Welcome to my curated reading list. Every single title featured here is a book I have read personally. I only ever recommend books that I have read myself, drawn from my own journey through pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, feeding, mindful movement, and holistic wellbeing.
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Jump to Category:
🤰 Pregnancy, Birth & Midwifery
🤱 Postpartum, Sleep & Feeding
🌱 Parenting & Child Development
⚖️ Maternal Autonomy & Women’s Health
👣 Movement & Functional Nutrition
🕊️ Mindset & Inner Growth
🤰 1. Pregnancy, Birth & Midwifery Wisdom Tap to toggle
Why Home Birth Matters , Natalie Meddings
A practical and empowering guide exploring the safety, benefits, and physiological realities of choosing to give birth at home.
In Your Own Time , Dr. Sara Wickham
An evidence-focused exploration of spontaneous labour, induction, pregnancy post-dates, and how to navigate birth timing decisions.
What’s Right for Me? , Dr. Sara Wickham
A practical handbook offering decision-making frameworks, questions to ask care providers, and tools to evaluate maternity care choices.
Birth in Focus , Becky Reed
A photographic and narrative journey capturing the diverse realities of normal, undisturbed physiological birth across varied settings.
Birthing Your Baby: The Second Stage of Labour , Nadine Edwards
An exploration of the pushing stage of labour, physiological descent, maternal instincts, and protecting maternal autonomy.
Am I Allowed? , Beverley Beech
A straightforward guide explaining maternal rights, consent, informed choice, and bodily autonomy within standard maternity care systems.
Group B Strep Explained , Dr. Sara Wickham
A balanced, research-driven analysis of Group B Streptococcus screening, risks, antibiotics, and clinical guidelines during pregnancy and birth.
Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage , Dr. Rachel Reed
A deep dive into the physiology, history, and cultural significance of birth, framing childbirth as a profound transformative transition.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth , Ina May Gaskin
A classic maternity resource combining inspirational natural birth stories with practical wisdom on the mind-body connection during labour.
Vitamin K and the Newborn: The Decision is Yours , Dr. Sara Wickham
An objective examination of the evidence, administration routes, and history regarding newborn vitamin K prophylaxis.
Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood , Lucy Jones
A profound exploration combining science, psychoanalysis, and nature writing to examine the immense neurological, bodily, and emotional metamorphosis of becoming a mother.
🤱 2. Postpartum, Sleep & Infant Feeding Tap to toggle
Let’s Talk About Your New Family’s Sleep , Lyndsey Hookway
An evidence-based, compassionate look at biologically normal infant and maternal sleep, supporting gentle, responsive family sleep patterns.
Let’s Talk About the First Year of Parenting , Amy Brown
A supportive, realistic breakdown of the emotional, physical, and societal challenges faced during the transformative first year of motherhood.
The Positive Breastfeeding Book , Amy Brown
A practical, empowering, and non-judgemental guide designed to help parents navigate breastfeeding challenges and meet their personal feeding goals.
Why Starting Solids Matters , Amy Brown
An evidence-based examination of infant feeding, baby-led weaning, responsive nutrition, and fostering a positive relationship with food.
How to Wean Your Baby , Charlotte Stirling-Reed
A nutritionist’s practical, step-by-step roadmap to weaning, introducing allergen foods, and establishing balanced family meals.
Why Babywearing Matters , Dr. Rosie Knowles
An evidence-informed, practical guide exploring the physical, emotional, and neurobiological benefits of carrying your baby, with safe ergonomic guidance.
Beautiful Chaos , Jessica Urlichs
An honest, moving collection of poetry and essays reflecting the emotional vulnerability, identity shifts, and raw love of early motherhood.
🌱 3. Parenting, Child Development & Alternative Paths Tap to toggle
The Whole-Brain Child , Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
A neuroscience-based guide offering actionable strategies to help parents understand and support children’s emotional regulation and brain development.
Unschooled: Raised to Run Free , Caro Giles
A candid memoir exploring motherhood, nature, neurodivergence, and the decision to step away from mainstream schooling to raise children freely.
⚖️ 4. Maternal Body Autonomy & Women’s Health Tap to toggle
Ultra-Processed Women , Milli Hill
An insightful and critical exploration of modern female health, dietary environments, and navigating ultra-processed food culture.
The Body Myth , Milli Hill
A deep dive into female bodily autonomy, confronting societal myths around women’s physical boundaries, birth culture, and maternal health.
👣 5. Physical Health, Movement & Functional Nutrition Tap to toggle
Eat to Beat Disease , Dr. William W. Li
A physician-led exploration of nutritional science and the specific whole foods that support the body’s natural defense systems.
The Stimulated Mind , Dr. Tommy Wood
An exploration of cognitive resilience, functional neurology, lifestyle medicine, and dietary strategies for optimal long-term brain health.
Walk: The Movement That Shapes Us and Heals Our Bodies , Dr. Courtney Conley
A functional podiatry and biomechanics guide exploring human gait, the importance of natural foot mechanics, and walking as restorative movement.
🕊️ 6. Mindset, Inner Growth & Spiritual Grounding Tap to toggle
The Inward Trilogy (Inward, Clarity & Connection, Lighter) , Yung Pueblo
A collection of poetry and reflective prose exploring self-love, emotional healing, letting go of past conditioning, and cultivating inner peace.
The Four Agreements , Don Miguel Ruiz
A classic guide to personal freedom drawing on ancient Toltec wisdom to break limiting self-beliefs and cultivate daily peace.
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