Maternity Circle's Favorite Books & Websites
 for Pregnancy, Childbirth, Breastfeeding, Baby Care, and Parenting 

Please note: these resources are provided only as recommendations for readers to find more information on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and baby care. Anything found in these books does not replace medical advice. However, it is your right and responsibility to ask questions of your medical care providers and actively participate in decisions that affect your and your baby's medical care and health.

for Pregnancy and Childbirth
(if you have limited time for reading, choose the first eight resources listed)

Sears, William and Martha. The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know from America’s Baby Experts

Somer, Elizabeth. Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy

Simkin, Penny, Whalley & Keppler. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn

Gaskin, Ina May. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

Goer, Henci. The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth

Childbirth Connection (formerly the Maternity Center Association)
Resources A-Z is the best part of the site for you to start your reading…
http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10332
And also definitely read these two documents on their website: 
What Every Woman Needs to Know About Cesarean Section   and  Listening to Mothers

International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN)
http://www.ican-online.org/

Lamaze International  www.lamaze.org

Fields, Alan and Denise. Baby Bargains

Harris, A. Christine. The Pregnancy Journal: A Day to Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy
Coalition to Improve Maternity Services
www.motherfriendly.org

O’Mara, Peggy. Mothering Magazine’s Having a Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth

Simkin, Penny. The Birth Partner

Sears, William. The Birth Book : Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth

England, Pam & Rob Horowitz. Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation

Freedman, Lois.  Birth as a Healing Experience

Cassidy, Tina.  Birth:  the Surprising History of How We Are Born

Northrup, Christiane. Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom

Sichel, Deborah, & Jeanne Watson Driscoll. Women’s Moods

Small, Meredith. Our Babies, Ourselves Childbirth

Korte, Diana.  The VBAC Companion


Breastfeeding

Newman, Jack, and Pitman, Teresa. The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solution Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America

Behrmann, Barbara. The Breastfeeding Café: Mothers Share the Joys, Challenges, and Secrets of Nursing

Nursing Mothers’ Council
Free phone support for breastfeeding/weaning families and reduced rates on Medela breastpumps and some accessories.
www.bace-nmc.org  and 617.244.5102

La Leche League
Evidence-based information, advice, links, and breastfeeding supplies.
www.lalecheleague.org

Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition
Two excellent documents to print out before your baby is born: Making Milk is Easy! and Discharge Instructions. Also includes more evidence-based information, advice, and links.
www.massbfc.org

The American Academy of Pediatrics
2005 Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;115/2/496.pdf

The United States Government’s Public Service Campaign
www.4women.gov/campaigns/breastfeeding

The American College of Nurse-Midwives website on breastfeeding
www.gotmom.org

Articles by lactation consultant and researcher Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC
www.granitescientific.com
Helpful and varied information on breastfeeding
www.breastfeeding.com

Articles by lactation consultant and researcher Linda Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
www.bflrc.com/ljs/ls-arts.htm

Articles by Jack Newman, MD, a pediatrician and expert in breastfeeding
http://www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html

Articles by various breastfeeding experts
http://drjaygordon.com/bf/index.htm

Baby Care

Sears, William and Martha. The Baby Book

Karp, Harvey. The Happiest Baby on the Block : The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer
http://www.thehappiestbaby.com/

Kitzinger, Sheila. The Year After Childbirth

A website raising awareness about the importance of preventing furniture tipovers and resultant injury and death to children, with helpful information on what you can do to protect children in your life.
www.meghanshope.org