10 Holistic & Mama-Positive Books For Pregnancy
Self-Care For A Mother’s Body And Mind
More and more resources are being offered to women to extend guidance and a helping hand throughout pregnancy and beyond. The authors below turn to ancient wisdom and women experts to provide us with the knowledge of how to embrace our bodies and the changes that come with childbirth and motherhood.
These books all encompass one topic: taking our physical and mental health into our own hands as women and finding the right rituals and foods to aid us in our journeys of life and in motherhood.
1. The First Forty Days
Author | Heng Ou
This book is an incredible homage to women transitioning into the postpartum time after childbirth. This extremely important period in a new mother’s life requires essential body care and advice for moving through this period with nourishment and ease. The book offers “60 simple and delicious recipes like healing soups; replenishing meals and snacks; and calming and lactation-boosting teas, all formulated to support the unique needs of the new mother and partner.” Among the recipes, the book also offers advice acting as the ultimate companion during the first forty days of healing the body.
Why People Love It | “This book provides a great overview of how traditional cultures the world over have honored and helped to restore new mothers following childbirth while maintaining an open-eyed perspective on what is realistic in many western cultures today.” – AD
Price | $24.95
Purchase The First Forty Days
2. Nurture
Author | Erica Chidi Cohen
Written by Doula and co-founder of the Los Angeles based birthing center called “Loom,” this beautiful book is a mother & family’s bible full of self-care, mindfulness, exercises, trimester-specific remedies, nourishing foods and just about anything and everything in between. Created to support the modern mother aiming to take a more holistic approach to self-care needs.
Why People Love It | “Beyond having a seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of all things pregnancy, birth, and baby, Erica Chidi Cohen truly cares about the wellbeing of all mothers, babies, and partners. This book is for everyone—regardless of their birth preferences, background, or beliefs. The knowledge of my husband and I gained reading this book has us feeling prepared, empowered, and ready for whatever lies ahead.” – WP
Price | $18.95
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3. Super Woman RX
Author | Tasneem Bhatia
This book is written by the integrative health and wellness expert Tasneem Bhatia, who coined the phrase “Superwoman Syndrome”—essentially a place that a woman can get into when she is juggling so many different roles without focusing on health. The book uses a format starting with different personality types of women as a “blueprint” for relating to certain individual health approaches. Broken down in various studies in Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic traditions to get to a healthier place within one’s body.
Why People Love It | “I’ve read so many books and articles to try and get myself balanced and this is the first one that I felt got it right! Dr. Taz looks at the whole body and mind to help you feel the best you have ever been. In a world where doctors and advertisements bombard us with drugs, we need to take to get rid of conditions and fad diets to be “skinny” this book gives smart natural alternatives using food and vitamin/mineral supplements to detox and have more energy.” – J
Price | $26.99
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4. The Fourth Trimester
Author | Kimberly Ann Johnson
The cover says it all: “A postpartum guide to healing your body, balancing your emotions, and restoring your vitality.” Written as a guide that offers simple practices for the transition into motherhood with a focus on physical and emotional wellbeing, the book even offers advice about the best way to prepare your home and space for your new arrival. This book is perfect for new moms and as a reference guide for seasoned mothers.
Why People Love It | “While there are a plethora of books about pregnancy and delivery, few discuss self-care after the baby is born. Johnson, co-founder of the STREAM School for Postpartum Care, aims to fill that gap with this comprehensive guide to a transitional time. Using a holistic perspective, Johnson addresses everything from preparing one’s body for birth to rebuilding and healing afterward.” – Library Journal
Price | $18.95
Purchase The Fourth Trimester
5. Breathe, Mama, Breathe
Author | Shonda Moralis
No matter what stage of motherhood, this book is a tool to remind mothers of the power of mindfulness and breath. This book offers comprehensive techniques for stepping away from the madness of life and into moments of stillness. The book is broken down into 65 easy and useful strategies for achieving more mindfulness in the daily activities of a mother.
