The Business of Being Born

This is a DVD. Watch this DVD (available for purchase at Amazon.com or at your local library or through Netflix) in your 1st or early 2nd trimester and think about how your prenatal appointments are going. Are you satisfied with your care provider? Are your appointments long enough for you to get answers to all your questions? Do you leave feeling listened to and respected? The Business of Being Born can help you sort out your feelings about what you need in a maternity care provider. If your fit isn't right now, it's not going to improve in the labor and delivery room. Continue to shop around for the care provider that fits you best.

The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two

Start reading this book as soon as you can. It is an amazing resource for baby care and understanding baby's developmental milestones. You will gain confidence in your ability to spot sickness and promote wellness in your newborn baby. Really, the best baby care book out there.

The Natural Pregnancy Book

What a terrific book for women wanting a a pregnancy guide that fits their already spiritual, organic, natural lifestyle. Yes, some would call this book "crunchy". It is the polar opposite of What to Expect When You're Expecting. If you've already thown your copy of WTEWYE on the barbeque and are looking for a replacement, The Natural Pregnancy Book is just for you.

Pregnancy, Childirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide

The definitive guide on pregnancy, childbirth and the newborn. No really, if you have to buy one book, this is the one to own. It is complete, it is not at all fluffy but it is friendly. It presumes you are smart enough to make your own choices given the facts. You will gain confidence in your abilities to sustain a healthy pregnancy, birth your baby, and competently care for your newborn.

The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book

It's the open-mindedness of this book that makes it great. Written by an obstetrician who acknowledges the emotional and social factors of pregnancy in the workplace. You'll feel more calm and collected about being pregnant and working and what healthy modifications you might want to make at work.

Well-Rounded Pregnancy Cookbook: Give Your Baby a Healthy Start w/100 Recipes that Adapt to Fit How

This book hits the nail on the head: Fix meals that match your mood. Brilliant. And, these are the recipes you want to eat: healthy, hearty, and flavored the way you want to eat every day. Check out the index on Amazon for a listing of typical recipes.

From the Hips: A Comprehensive, Open-Minded, Uncensored, Totally Honest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth..

Honest, raw and what your intelligent girlfriends are talking about. It has a ton of practical advice given in a non-preachy, non-judgemental manner. If you're finding the "regular" pregnancy and childbirth preparation books just too smug, too one-sided, and too over-the-top, you'll appreciate this refreshing viewpoint.

How Doctors Think

This is the one book I wish every woman would read before she gets too far into her prenatal appointments. This book takes you through the algorithmic thinking of doctors and shows you how it helps your doctor BE a better doctor if you ask lots of open-ended questions about your care, in particular tests, procedures and medical interventions. Remember, informed consent is your right, but YOU must ask for it.

Great Expectations: Your All-in-One Resource for Pregnancy & Childbirth

This book is comprehensive and certainly has that confidence-inspiring language that prevents anxiety from spinning out of control. Do yourself a favor and throw your old "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book on the barbeque and pick up Great Expectations. It's a better bet.

Windows to the Womb: Revealing the Conscious Baby from Conception to Birth

You are already parenting your baby, even before they are born. Find out how baby reacts to the outside environment and your emotions while you are pregnant.