A selection of must read books
With so many pregnancy guides available, covering everything from multiple births to advice for new grandparents, it can be difficult to know where to start. Below is a selection of some of the most informative, practical and well-regarded titles available for expectant parents and families.
The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth
Australia’s bestselling pregnancy guide, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth is a trusted and empowering resource for expectant parents preparing for pregnancy, labour, birth and early postpartum life.
Drawing on the expertise of leading doctors, midwives and healthcare professionals across Australia, this comprehensive guide delivers evidence-based information alongside compassionate, practical support for every stage of the journey into parenthood.
Designed to help you make informed and confident decisions, the book covers everything from choosing maternity care providers and navigating physical and emotional changes during pregnancy to preparing for labour, birth and the early postpartum period. It also includes real birth stories from families of diverse backgrounds and birth experiences, offering reassurance, perspective and connection throughout.
Written in a warm, accessible and supportive style, this bestselling guide combines expert advice with the lived wisdom of women and families — helping readers feel informed, prepared and empowered as they move towards birth and motherhood.
At its heart is a simple but powerful message: your pregnancy matters, your labour matters, and your birth matters.
The Complete Guide to Postpartum - A mother-focused companion for life after birth
The Complete Guide to Postpartum is a compassionate and empowering resource designed to support mothers through the transformative journey after birth.
From the earliest postpartum days to the years that follow, this beautifully illustrated guide offers practical advice, expert insights and reassuring support for navigating the physical, emotional and mental changes of new motherhood.
Covering every aspect of postpartum recovery and adjustment, the book includes guidance on:
Preparing for postpartum
The fourth trimester
Mental health and emotional wellbeing
Hormonal changes
Pelvic floor recovery
Relationships and postpartum with your partner
Feeding and newborn care
Sleep and recovery
Self-care and rebuilding confidence
Trusted postpartum resources and support
Filled with evidence-based information, expert advice and real stories from mothers, this invaluable guide acknowledges both the beauty and the challenges of postpartum life. Thoughtfully designed with a ribbon marker for easy reference, it’s a book to return to whenever you have the time, energy or headspace to read.
Warm, practical and deeply reassuring, The Complete Guide to Postpartum helps mothers feel informed, supported and confident as they navigate life after birth.
Your New Pregnancy Bible - The Experts' Guide to Pregnancy and Early Parenthood
Recognised by women and healthcare professionals alike as one of the most trusted pregnancy resources available, Your New Pregnancy Bible has been fully updated to reflect the latest advances in antenatal and newborn care.
Featuring a refreshed modern design, this comprehensive guide includes detailed fold-out sections covering each trimester and the birth process, week-by-week illustrations of your baby’s development, and expert-led chapters exploring every stage of pregnancy, labour, birth and newborn care.
Inside, you’ll find in-depth information on antenatal care, labour preparation, delivery experiences, postnatal recovery and caring for your newborn, alongside comprehensive reference sections covering medical treatments, procedures and essential pregnancy and neonatal terminology.
Written by a team of leading specialists under the guidance of a renowned UK obstetrician, Your New Pregnancy Bible provides evidence-based information and practical guidance to help expectant parents support both maternal wellbeing and healthy baby development throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Up the Duff - the real guide to pregnancy
First published in 1999, Up the Duff by Kaz Cooke has become one of Australia and New Zealand’s most loved and trusted pregnancy guides.
Fully revised and updated for its 20th anniversary edition, this bestselling book offers honest, practical and reassuring advice on pregnancy, birth and preparing for life with a new baby — all delivered with Kaz Cooke’s signature humour and warmth.
Combining week-by-week pregnancy information with the entertaining diary of Hermoine the (even more) Modern Girl, Up the Duff covers every stage of the journey to parenthood in a relatable and accessible way. From conception and IVF through to labour, birth and newborn life, the book provides clear, evidence-based guidance without judgement or overwhelming advice.
Topics include pregnancy symptoms and body changes, antenatal testing, foetal development, labour preparation, pain relief options, caesarean birth, breastfeeding, newborn care, work and relationships, travel and safety, and the realities of adjusting to life with a baby.
Warm, witty and refreshingly honest, Up the Duff is an essential companion for navigating the joyful, challenging, funny and unpredictable moments of pregnancy and early parenthood.
The Day-By-Day Pregnancy Book - Count Down Your Pregnancy Day by Day with Advice from a Team of Experts
The Day-by-Day Pregnancy Book is a comprehensive, illustrated guide designed to support you through every stage of your pregnancy journey — from conception through to the first two weeks of your newborn’s life.
Offering the most up-to-date, day-by-day information, this trusted resource helps you understand your baby’s development as well as the physical and emotional changes you may experience throughout pregnancy.
Written by Dr Maggie Blott, a senior consultant in obstetrics and maternal medicine with more than 30 years of clinical experience, the book brings together insights from a wide range of healthcare professionals, including midwives, obstetricians, doctors and paediatricians.
This updated edition includes the latest specialist medical knowledge, along with practical guidance on fertility and conception, exercise and nutrition during pregnancy, and preparation for labour, birth and early newborn care. Its balanced, evidence-based approach supports expectant parents in making informed decisions that feel right for them.
Suitable for both first-time and experienced parents, The Day-by-Day Pregnancy Book is an invaluable companion for anyone seeking a confident, informed and supported pregnancy journey.
