MOTHERHOOD & PREGNANCY: Books + Podcasts that saved me
Wisdom for the journey…
Most of these books came to me as heartfelt recommendations from my village of mothers… each one a treasure.
You deserve to be informed of your choices, feel confident, and connected to your innate wisdom as you step into motherhood. I hope these resources bring you closer to feeling that way.
If you’d like more support as you prepare for birth and step into early motherhood, I’d love to walk alongside you in any capacity I can at the moment. This journey is too big to do alone. I’m not offering any coaching until my daughter is older (Jan 2026), but I’m open to supporting eachother in other formats or connecting you to someone who can.
With much love on your journey,
Emma
Pre_Birth Prep
Birthing from Within
by Pam England
This book aligns so beautifully with the way I already think about birth - not as a medical event, but as a profound rite of passage.
It blends practical advice (natural birthing positions, natural pain relief, breathing techniques) with reflective explorations around your fears, evolving identity, inner power, etc.
Lots of the exercises involved drawing, which helped me tap into pre-verbal wisdom and connect more deeply with the mother in me.
The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill
This book guided me in creating my birth plan. I went from feeling lost in all the choices to feeling confident and informed. I chose a hospital birth with as little intervention as possible - not always an easy balance - and this book helped me see my options clearly and feel ready to advocate for myself.
It’s relevant wherever and however you birth: at home, in hospital, at a birth centre, by cesarean, or vaginally.
The First 40 Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother
by Heng Ou
In many traditions, the first 40 days after birth are considered sacred. This book deepened my belief around the importance of slowing down, cocooning, and RECEIVING CARE. It reminded me how deeply worthy I am of care - and it helped me convey this to the world around me in a meaningful way.
I got so inspired by this book that I wrote my own 40 Day Plan, which forced me to think more deeply about my web of support, who could help with what, the environment I wanted to cocoon in, and more. I’m so grateful I took the time to create that vision - I’ll share it in the resources section if you’re interested in creating something similar.
Post-Birth
THE ONLY BABY BOOK YOU TRULY NEED
Your Baby Week by Week
Caroline Fertleman & Simon Cave
Simple, clear, and full of tips. It was SO reassuring to have an idea of what to “expect” week by week, especially those first months when everything is so new. ALSO the LARGE TEXT and short paragraphs were perfect for my foggy mind. It gave me just the right amount of guidance without overwhelming me with too much information - and leave room for listening to my intuition.
GREAT FOR ROUTINE
The 7pm to 7am.
I always thought I’d be the
Motherkind — Honest, compassionate conversations about motherhood, self-care, and identity. Listening to this felt like sitting with a wise friend.
MATRESCENCE
Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself by Lisa Marchiano
Motherhood isn’t just about the baby - it’s about you, too. This book introduced me to the concept of matrescence, the profound transformation women go through when becoming mothers. It helped me understand the identity shifts I was experiencing, and instead of resisting them, I began to honor them as part of my growth.
The Nurture Revolution
by Greer Kirshenbaum
For me, this book provided the science-backed permission slip to follow my instincts: to cuddle, to respond quickly, to hold my baby as much as I wanted. It reframed nurturing as powerful, not indulgent or creating a ‘needy’ baby (which you’ll be shocked to hear from so many). All neuroscience points to the opposite - the everyday moments of love, touch, and responsiveness actually shape your baby’s brain to become a safe, regulated and confident adults.
