Resources for Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a beautiful and challenging time in one’s life, full of change and growth and decision making. We make decisions about whether and how to proceed with pregnancy, how to care for pregnancy, and how to plan for birth, postpartum, feeding, parenting, and beyond. Here are some resources I reference often when working with pregnant people and their growing families.

Pregnancy Options Counseling

  • All-Options: an organization & staffed hotline with trained support people to help with pregnancy decision making, including options for abortion, adoption, and parenting. They offer non-judgmental, well-resourced support. Hotline at: 1-888-493-0092

  • Pregnancy Options Workbook: a downloadable, self-guided workbook asking questions and leading through exercises to help make decisions about abortion, parenting, and adoption.

  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights: Canadian-based organization offering pregnancy options counseling, abortion referrals, sexual health information, etc. Also run a hotline at 1-888-642-2725 (you can call 24/7, texting also accepted 9-5 weekdays).

Prenatal Advocacy & Information

  • Childbirth Connection: information, research, and advocacy around pregnancy and birth, USA-based.

  • Birth Center Equity: advocacy on increasing BIPOC-led birthing centers in the USA

  • National Advocates for Pregnant Women: lawyers doing critical advocacy work for key prenatal and birth topics affecting USA-based families.

  • Elephant Circle: advocacy and training organization for key issues in childbearing, USA-based.

  • MotherToBaby: a website and hotline to help parents gauge whether certain substances, food, supplements, and medications are safe to take while pregnant (from a medical lens).

  • International Cesarean Awareness Network: resources, support groups, and research around cesarean section experience, prevalence, and support, USA-based, but some international chapters.

  • VBACFacts: resources for those planning a vaginal birth after a previous cesarean section.

Prenatal Care & Support

  • Embrace: A Pregnancy Journal by Nikki McClure (book): a lovely pregnancy journal to commemorate milestones, answer prompts, etc.

  • Midwifery for Expectant Parents by Aubre Tompkins (book): a newer book detailing what it’s like to work with a midwife for childbearing.

Prenatal Nutrition and Holistic Support

  • Real Food for Pregnancy (book): an exploration of nutrition and how we process food when we’re pregnant, and how to optimally meet our needs

  • Real Food for Gestational Diabetes (book): an exploration of healthy nutrition when diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

  • Eating for Two (book): recipe book of over 150 recipes highlighting simple, nutritious food meant to help support healthy pregnancy

  • The Natural Pregnancy Book (book): thoughtful discussion and remedies on staying healthy and sane through pregnancy using herbs, nutrition, and common-sense.

  • Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy and Childbirth (book): excellent, easy-to-read chapters on homeopathic remedies with excellent anecdotal resources

  • Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding (book) : excellent resource by leading aromatherapy educator

Prenatal Education, Books & Guides

  • Pregnancy, Childbirth, & the Newborn by Penny Simkin (book): a classic book looking at the transitions in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

  • From the Hips by Rebecca Odes & Ceridwen Moris (book): a youthful book looking at birth and pregnancy.

  • The Inner Journey of Pregnancy by Jane Hardwicke Collings (book): a spiritual (non-denominational) look at the inner transformations of pregnancy and parenting, by traditional Australian midwife.

  • Pregnancy: The Inner Journey & Healing from Previous Traumatic Birth ECourses: course based on the above listed book

  • Pregnant Butch: Nine Long Months Spent in Drag by A.K.Summers (book): a look at pregnancy from the perspective of a self-described butch lesbian.

  • Where’s The Mother? Stories From a Transgender Dad by Trevor McDonald (book): a look at pregnancy, birth, and chestfeeding from the perspective of a trans dad.

  • Baby Planner Quizzes: a few fun quizzes to help you get a feel for different birth places, care models, and hiring a doula.

  • Evidence Based Birth: catalogues articles, podcasts, and handouts on common questions, interventions, and research around pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and care provision.

Preparing for Birth

  • The Essential Homebirth Guide by Jan Drichta & Jodilyn Owen (book): a specific look at planning a homebirth.

  • The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer (book): clear, research-based take on common questions and interventions in pregnancy and childbirth

  • Optimal Care In Childbirth: The Case for a Physiologic Approach by Henci Goer (book): clear, research-based take on different care models and options for childbearing families.

  • Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke (book): a look at mindfulness and meditations, as well as a guide for most common questions and transitions in pregnancy and birth.

  • Birthing from Within by Pam Englund (book): a particular philosophy for childbirth education/preparation many find helpful.

  • Transformed by Birth by Britta Bushnell (book): a thoughtful guide to pregnancy and birth

  • Hypnobirthing: a philosophy and practice about inner work and meditation to cope with labour pains. Books, audio tracks, blogs, all available.

  • Spinning Babies: a look at optimal fetal positioning in preparation for labour.

Planning for Postpartum

  • After the Baby’s Birth by Robin Lim (book): a deep holistic look at caring for bodies and babies after birth.

  • Natural Health After Birth by Aviva Romm (book): a look at caring for the body holistically after birth.

  • The First Forty Days by Heng Ou (book): a specific look at postpartum traditions from a Chinese perspective, includes extensive recipes for postpartum nutrition