There are plenty of books for young parents on what to expect before, during, and after pregnancy when it comes to physical or lifestyle changes, and childcare. But the emotional experiences of having a child are just as important to hear about, so that parents can also look out for their own mental and emotional health.
Here is a round up of books on the emotional journey of pregnancy and parenting that are not only informative but will also help parents know that they are not alone in their struggles.
And Baby Makes Three by John M. Gottman, PH.D., and Julie Schwartz Gottman, PH.D.
When caring for a new baby, the parents’ relationship needs just as much care to stay healthy and happy. The official six-step book for the Bringing Baby Home Program, And Baby Makes Three uses real-life examples and exercises to show parents how to enhance romance, avoid hostility and meltdowns, prevent postpartum depression, and more.
amazon.com / gottman.com
Life After Birth by Kate Figes
Giving birth changes a woman’s health, career, emotions, and relationships profoundly, so it’s no wonder that “bouncing back” quickly is near impossible. Life After Birth tackles the physical, psychological, and emotional consequences of childbirth in a down-to-earth way. Topics like choosing whether or not to work, or dealing with exhaustion can show new mother’s that they are not alone.
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
The Second Nine Months by Vicki Glembocki
So you made it through the nine long months of pregnancy, but what about the second nine months of sleepless nights and emotional ups and downs of caring for your new baby? To hear the real truth about becoming a mom, pick up this memoir for brutal honesty, laughs, and reassurances when you most need it. Sensitively written, The Second Nine Months is a pleasure to read.
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year by Anne Lamott
An instant classic, single-mother Anne Lamott’s account of her son’s first year is funny, honest, and relatable—a great read for young mothers. She shares her struggles with finding out her baby is a boy, dealing with her best friend’s decline due to cancer, and other experiences from that whirlwind first year. Now a grandmother, Lamott recently released her new book, Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son’s First Son—check it out!
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood by Jennifer Senior
There are so many parenting books on the effects of parents on their children, but what about the effects of children on their parents? The emotionally intelligent All Joy and No Fun, released earlier this year, explores how parents’ lives are reshaped by child-rearing, in marriage, career, interests, sense of self, and more. It’s relevant for parents with children from birth to adolescence. Plus, read our interview with Jennifer Senior HERE!
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
Heading Home With Your Newborn by Laura A. Jana, M.D., FAAP, and Jennifer Shu, M.D., FAAP
Written by two pediatricians who are also parents, this book is not only a great guide that covers feeding, changing, vaccinations, and other practical topics, but also the emotional consequences of childbirth. For compassionate advice on feelings of anxiety, guilt, and inadequacy that so many new parents experience, this is a great read!
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother by Beth Ann Fennelly
If you are tired of reading lecture-like parenting books, pick up a copy of Great with Child, a collection of Fennelly’s letters written for her pregnant friend. Fennelly recounts her day-to-day experiences, like potty training her daughter, or “the erotics of motherhood.” Her letters, at once prosaic, personal, informative, and funny, provide expecting and new mothers inspiration for raising a child.
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
Waiting for Birdy: A Year of Frantic Tedium, Neurotic Angst, and the Wild Magic of Growing a Family by Catherine Newman
Not new to pregnancy? Then this is a great book to read, as Newman shares her life with a three-year-old while anticipating the birth of her second child. A touching read filled with tender moments, quirky humor, honesty, and wit, Waiting for Birdy is a must-read account of an endearingly ordinary family.
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
From the Hips: A Comprehensive, Open-Minded, Uncensored, Totally Honest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Becoming a Parent by Rebecca Odes
From the Hips is the one-stop guide to childbirth, offering judgment-free information on topics like prenatal testing, feeding options, work/life options, as well as what not to eat or take when pregnant. To follow up, it also teaches about postpartum emotions, relationship changes, and more.
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
Let’s Panic About Babies!: How to Endure and Possibly Triumph Over the Adorable Tyrant who Will Ruin Your Body, Destroy Your Life, Liquefy Your Brain, and Finally Turn You into a Worthwhile Human Being by Alice Bradley and Eden M. Kennedy
This book is the perfect pick-me-up for the expectant mother who is tired of the typical pregnancy handbooks. Bradley and Kennedy use uncensored humor that is as funny as it is bizarre (and often wonderfully inappropriate) to poke fun at pregnancy paranoia. Refreshingly different and surprisingly comforting, Let’s Panic About Babies! is great for a laugh.
amazon.com / barnesandnoble.com
