Library | Listserv | Helpful Links

Recommended Reading

After reading extensively about pregnancy and childbirth, the following books are some of the best on the market. Happy reading!

Most of these books are available to be borrowed from our Lending Library.

Taking this list with you to the bookstore or library? We also offer a Printable List.

	Birthing from Within : An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation. By Pam England & Rob Horowitz. Published by Partera Press, 1998. This is one of our all-time favourite books. If you only read one book in this pregnancy, let it be this one.
	The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth. By Sheila Kitzinger. Published by Knopf Canada, 2003. This comprehensive and unbiased classic has been telling parents what to expect since the 1980s. Sheila Kitzinger is a renowned British anthropologist and childbirth educator, and any book by her is likely to be fabulous.
	Having A Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth. By Peggy O'Mara. Published by Atria Books, 2003. This is a lovely all-purpose book about childbirth that calmly explains what to expect, while inspiring confidence in your body and in birth.
	Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. By Ina May Gaskin. Published by Bantam Books, 2003. This book is a true gem. Written by renowned midwife Ina May Gaskin, it contains plenty of her gentle wisdom for mothers surrounded by beautiful birth stories that inspire confidence and awe.
	Gentle Birth Choices: Making Informed Decisions About Birthing Centers, Birth Attendants, Water Birth, Home Birth, Hospital Birth. By Barbara Harper. Published by Inner Traditions International, ltd., 1996. This is a wonderful book about the range of birth options, and how to make them a reality for your birth.
	The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. By Henci Goer. Published by Perigee, 1999. The straight goods on what's helpful and what's habit in your doctor's obstetrical practice.
	The Midwifery Option: A Canadian Guide to the Birth Experience. By Miranda Hawkins & Sarah Knox. Published by Harper Collins, 2003. What is the difference between a midwife and a doctor? What kinds of experiences do Canadian women have with midwives? Who pays midwives? This is an up-to-date resource about modern midwifery care in Canada that answers all these questions and more.
	*The Birth Partner, Second Edition: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Labour.* By Penny Simkin. Published by Harvard Common Press, 2001. Now in its second edition, this book is the ultimate 'cheat-sheet' for helping your partner in labour.
	The Doula Book: How a Trained Labor Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth. By Marshall H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, Phyllis H. Klaus. Published by Harper Collins, 2003. Everything you could ever want to know about doulas and more.
	The VBAC Companion: The Expectant Mother's Guide to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. By Diana Korte. Published by Harvard Common Press, 1998. If you are planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), you should read this book, and read it often.
	Rediscovering Birth. By Sheila Kitzinger. Published by Little, Brown & Co., 2000. This is a beautiful coffee table book about the history of childbirth. Combine it with a steaming cup of tea and a cozy armchair for a relaxing afternoon of connecting with women in other times and places through our shared "herstory" of giving birth.
	Having Twins and More: A Parent's Guide to Multiple Pregnancy, Birth and Early Childhood. By Elizabeth Noble. Published by Mariner Books, 2003. This is the best book about multiples, hands down.
	Dr Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding (Revised Ed). By Jack Newman, MD and Teresa Pittman. Published by Harper Collins Canada, 2003. A great book by Canada's very own breastfeeding guru Dr. Jack Newman. It contains plenty of photos and information from the most general to the most obscure. A great resource.
	The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. By La Leche League International. Published by Plume, 1999. A great book with lots of user-friendly photos and illustrations.
	After the Baby's Birth (Revised Ed). By Robin Lim. Published by Ten Speed Press, 2001. This is a wonderful book about the postpartum period. As Robin Lim says, you are pregnant for nine months, but postpartum for the rest of your life. We agree, and encourage you to read this beautiful book.
	The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age 2. By William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN. Published by Little Brown USA, 2003. From parenting experts William and Martha Sears (themselves the parents of 8 children), the title of this book pretty much sums it up. This book is a great resource for new parents.
	Natural Family Living: The Mothering Magazine's Guide to Parenting. By Peggy O'Mara & Jane McConnell. Published by Pocket Books, 2000. A down-to earth and practical parenting resource from the attachment parenting gurus at Mothering Magazine.
	Kids Are Worth It! (Revised Ed). By Barbara Coloroso. Published by Penguin Books of Canada, 2001. Rejecting the "quick fix" solutions of punishment and reward, parenting expert Barbara Coloroso uses everyday family situations-from sibling rivalry to teenage rebellion-to demonstrate sound strategies for giving children the inner discipline & self confidence that will help them grow into responsible, resourceful, resilient & compassionate adults.
	The Discipline Book: How to Have a Better Behaved Child from BIrth to Age 10. By William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN. Published by Little Brown USA, 1995. Our doula Tammy Young recommends this book. She says "Why I like it: It emphasizes no spanking, bonding with your child, teaching morals and manners, building self-esteem, helping children express their feelings, and dealing with sibling rivalry. In general, I like all their books."

Click here for a Printable Version of this list.

Wondering why your favourite book isn't on this list? Send us an email with your suggestion, and we'll check it out.

Videos Available from the Public Library:

Born at Home, NFB. Available at Centennial Library, call number NFB VHS 618.4 BOR.
Great footage of a woman labouring with the help of a doula. Also useful if you are considering having your children at your birth.

The Miracle of Birth, from The Intimate Universe. Available at Centennial Library, call number VHS 618.2 MIR.
A neat video that uses computer imaging to show you what is happening inside a woman's body during pregnancy and birth.

Gentle Birth Stories. Available at Centennial Library, call number VHS 618.45 GEN.
A beautiful video showing many different births at home, birth center, hospital, and in water.

The Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League. Available at Centennial Library, call number VHS 649.33 ART.
Three short videos about breastfeeding. The second video shows how to get a good latch, and different positions for breastfeeding.

Other videos:

Birth Into Being: The Russian Water Birth Experience.
If you ever get the opportunity to see this video, take advantage of it. This is one of the most beautiful birth videos we have ever seen. We like it so much that we show it in most of our Birthing Classes.