Pregnancy Books
Each mother and pregnancy and birth is unique, so no one pregnancy book is going to be the right one for everyone. Here you'll find several great options for pregnancy resources, some of which are required for all PureJoy classes, others of which are not required, but still great for supplemental reading and reference.
Required Reading
The following books are required reading for all PureJoy classes.
by Dr. Robert Bradley
Included in registration costs. The founder of the Bradley Method® outlines how and why he started exploring natural childbirth and how to go about it.
by Susan McCutcheon
Sometimes referred to as "The Naked Book," it gives very practical guidelines for how to prepare for natural birth and what it is like.
by Ina May Gaskin
This book will take away your fear of birth forever. Warm and comforting, it will inform and guide you in your preparation and birth choices. Don’t skip the birth stories!
by Pam England
While this book might come across as overly spiritualized and granola, it gives some of the most practical and realistic advice about natural and medicated birth. If the birth art is too weird for you, just skip those chapters. The other ones are worth the read.
Additional Suggestions
Not required for class, but recommended.
by Henci Goer
Birth activist Goer gives clear, concise information based on the latest medical studies.
Edited by Roger W. Harms, M.D.
This new Mayo Clinic book on pregnancy provides you with practical information and reassurance on pregnancy and childbirth.
by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, and Sandee Hathaway, BSN
A well-known favorite that reassuringly answers the concerns of mothers- and fathers-to-be, from the planning stage through postpartum.
by William Sears, M.D., and Martha Sears, R.N.
In this comprehensive and reassuring guide, Dr. Bill and Martha Sears thoroughly explore the abundant choices couples face when anticipating the birth of their child.
