnancy and Birth   Birth-Rights.pdf 
• Birth As an American Right of Passage - Robie E. Davis-Floyd
• Babies Are Not Pizzas Rebecca Decker
• BIRTH The Surprising History of How We Are Born - Tina Cassity 
• Birth Without Fear the Judgement-Free Guide to Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum - January Harshe 
• Birth Your Way Choosing Birth at Home or In a Birth Center - Shiela Kitzinger
• Blessingways A guide to Mother Centered Baby Showers - Shari Master, CCE
• Celebrating the Childbearing Year
• Books About Intact Penis vs Circumcision  Circumcision Books | Research Circumcision | Circumcision Research | Books About Circumcision — Your Whole Baby 
• Circumcision Exposed: Rethinking a Medical and Cultural Tradition by Billy Ray Boyd
• Circumcision, The Hidden Trauma: How an American Cultural Practice Affects Infants and Ultimately Us All by Ronald Goldman
• Get Me Out A history of Childbirth' - Randi Hutter Epstein M.D. 
• Herbs for the Childbearing Year - Susan Weed
• Honoring Birth 5 phases of the childbearing year by Jo Anne Lindburg  
• How to Conceive Naturally and Have a Healthy Pregnancy After 30 by Christa Orecchio CN, HHC and Willow Buckley, CCH, CD (DONA)
• Hygiea A Woman's Herbal - Jeanine Pavurati
• I Am No Allowed? What every woman needs to know before she gives birth - Beverly Ann Lawrence Beech
• It Starts with the Egg by Rebecca Fett
• Pursuing the Birth Machine - Marsden Wagner
• Pushed The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care - Jennifer Block 
• Nine Golden Months: The Essential Art of Nurturing the Mother-to-Be by Heng Ou, Amely Greeven, Maria Bulger
• Misconceptions Truth, Lies, and the Unexpected on the Journey to Motherhood - Naomi Wolf 
• Real Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols, RDN, CDE
• Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition by Lily Nichols, Melissa Powell
• Reclaiming Birth as a Rite of Passage: Weaving Ancient Wisdom with Modern Knowledge by Rachel Reed  
• Taking Charge of Your Fertility, The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler, MPH
• The Microbiome Effect How Your Baby's Birth Effects Their Future Health by Toni Harman and Alex Wakeland
• The Essential Homebirth Guide For Families Planning or Considering Birth at Home by Jane E. Drichta, CPM, Jodi Lynn Owen, CPM
• Your Baby's Microbiome - The Critical Role of Vaginal Birth and Breastfeeding In Lifelong Health by Toni Harman and Alex Wakeland

Labor & Birth

• BIRTH RIGHTS - A Resource for Everyday People to Defend Human Rights During Pregnancy and Birth   Birth-Rights.pdf 
• Am I Allowed? What Every Woman Should Know BEFORE She Gives Birth by Beverly Ann, Lawrence Beech
• Ancient Map for Modern Birth - Pam England 
• Babies Are Not Pizza: They're Born, Not Delivered by Rebecca Decker, PhD, RN
• Birthing From Within an Extraordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation - Pam England, CNM, MA, and rob Horowitz, PhD
• Birthing From Within - Keepsake Journal by Pam England, CNM
• Birth Matters - Ina May Gaskin 
• Birth Models That Work by Robbie E, Davis-Floyd 
• Birth Without Fear by January Harshe
• Birth Without Violence - Fredrick Leboyer 
• Cut, Stapled, and Mended: When One Woman Reclaimed Her Body and Gave Birth on Her Own Terms After Cesarean by Roseanna Rosewood 
• Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering: A doctors Guide to Natural childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices by Dr. Sarah Buckley and Ina May Gaskin
• HypnoBirthing A Celebration of Life A definitive guide for easier, safer, more comfortable birth9ing - Marie F. Mongan, M. Ed., M.Hy.
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin 
• In Your Own Time: How western medicine controls the start of labor and why it needs to stop by Dr. Sarah Wickham 
• Optimal Care in Childbirth: The Case for a Physiological Approach - Henci Goer and Amy Romano, MSN, CNM
• Orgasmic Birth - Elizabeth Davis and Debra Pascale-Bonaro 
• Shared Decision Making: Bringing Decision Making Back into the Hands of Mothers by Dr. Brad Bootstayler, Ina May Gaskin 
• Spiritual Midwifery - Ina May Gaskin
• Steps to a Fearless Birth by Samsarah Morgan, CD, LC, CHT
• The Birth Partner: A complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, Partners and All Other Labor Companions by Penny Simkin, Rena Rios, Katie Rohs
• The Birth Partner - Penny Simkin, PT 
• The Fearless Birth Book (The Naked Doula): Find Your Power, Influence Your Birth by Emma Armstrong
• The Homebirth Advantage - Mayer Eisenstien, M.D.
• The Silent Knife Cesarean Prevention & Vaginal Birth After Cesarean - Nancy Wainer Cohen & Lois J. Estner 
• The VBAC Companion - Diana Korte
• What's Right for Me?: Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth - Dr. Sarah Wickham
• Your Baby's Microbiome - The Critical Role of Vaginal Birth and Breastfeeding In Lifelong Health by Toni Harman and Alex Wakeland