Why People Love It | “I heard about mindfulness and the health benefits a couple months ago, but even after watching loads of YouTube videos I still felt like I was just at the surface. “Breathe, Mama, Breathe” provides a ton of wonderful information, from really teaching about mindfulness, to chapters describing moments when you can a moment to STOP and be mindful about the situation.” – M
Price | $14.95
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6. Body Love
Author | Kelly LeVeque
This a wonderful resource for all women trying to connect with their body and create a better relationship with food. The author is a holistic nutritionist who has created a system for balancing life and creating overall wellness with her scientifically-backed approach to eating. This book is a straightforward guide to answering questions about what to eat and what not to eat to feel your best at every stage of life.
Why People Love It | “Kelly is so smart! She uses science to explain how our body breaks down food and what to eat to optimize fat loss and energy. She explains things in an easy to understand manner and encourages balance. This is not a diet, it’s a way of life. I am so grateful to Kelly for writing this book and forever changing how I eat and see food! THANK YOU KELLY!” – ML
Price | $27.99
Purchase Body Love
7. High Vibrational Beauty
Author | Kerrilynn Pamer & Cindy Diprima Morisse
We love that this book was written by the founders of one of our favorite natural beauty stores, CAP Beauty. This book is a great added tool for living an overall clean life for women aiming to make every part of their lives more aligned. Divided into the different seasons to focus on how to rejuvenate and give self-care for all of the different times of year using meditations, plant-based recipes, and skin care regimens to restore your overall wellbeing.
Why People Love It | “There was clearly a lot of time, thought and love poured into this book. It’s full of gorgeous photos. The book is all about self care, self love. The recipes range from foods to drinks, to body care. The book will take you through rituals you can do during spring summer fall and winter.” – N
Price | $27.99
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8. The Self-Care Solution
Author | Julie Burton
This book is written in essay format as an up-close-and-personal way for women to read about how women maneuver self care while managing their families, careers and their home. The goal of the book is for women to learn from one another during the sometimes rocky path of self care and motherhood. There is also an interactive element at the end of each chapter for the reader to take time to reflect in a self-assessment format to gauge their own honest integration of self care in their life.
Why People Love It | “Look no further for your next baby shower gift. New moms need to be not only encouraged but also prepared to take good care of themselves – how many of us knew how hard that would actually be? Even just keeping this book on your nightstand is a daily reminder to advocate for yourself.” – KN
Price | $16.95
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9. Awake at 3 a.m
Author | Suzannah Neufeld
Written by a therapist, this book is an extremely important one to have on the shelf for new mothers and experienced mothers. This book is a companion to those who are not experiencing motherhood as joyous and are instead facing real and serious mental health concerns. Instead of acting as though these conditions do not exist, this book offers transparency around these complicated emotions and helps to guide mothers through the toughest times.
Why People Love It | “This book has been so helpful to me. I’ve had a very hard transition into motherhood for a multitude of reasons and I really felt like in many ways the author spoke right to me! The hardest thing has been feeling ashamed by the feelings I’ve been having. I can’t tell you how reassuring it’s been to know I’m not alone, nothing is wrong with me and I’m not a bad person/mom.” – J
Price | $18.95
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10. The Body Heals Itself
Author | Emily A. Francis
This book is a fascinating look into a deeper awareness of how our body responds to our emotions. The angle is breaking down all of the parts of the body scientifically, then explaining healing through plants and holistic remedies. This book is a wonderful tool for new mothers aiming to understand how the body is healing after childbirth and how to care for their entire body. The book also walks the reader through various meditations to relax different parts of the body and ways to energize the mind.
Why People Love It | “If you desire a solid understanding of how your body works—not just physically but emotionally and spiritually—this book will guide you easily and clearly.” – SW
Price | $21.99
Purchase The Body Heals Itself
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Courtney Jay is a writer at The Good Trade. She is also a yoga instructor, health enthusiast, and sustainable fashion advocate. She believes the most powerful way to nurture the planet is to nurture ourselves. You can find more of her writing and take one of her online yoga classes on her website Coincide.
