My Best Books for Understanding Pregnancy Emotions

Pregnancy is an emotional rollercoaster, filled with joy, excitement, anxiety, and everything in between. Here are some of the best books to help you understand and navigate the emotional ups and downs of pregnancy:

What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood by Dr Alexandra Sacks & Dr Catherine Birndorf

In What No One Tells You, two of America’s top reproductive psychiatrists reassure you that the answer is yes. With thirty years of combined experience counseling new and expectant mothers, they provide a psychological and hormonal backstory to the complicated emotions that women experience, and show why it’s natural for “matrescence”—the birth of a mother—to be as stressful and transformative a period as adolescence.

Here, finally, is the first-ever practical guide to help new mothers feel less guilt and more self-esteem, less isolation and more kinship, less resentment and more intimacy, less exhaustion and more pleasure, and learn other tips to navigate the ups and downs of this exciting, demanding time.

Up the Duff: The Real Guide to Pregnancy by Kaz Cooke

This Australian favorite offers a lighthearted and relatable take on pregnancy and childbirth. It injects humor into the journey, making it a refreshing and enjoyable read.

Understanding Your Moods When You're Expecting: Emotions, Mental Health, and Happiness -- Before, During, and After Pregnancy by Lucy J. Puryear

This book is a comprehensive guide to understanding and managing your emotions throughout pregnancy. It covers topics such as mood swings, anxiety, depression, stress, and relationship changes. Puryear also provides practical tips and strategies for coping with these challenges.

The Pregnancy Countdown Book: Nine Months of Practical Tips, Useful Advice, and Uncensored Truths" by Susan Magee with Kara Nakisbendi M.D.

This book offers a blend of medical advice, practical tips, and humorous commentary to guide expectant mothers through each day of their pregnancy. It covers the physical and emotional changes that occur and provides insights into the less talked about aspects of pregnancy, helping mothers-to-be prepare for the full range of experiences they might face.

What No One Tells You About Your First Pregnancy by Erika Katz

This honest and informative book delves into the realities of pregnancy, both physical and emotional. Katz doesn't shy away from discussing the difficult aspects of pregnancy, such as fatigue, body image changes, and fear of childbirth. However, she also offers reassurance and support.

I Don't Want to Be a Mom. Now What? by Shonda Rhimes

This book is a great resource for women who are feeling ambivalent about pregnancy. Rhimes, the creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, shares her own story of unexpected pregnancy and motherhood. She explores the complex emotions that can come with motherhood, and she offers encouragement for women who are questioning their own desires.

Belly Laughs: Pregnancy Secrets and Humor by Jenny McCarthy

This humorous book is a lighthearted look at the ups and downs of pregnancy. McCarthy shares her own experiences with pregnancy and motherhood, and she offers practical tips and advice along the way