Seeing those two pink lines is equal parts exciting and scary. I still remember sitting on my bathroom floor with my first positive test, already making a mental list of everything I didn’t know — including which books for expecting moms to read first. Four babies later, I can tell you this: no single book has all the answers, but the right one at the right time can make you feel so much less alone in all of it.
As a Springfield MO maternity photographer and a mom of four, I talk books with expecting moms all the time during our sessions. Between outfit changes and belly laughs, the conversation always drifts to what everyone’s reading. These are the nine books for expecting moms that come up again and again — from my clients and from my own nightstand.
You definitely don’t need all nine of these. I’d pick one or two that match what you’re most curious (or most nervous) about right now, and save the rest for later. Use the quick guide below to find your perfect starting point.
Which Book for Expecting Moms Should You Start With?
Quick guide — find your starting point. Want the week-by-week play-by-play? Start with What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Want straight medical facts? Grab the Mayo Clinic Guide to Pregnancy. Want an honest, funny take? Read The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy. Want help with the emotional side? Try What No One Tells You. Want data over opinions? Pick up Expecting Better. Thinking ahead to recovery? Read The Fourth Trimester. Want the first year covered too? Get What to Expect the First Year. Want a keepsake to fill in? Choose The Belly Book. Love tracking every detail? Use Baby’s Eat, Sleep and Poop Journal.
1. What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
This was the book on my nightstand during my first pregnancy, and it’s still the one I recommend first. For example, it walks you through every single week — what’s happening with the baby, what’s happening with your body, and what’s normal (spoiler: almost everything is normal). The eating and lifestyle sections are practical and down-to-earth. Best for: First-time moms who want the full week-by-week play-by-play.
2. What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff
This companion book picks up where the pregnancy book leaves off, going month by month through your baby’s first year — sleep, feeding, milestones, sniffles, all of it. In addition, I love that you can keep the same trusted voice going after delivery instead of starting over with someone new. Best for: Moms who want one trusted guide from pregnancy through the first birthday.
3. Mayo Clinic Guide to Pregnancy by the Mayo Clinic
If opinions from every corner of the internet are making your head spin, this is your antidote. Written and reviewed by Mayo Clinic doctors, it breaks down baby’s growth by week and your changing body by month, plus a 40-week pregnancy calendar. No scary talk, no fluff — just solid medical info. I hear about this one constantly from my maternity photography clients — usually while we’re chatting between poses about what week they’re in. Best for: Moms who want facts from real doctors, not anecdotes.
Honest, Funny, and Real Takes
4. The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine
Most pregnancy books read like textbooks. However, this one reads like your funniest friend who’s been through it and will tell you the truth about everything — the weird symptoms, the unsolicited advice, the stuff nobody posts about. It’s honest, hilarious, and weirdly comforting on the hard days. Best for: Moms who want a girlfriend’s honest take instead of a lecture.
5. The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson
Everyone prepares for birth, but almost nobody prepares for the recovery — and those first weeks can blindside you. This is a guide to healing your body, steadying your emotions, and getting your energy back after delivery. It’s the book I wish someone had handed me with my first. I see the truth of it during every newborn photography session — the mamas who’ve thought about their own recovery, not just the birth plan, walk in so much calmer. Best for: Moms thinking ahead to postpartum recovery, not just the birth.
6. Baby’s Eat, Sleep & Poop Journal
Before kids, I never imagined I’d track another human’s eating, sleeping, and pooping. Then I had a newborn and couldn’t remember which side I’d nursed on ten minutes ago. This simple logbook takes the guesswork out of those foggy first weeks — feedings, diapers, sleep, all in one place. Best for: Detail-loving moms (and partners) who want everything tracked in one spot.
Data, Feelings, and Keepsakes
7. Expecting Better by Emily Oster
Economist Emily Oster takes a data-driven look at all those pregnancy rules and asks: what does the evidence actually say? For example, coffee, sushi, wine, bed rest — she breaks down the real numbers so you can make your own calls. If ‘because I said so’ has never been a good enough reason for you, you’ll love this one. Best for: Data-loving moms who want evidence, not just rules.
8. What No One Tells You by Dr. Alexandra Sacks
So many pregnancy books focus on the baby and the body and completely skip the emotional earthquake of becoming a mother. Written by reproductive psychiatrists, this one is about you — the identity shift, the mixed feelings, the joy tangled up with grief for your old life. It gave me language for feelings I thought meant something was wrong with me. Best for: Moms who want support for the emotional side of the transition.
9. The Belly Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
This isn’t a medical guide — it’s a nine-month keepsake journal with prompts for documenting the whole journey: how you felt, what you craved, the nursery plans, the great name debate. Ten years from now, you will be so glad you wrote it all down. Pair it with maternity photos and you’ve got the full story — the words and the images together. That’s exactly why I love being a maternity photographer: so families have both. Best for: Sentimental moms who want to document every moment.
These are the best books for expecting moms that I recommend over and over — the ones my clients actually finish and the ones that earned permanent spots on my own shelf. Pick the one that sounds like you, and happy reading. And when you’re ready to document this season — the bump, the anticipation, all of it — I’d love to help you plan your maternity session.
Quick Questions About Books for Expecting Moms
How many pregnancy books should I read? Honestly? One or two is plenty. Pick the ones that match what you’re most curious about right now. You can always grab another later if you want more.
When should I start reading books for expecting moms? Whenever you want! First trimester is great for the week-by-week guides. The postpartum books (like The Fourth Trimester) are worth reading before birth too, so you’re not blindsided.
I’m not a first-time mom. Are these still worth reading? Absolutely. Every pregnancy is different, and the emotional books (like What No One Tells You) hit differently the second time around.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Pregnancy Books
Borrow from the library first before buying — you’ll quickly learn which ones you want to keep. Skip around instead of reading cover to cover; use the table of contents to find what you need right now. And read with your partner if you can — it’s a great way to get on the same page (literally) about what to expect.
Are You an Expecting Parent Looking for a Maternity and Newborn Photographer in Springfield, MO?
Hello! I’m Jessica Kennedy, a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in Springfield, MO. As a mom of four with 10+ years behind the camera, I help with everything from finding the perfect outfit to planning, preparation, and more — including my motherhood client closet you’re welcome to borrow from! Whether you’re looking for an individual maternity or newborn session, or want to document the whole first year with my Bump-to-Baby experience, I have something for you. Here’s what Heather said after her maternity session: “She made me feel so beautiful and comfortable… I left feeling like a princess.” Click here for more information on working together!
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