Pregnancy brings physical changes, emotional shifts, and a need for moments of calm. Reading is one of the simplest ways to slow down, reflect, and connect with what lies ahead. The best books to read while pregnant are those that combine comfort with insight, stories, and guides that make you feel grounded, seen, and inspired.
Whether you want gentle fiction that eases your mind before sleep or practical wisdom that helps you prepare for motherhood, the right book can do both. Below are handpicked titles that offer exactly that balance: relaxation for the heart and inspiration for the mind.
1. Expecting Better by Emily Oster
Oster, an economist and mother, challenges common pregnancy myths with data and research. She gives you evidence-based answers to everyday questions, about food safety, caffeine, exercise, and more, without judgment or alarm. This book replaces anxiety with clarity, showing that informed choices are empowering.
It feels like talking to a calm, rational friend who explains the “why” behind every rule. Perfect for women who prefer facts over fear and want to feel in control of their pregnancy experience.
2. The Mindful Mom-to-Be by Lori Bregman
Bregman, a doula and life coach, focuses on mental and emotional preparation. Each chapter pairs mindfulness practices with small, meaningful rituals to help mothers-to-be connect with their changing bodies.
The exercises are simple but powerful: breathing, visualization, and journaling, helping you slow down during stressful moments and build a deeper bond with your baby.
3. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Gaskin, one of the most respected midwives in the world, combines decades of birth stories with clear, compassionate advice. Her approach celebrates the body’s natural strength and ability to give birth without unnecessary fear.
The personal stories of women from all backgrounds transform birth from a medical event into a deeply human and empowering experience. Reading them can replace anxiety with awe.
4. The Pregnancy Book by Dr. William and Martha Sears
Written by two parents who are also medical professionals, this comprehensive guide covers every trimester with empathy and medical accuracy. It explains not just the physical development of your baby, but also what’s happening emotionally and hormonally.
The tone is gentle and reassuring. The authors never lecture; instead, they guide you with care, reminding you that pregnancy is not a condition to manage but a life phase to experience fully.
5. The Fifth Trimester by Lauren Smith Brody
While most books stop at birth, this one begins right after. It focuses on the transition from maternity leave back to work, a period many new mothers find overwhelming.
Brody blends data with real-life experiences from working mothers, offering actionable advice on managing career, sleep deprivation, and identity shifts. It brings perspective: you are not alone, and balance is achievable.
6. Great With Child: Letters to a Young Mother by Beth Ann Fennelly
This collection of letters, written from one mother to another, reads like poetry. It reflects on love, exhaustion, fear, and joy with lyrical honesty.
Gentle and intimate. You can read a few pages before bed, and each one feels like a conversation that calms your thoughts.
7. Like a Mother by Angela Garbes
Garbes combines journalism and personal experience to unpack the biology, history, and societal expectations of pregnancy. She questions outdated assumptions about women’s bodies and celebrates their complexity.
It helps you see pregnancy not as a fragile state but as one of immense strength and adaptation. Reading it gives many women a new respect for their own resilience.
8. What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff
This remains the classic reference for week-by-week pregnancy updates. It’s practical, easy to browse, and full of answers to small daily worries.
For many, information brings peace. The book helps you anticipate what’s next instead of fearing the unknown, which can ease stress during late-night moments of uncertainty.
9. Fiction That Comforts and Connects
Sometimes, nonfiction guides are too heavy when you simply want to rest. This is where fiction, especially gentle, emotionally rich stories, can make all the difference. A beautifully written pregnancy novel lets you see parts of your own journey through someone else’s eyes, offering both escape and reflection.
Whether it’s a story about a woman preparing for motherhood, facing unexpected change, or rediscovering herself, fiction helps release tension and builds empathy. These novels don’t have to be overly dramatic; the best ones are quiet, reflective, and healing. Many readers find that relatable stories about pregnancy and new beginnings provide both relaxation and hope during long evenings or hospital stays.
10. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Though not pregnancy-specific, this book explores small daily habits that make life more meaningful. It’s ideal for mothers-to-be thinking about how to create a joyful, balanced family environment.
Rubin’s ideas about gratitude, mindfulness, and purpose are easy to apply to pregnancy and beyond, reminding you that happiness often grows from routine and awareness.
11. Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman
An American journalist living in Paris observes how French parents raise calm, independent children and how mothers maintain their own identity.
It’s half cultural commentary, half parenting insight. Many readers love its humor and perspective: it’s okay to relax, set boundaries, and enjoy motherhood instead of chasing perfection.
12. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
Why it’s worth reading:
This book isn’t about pregnancy at all, and yet, it often ends up being one of the most treasured reads during pregnancy. It’s a collection of advice letters from Strayed’s time as the anonymous columnist “Dear Sugar.”
Why it’s perfect for this time:
Her reflections on love, fear, self-worth, and change resonate deeply with anyone facing a major life transition. It’s a reminder that motherhood doesn’t erase who you are; it expands it.
13. The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill
Why it’s worth reading:
This modern guide helps you visualize and plan for the birth experience you want. It encourages you to define your preferences, build confidence, and feel informed rather than intimidated.
What makes it inspiring:
It replaces fear with choice. The book’s colorful infographics, practical tips, and affirmations make it both educational and emotionally uplifting.
14. A Life’s Work: On Becoming a Mother by Rachel Cusk
Why it’s worth reading:
Cusk’s memoir is brutally honest and beautifully written. She describes the shock and transformation of early motherhood with raw insight.
Why it matters:
This is not a comforting book; it’s an illuminating one. Reading it helps prepare you for the full emotional range of what’s ahead, offering truth instead of idealization.
Final Thoughts
The best books for pregnancy aren’t only about prenatal care. They’re about reflection, identity, and calm, about remembering who you are while preparing for who you’ll become. Mixing informative titles with emotional, creative reads gives the richest experience: one book to reassure you, another to soothe you, and one to make you think.