Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide, by Penny Simkin et al. (1991). For Kindle edition click here. An authoritative guide to pregnancy and childbirth. It covers a wide range of topics and makes for a great resource to keep around.
Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, by The Mayo Clinic (2011). For Kindle edition click here. It’s the Mayo clinic!
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth (revised), by Shelia Kitzinger (2003). As a sociologist and anthropologist, Shelia Kitzinger has been situating birth practices within a broader cultural framework for many years. Her books are both empowering and informative.
The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America’s Baby Experts, by William Sears, Martha Sears, Linda Hughey Holt (1997). A comprehensive guide to pregnancy, covering a multitude of topics in a professional and accessible way. We appreciate these authors’ viewpoint on lots of things.

On birth:

Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally, Revised Edition, by Janet Balaskas (1992). For Kindle edition click here. This book helps women prepare physically as well as mentally for the process of birth. It gets them up and moving around, which is crucial for helping making birth more efficient.
Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation, by Pam England and Rob Horowitz (1998). For Kindle edition click here. Using art therapy techniques, this book explores couples hidden anxieties that can get in the way of the birth process; a great way to prepare for birth from a different angle.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin (2003). For Kindle edition click here. The mother of modern midwives offers a wealth of information and presents a multitude of birth stories. Her book presents birth as natural, normal and magical – all at the same time.

For birth partners:

The Birth Partner – Revised 3rd Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions, by Penny Simkin (2008) For Kindle edition click here. Clear and comprehensive, this covers much the same material as Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn, but it’s organized for those who are providing labor support. It is a fantastic resource but it’s over 300 pages long, so it’s far from a quick read.

Nutrition in pregnancy:

Eating for Pregnancy: the Essential Nutrition Guide and Cookbook for Today’s Mothers-to-Be, by Catherine Jones and Rose Ann Hudson (2009). For Kindle edition click here. Award-winning book offering sound nutritional advice – and recipes to boot!

Parenting:

Becoming a Father: How to Nurture and Enjoy Your Family, by William Sears (2003). A guide to fatherhood from the widely-admired Dr. Sears.
Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads, by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden (2004). For Kindle edition click here. We love a field guide and here’s one for the new dad! Easy to read, funny and useful.
The Newborn Baby Manual, by Doris Fravert, RN (2013). What to do during a baby’s first 28 days. An iBook with built-in instructional videos.

Multimedia:

Practicing for an Active Birth (DVD) by Neri L. Choma, certified birth coach and trainer of doulas. Two and a half hours of video, offering labor support tools and suggested comfort measures for birth, plus coaching tips for both birthing mothers and partners.

Web resources:

Recommended