Pregnancy Books I Swore By: 5 Personal Picks to Empower Your Journey

Our friend Susanne lugged this copy all the way from Germany for me. This version isn’t available in India, but I’m sure the other versions are equally good. Also in the picture is the first onesie for our baby .

In a talk I gave the other day on my pregnancy journey, I was asked to recommend trusted sources of information.  As a yoga teacher, I value books written by qualified experts.  In the last few months (my pre-pregnancy and pregnancy phase) I read a lot of academic and research articles, blogs and books.  I’ve complied a list of books that are my pregnancy reading collection (so far). I’ve been reading extensively (which is probably not a surprise for most of you), but I’ve divided these books for you based upon:

• Trimester – Books that are valuable through all three trimesters, and will help you get ready for D-day.
• Information You Need – Books that will help clarify your doubts, show you how to stay healthy and prep for birth.
• Reader Profile – Picks for first-time moms, partners needing a clue, and veteran parents looking for a refresher.

This will help you decide which book you need to read right away, and which can wait.

1. Pregnancy Book That Helped My Yoga:  Yoga Sadhana For Mothers by Sharmila Desai and Anna Wise

Because yoga practitioners use their bodies every day, they are conscious of subtle changes that others may not notice.  This can make pregnancy overwhelming or wondrous depending on the practitioner.  Some practitioners end up focusing even more on their daily asana practice to feel a sense of ‘balance’ and ‘rootedness’ in the face of the major changes happening inside them.

My first trimester was marked by constant nausea and fatigue.  I was able to muster just enough energy to do the bare minimum required.  Most days this was just teaching classes between which I ate and slept so that tomorrow would come faster.  The quality and state of my personal practice was the furthest thing on my mind.  So reading about women who are obsessed with ‘losing’ their practice is unnerving for me.  Many readers may marvel at the ‘commitment’ these women have towards their practice (so much so that some of them were back on their mats 6-9 days postpartum), but I simply found it irksome.  After all, your life isn’t about your yoga practice, your yoga practice is about your life.  I will say that this book has about two yoga based approaches on PGP which were helpful. (In case you want more information about pelvic floor health, don’t miss this conversation I had with a pelvic floor specialist about why women need to prioritise pelvic floor health.)

The personal stories in this volume were full of anxiety about the pregnancy-related changes in a woman’s yoga practice, and I wish it had a more wholesome approach.  What I learned from this book was how not to approach a yoga practice during pregnancy and how relaxing your hold on it can be more rewarding than straining your body to align with imaginary ideals.

My Top Takeaways (to Help You)

• As a yoga practitioner I was interested in staying active throughout my pregnancy. I was also interested in learning how other practitioners navigated this special, but physically challenging time.
• I really appreciated the clear photos of the asana modifications for each trimester.
• Drawback: This book may not be relevant if you’re experiencing complications during pregnancy. For complications you should consult a yoga therapist for sequences that are suitable for you.

2. Pregnancy Book for Every Mother: What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

This tome is the bestselling pregnancy book of all time, and it has answers to pretty much any query you may have about conception, pregnancy and even postpartum.  I recommend reading only the parts which apply to you and skip/skim through the rest.  Too much information can bog you down.  Even though the book is intended for an American audience, it’s still wonderfully relevant to the rest of us.

My Top Takeaways (to Help You)

• I loved the Q&As at the end of every chapter – those real life questions sometimes echoed the ones I had, and brought a measure of empowerment about my journey.
• It’s comprehensive, and tried and tested. Maybe this is why almost everyone I know has gone through this book during their pregnancy.
• Drawback: A friend of mine felt overwhelmed by all the information in this book. Keep that in mind if you prefer information only on a need-to-know basis.

3. Pregnancy Book that Clarifies Doubts: Expecting Better by Emily Oster

This book’s tagline of the book put me off –  “Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong – and What You Really Need to Know.”  I don’t think the conventional wisdom is necessarily wrong. I’ve been keeping a holistic approach to my pregnancy, and I’ve often found comfort in alternative therapies and conventional wisdom.

Oster structures this book around the most common advice women receive during their pregnancies.  She then investigates the scientific soundness of this advice.  The book has separate parts for trimesters, conception and labor.  Each part consists of chapters about the myths associated with each phase, such as women over 35 being of ‘advanced maternal age’ (a chapter I found interesting and relevant).  She also writes about data about consumption of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.

I’ve tried to keep my pregnancy as simple and uncomplicated as possible.  This isn’t easy considering we’re bombarded with unsolicited advice pretty much from all quarters.  I feel the book does a good job of presenting research to lay readers.  But at the same time, I feel there’s a lot of confirmation bias in her approach.

My Top Takeaways (to Help You)

• Reading about old myths and old wives’ tales associated with pregnancy through a rational lens was liberating and relaxing!
• I liked her easy writing style, Oster explains the research systematically, making it easy for lay people to understand.
• Drawback: I couldn’t help but feel that the author often used limited research studies to justify her claims.

4. Pregnancy Book for the Miracle Mum: What’s a Lemon Squeezer Doing in My Vagina by Rohini Rajagopal

Throughout my journey I looked for books about Indian women, and after extensive search I came across this one written by Bangalore-based Rohini Rajagopal.  Her honesty and rawness are touching.  Rajagopal chronicles her five year long experience with infertility and (eventual) successful IVF.  Whenever a doctors recommends any line of treatment, my first instinct is to speak to someone who has been through it and get real insight about the experience.  I’m so grateful for the opportunity to speak to Rohini herself, and you can watch our conversation here. This book is an intimate and honest look at the entire process with the human aspect intact.

I feel many of us read a lot of non-fiction during our pregnancies.  But the faceless humans behind the statistics are important.  This book bridges that gap.

I would recommend it for everyone’s pregnancy reading collection.

My Top Takeaways (to Help You)

• This book will strike a chord with anyone who has been through infertility issues.
• It addressed the cultural stigma surrounding IVF in a nuanced and sensitive manner, something that India needs.
• Drawback: Rajagopal’s story had a happy ending (good for her). While I was rooting for her the entire time, I also kept thinking that anyone in the uncertain phase of IVF might find that ending a little bittersweet.

5. Pregnancy Book for the Active Mum: Yoga for Pregnancy by Rosalind Widdowson

A friend of mine gave me this book.  It has great pictures but I’d say the book is more about stretching and mobility than yoga.  But because it’s easy to follow, even non-yoga practitioners can follow the guidelines.  I ended up skimming the book to see if I could find anything relevant for me.

My Top Takeaways (to Help You)

• It’s a beautiful book with high-quality photos on printing paper.
• The instructions are easy to follow, even if you’re new to working out.
• Drawback: It’s great for women who were mildly active pre pregnancy, or those with complications – but it’s rudimentary for women who have been reasonably active.

I’d love your recommendations for other pregnancy-related books that I can add to my pregnancy books collection.  Books that moved you during your pregnancy.  A book that you believe all pregnant or women on the conception journey should read.  Leave the titles in the comments.

If you’d like to read more about my pregnancy journey, you’ll find a lot of valuable blogs here.