What to Expect When You're Expecting 6th Edition
Fully revised and updated, the 6th edition of What to Expect When You’re Expecting is the world’s bestselling pregnancy guide, trusted by millions of parents worldwide. With over 18.5 million copies in print, it has become a go-to resource for expectant families and was named one of USA Today’s “Most Influential Books of the Last 25 Years.”
Praised by readers as a constant source of reassurance throughout pregnancy, this edition is filled with essential information, expert advice, practical insights and up-to-date guidance for a new generation of parents. Written with warmth, empathy and humour by Heidi Murkoff, it answers the full range of questions expectant parents may have — including many arising from today’s evolving pregnancy and birth choices.
Comprehensive medical content has been fully updated for the UK, including the latest guidance on prenatal screening, medication safety during pregnancy, and postpartum birth control. Advice for partners is integrated throughout, ensuring support for both parents at every stage.
The book also reflects contemporary lifestyle considerations, covering topics such as nutrition trends, fertility treatments, multiple pregnancies, breastfeeding during pregnancy, and evolving birth practices including VBACs and gentle caesarean sections.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting remains a trusted, authoritative and accessible companion — offering clear, reassuring guidance through every stage of pregnancy and beyond.
The Positive Birth Book - The bestselling guide to pregnancy, birth and the early weeks
Challenging negativity and fear of childbirth, and brimming with everything you need to know about labour, birth and the early weeks of parenting, The Positive Birth Book is the must-have guide for pregnant women. A widely acclaimed bestseller since it was first published, it has empowered hundreds of thousands of women worldwide to make informed, positive choices about their births.
Fully revised and updated, this new edition will help you work out what kind of birth you really want, and learn how to maximise your chances of getting it.
Written in Milli Hill’s trademark warm and witty style, discover vital information on everything from building the ultimate birth plan, to your choices and rights in the birth room; from optimal cord clamping, to postnatal mental health; from the inside track on breastfeeding, to positive, gentle caesarean.
Whether you plan to have your baby in hospital, in a birth centre, at home or by elective caesarean, this essential, non-judgemental guide shows you how to raise your expectations and have the best possible birth experience.
New for this edition:
How to plan for a positive birth in difficult times
Reworked chapter on choosing where to have your baby
What you need to know about exercise in pregnancy from Charlie Launder, author of Bumps and Burpees
Top tips for breastfeeding from Amy Brown, author of The Positive Breastfeeding Book
New section on your rights in pregnancy and birth by Bashi Hazard
Essential information about your pelvic floor, core and postnatal incontinence by Nikki Bergen, creator of the Belle Method, and Luce Brett, author of PSML
Pregnancy for Men - The whole nine months
Having a baby is a significant life event — one that comes with excitement, uncertainty and plenty of questions along the way. While many resources focus on pregnancy for mothers, this book offers a refreshingly honest and supportive guide specifically for expectant fathers.
Written with humour and candour, it takes a month-by-month approach to pregnancy, drawing on the real-life experiences of first-time dads to help readers understand what to expect and how best to support their partner.
Blending practical advice with a light-hearted tone, the book covers what expectant fathers need to know, what they should do, and what is best avoided during pregnancy. From navigating the early stages through to preparing for birth and life with a newborn, it aims to demystify the journey and build confidence for dads-to-be.
Informative, relatable and often humorous, this is a frank and accessible companion for anyone preparing to become a father and experiencing one of life’s most extraordinary milestones.
Your Pregnancy Week by Week, 8th Edition
In print for more than twenty-five years, Your Pregnancy Week by Week has become a trusted, bestselling resource for expectant parents around the world. Its clear, week-by-week structure mirrors the same schedule used in clinical care, making it easy to follow your pregnancy journey alongside your healthcare provider.
Completely revised and updated, this edition includes the latest guidance on pregnancy, birth preparation, and the most common questions and concerns faced by modern parents-to-be.
Written in a compassionate, reassuring and medically grounded style, the book provides comprehensive support throughout pregnancy, including detailed weekly development charts, updated information on medical tests and procedures, safe exercise guidance for expectant mothers, and practical advice for partners.
With a refreshed design and updated illustrations, Your Pregnancy Week by Week remains an accessible and reliable companion for achieving a healthy and well-informed pregnancy experience.
When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads 4th Edition - Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy
Revised and expanded for its fourth edition, When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads is a trusted and comprehensive guide for women navigating the unique experience of a multiple pregnancy. With multiple births on the rise, this updated edition offers timely, practical and evidence-based support for expectant parents of twins, triplets or more.
Written by Dr Barbara Luke, an internationally recognised expert in the prenatal care of multiples, the book presents a clear, nutrition-focused program designed to support the health and wellbeing of both mother and babies throughout pregnancy.
Covering both the physical and emotional aspects of carrying multiples, the guide acknowledges the wide range of feelings expectant parents may experience — from joy and excitement to uncertainty and overwhelm — and provides reassuring, structured guidance at every stage.
Topics include finding appropriate specialist care, nutritional strategies to support healthy birthweight, safe levels of exercise and work, managing pregnancy risks, recognising signs of preterm labour, and preparing for delivery and postpartum recovery. It also offers practical advice on feeding and caring for newborns, balancing the demands of multiple babies, and returning to physical wellbeing after birth.
Including updated diet and exercise recommendations and new postpartum recipes, this edition remains an essential resource for anyone preparing for the extraordinary journey of a multiple pregnancy.