Postpartum Recovery

• BIRTH RIGHTS - A Resource for Everyday People to Defend Human Rights During Pregnancy and Birth   Birth-Rights.pdf 
• The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou, Amely Greeven, Marise Belger 
• The Fourth Trimester: A postpartum Guide to Healing Your body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality by Kimberly Ann Johnson

Newborn Care

• Circumcision Exposed: Rethinking a Medical and Cultural Tradition by Billy Ray Boyd
• Circumcision, The Hidden Trauma: How an American Cultural Practice Affects Infants and Ultimately Us All by Ronald Goldman
• Books About Intact Penis vs Circumcision  Circumcision Books | Research Circumcision | Circumcision Research | Books About Circumcision — Your Whole Baby 

Pregnancy/Infant/Child Loss

• After the Miscarriage - Krissi DanielsonOn Grief & Grieving Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elsabeth Kubler-Ross
• Empty Arms: Coping With Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Death by Sherokee Ilse
• Where Is Chloe? by Donna A. Wilkins, M.D. 
• Sibling Grief by Sherokee Ilse, Linda Hammer Burns, Susan Erling 
• There was a Baby by Laura Camerona
• Children Books on Grief and Loss  Children's books on grief and perinatal loss - Google Sheets 

Breastfeeding

• Making Milk: Adult Coloring Book by Lauren foley, Christy Jo Hendricks
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding Le Leche League International
• Breastfeeding Answers A guide for Helping Families by Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA 
• Your Babys Microbiome: The Critical Role of Breastfeeding for Life Long Health by Toni Harmon, Alex Wakeland 
• Breastfeeding Made Simple - Dr. Kathleen Kendal-Tackett
• Mother's Nature Timeless Wisdom for the Journey into Motherhood Andrea Alban Gosline and Lisa Burnett Bossi with Ame Maher Beanland
• Mother Rising Yana Cortland (Author), Barb Lucke (Author), Donna Wakelet (Author)
• Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family La Leche League International (Author), Diane Wiessenger (Author), Dina West (Author). Linda J, Smith (Author), Theresa Pitman (Author), Mayim Bialik - Forward PhD (Author) 
• Your Baby's Microbiome - The Critical Role of Vaginal Birth and Breastfeeding In Lifelong Health by Toni Harman and Alex Wakeland
• Mother Food Book (galactagogue food & herbs)

Parenting

• Finding Muchness: How to Add More Life by Kobi Yamanda, Charles Santoso 
• Infant Massage a Handbook for Loving Parents - Vimala Schnieder McClure 
• Mama Says Homebirth by Miquilaue Young, Chase P. Wlaker
• The Amazing Newborn Making the Most of the First Year of Life - Marshall Klaus, M.D. and Phyllis Klaus, M/ Ed. C.S.W. 
• Safe Infant Sleep: Expert Answers to Your Cosleeping Questions - James J. McKenna, PhD,  

Vaginal Politics & Essential Reads

• BIRTH RIGHTS - A Resource for Everyday People to Defend Human Rights During Pregnancy and Birth   Birth-Rights.pdf 
• Birthing Outside the System: The Canary in the Cola Mine (Routledge Research in Nursing and Midwifery) by Hannah Dahlen, Bashi Kumar-Hazard, Vergina Schmied 
• Can Humanity Survive Socialized Birth? by Michel Odent 
• Listen to Me Good: The Life Story of an Alabama Midwife by Margret Chrles Smith, Linda Janet Holmes 
• Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty by Dorthy Roberts 
• Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington
• Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and Origin of American Gynecology by Deidre Cooper Owens
• Obstetric Violence Realities and Resistance from Around the World - Nicole Hill and Julie Johnson Searcy
• The Story of Jane the Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service by Laura Kaplan 
• The Turn Away Study the Cost of Denying Women Access to Abortion by Dianna Greene Foster, PhD.
• Vaginal Politics: A Midwifes Story by Judy Lee 

Just for fun

• Huray for the Va-Jay-Jay - Shannon Ethridge 
• The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood 
• The Fifth Agreement a Practical Guide to Self-Mastery by don Miguel Ruiz
• The Four Agreements a Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by don Miguel Ruiz
• The Mist of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley 
• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
• Women Who run with Wolves by Clarrisa Pinkola Estes

For Doulas

• BIRTH RIGHTS - A Resource for Everyday People to Defend Human Rights During Pregnancy and Birth   Birth-Rights.pdf 
• Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have an Easier and Shorter Birth by Marshall Klaus 
• The Doula Guide to Birth by Amanda Lowem Rachel Zimmerman
• The Breech Release - Nichole Morales, LM, CPM and Jamie Mossey, CMT
• The Peanut Ball - Cheri Grant, RN