The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth

My first run-in with Mama Natural took place on Pinterest. We’ll call it an e-meeting of sorts. I’m always pinning useful information for later and Mama Natural has LOTS of it! Prior to reviewing this book, I completed the Mama Natural Birth Course as part of my Doula Certification work and it is also– AMAZING First and foremost, I love rich color and an easy to read text— this book had all of that. Secondly, It has great illustrations— and not just the typical diagrams you would expect to see in a pregnancy planning book. There are illustrations of the author and her spouse, example mothers, some of the diagrams you would expect, and even illustrations of sample meals that one might try to prepare to switch up their weekly routine. I would also like to highlight here that the images are drawn illustrations– not just photographs (though I’m not opposed to photos)– that gave it a really personal touch to me. If you read a good number of these books, you become accstomed to seeing certain photos and images and this was a nice change of pace. It includes a week-by-week guide to pregnancy and childbirth from a natural perspective. I shared a bit of my personal testimony of wanting to eliminate as many commercial medications and medical interventions as possible in one of my older posts. It is important to me that I seek out knowledge to prepare myself for a natural pregnancy and to support my friends and family who are currently having babies and who desire to do so naturally. KNOWLEDGE is POWER! Her week-by-week tips include some of the most practical and helpful information I’ve seen. It was like having all of the best Pinterst Pins in one place! There are recipes, affirmations, and useful tips — like how to use your existing wardrobe throughout pregnancy and when/how to decide if any items are worth adding to your collection. The book doesn’t stop at the week-by-week tips and advice for during pregnancy, it also includes labor and post partum and one part that I thought was very important was that pregnancy loss was included. As someone who is both a trained Social Worker and Doula, I understand that loss and post partum symptoms are often two big “elephants in the room.” Many are uncomfortable with discussing with them and if a mother experiences either (or both) she can be left feeling isolated and with no recourse. One of the greatest way to overcome the stigma is to talk about these issues— these births matter and mothers who experience post partum symptoms (baby blues, depression, etc.) are not alone and are STILL good mothers!I’ll stop there, before I get all the way up on my soapbox. Long story short, I really love this book. I purchased a Kindle copy for my personal use and will definitely be buying others to give away as gifts– it’s just THAT awesome! I highly recommend that you add it to your collection if you’re in the market for this type of book. It could also make a great gift for soon-to-be or future mothers in your life.

I’m recently pregnant, and a friend recommended this book to me after I had already started reading a few other pregnancy books. This one has easily been my favorite. What I love most is how approachable and enjoyable it is to read. The illustrations are beautiful, the information is easy to follow, and it doesn’t feel like I’m reading a medical textbook. I also have the Mayo Clinic pregnancy book, which has a lot of useful information, but I find myself reaching for this one much more because it feels warmer, more engaging, and easier to read week by week. I actually look forward to reading each new section as my pregnancy progresses. It gives you plenty of information without making everything feel overwhelming. I’m really glad my friend recommended it and would definitely recommend it to other expecting moms.

This book actually changed mine and my family's life. My pregnancy, labor, and how I raised my kids was just going to be how I thought everyone else did it. A friend gifted me this book and soon after, I threw away my "What To Expect When You're Expecting" book that I was only holding onto just because I thought that was the main option for advice. I didn't like how almost solely mom-focused it was, whereas the Mama Natural book is beautifully focused on advice for what's best for both baby and mama. It's so empowering to learn how you can give your baby the best options for them, since they are my priority in the pregnancy and beyond anyway! Mama Natural gives the best balance of offering the conventional approach and the more natural approach in a way that's not judgmental, but purely informative, and helps you feel empowered to make the right decision for your baby and family. This book has been with me for 5 years and 2 pregnancies, and I still talk about it often (even today it came up!). I recognize this is what opened my eyes to the "natural" world and I am so grateful for how confident I feel in my family's health - all from learning how to prioritize that kind of lifestyle when we can. P.S. I keep 2 copies. 1 for me for the recipe access (we've used them over and over again!) and a second to let my pregnant friends borrow!

i love this book so much. i'm half way through my pregnancy and i have read this front to back and use it as a reference frequently. i'm a natural-minded mama-to-be, but also a scientist, so it's important to me that books are well-researched and well-sourced. i do wish this book had a reference section, but i like that the author lists the journal or other source for (most of) the statistics she provides and studies she discusses. not all of the recommendations work for me (bone broth, no thanks!), but i love that she provides a variety of recipes and mentions vegetarian and non-dairy subs for her nutrition recommendations. she promotes natural childbirth, but also provides good info on other ways of doing things without being judgey. the labor playbook is especially helpful. i think she did a great job overall of stating her position without being too pushy. it's a hard line to balance and i've been impressed by the author's ability to do so. i also love the personal anecdotes and midwife advice sprinkled in here and there. i have three specific complaints: (1) i don't like is that the author references the weston a price foundation so much. i really don't think they are a good nutrition source - dr. price was a dentist, not a nutritionist or MD, who died 70 years ago. the journal that the foundation circulates is not peer-reviewed, and the foundation is crowd-funded, (2) some pages contain a red font on red background, and it is quite difficult to read, and (3) there is no citation provided for the statistic that 50% of infant boys these days are intact. i can't find any sources to support that, and i was quite surprised to see the number that high (for the record, this doesn't impact my decision, and there is lots of good info about the topic in the book, but i just wonder where this stat was pulled from). these complaints aside, i've enjoyed the hell out of this book and the website, and i plan to take the natural childbirth online class. thank you for a wonderful resource!

This book was an AMAZING read!! I would not have been able to fearlessly make it through so much of my pregnancy without reading it, and I would readily buy it for any family or friends who are expecting a baby. There is NO fearmongering or soap boxing with the information presented in this book. It is clearly written from a KNOW YOUR OPTIONS perspective so moms can make INFORMED DECISIONS. Does that mean you will like or agree with everything in this book? No, and you don't have to. The point is to be informed and make the best decisions for you and your pregnancy (with a live little human along for the ride in womb). In cases where you might think as a reader that the information is irrelevant or without proof, consider this: there is NO 100% proof for ANYTHING. Not even for scientific research studies. There are far too many variables in the human body and life to state that in any aspect. There will be information in here that states things such as "studies suggest that/studies have shown", and this is your cue to THINK CRITICALLY. These are the words used in medical and clinical trials and studies. What do they mean? That there is the possibility or an increase of a certain outcome, but there is either insufficient data to make a firm conclusion, not enough of a study pool to conclude it happens for everyone, or any other number of aberrations that can happen during trials and studies. For you, this means that you need to consider the information presented and make the best choice that you can. This book not only preps women with current information on potential risks and side effects of tests, interventions, ultrasounds, etc, but also of positive things in pregnancy like keeping up with sexy times, caring for yourself, exercises to do etc, what to expect for doctor visits and when, and how you might best prepare for labor and delivery (and what your options are). Thank you, Mama Natural, for this book that has been SO helpful in the decision making process throughout my pregnancy!!!

This is such a great read. Currently expecting baby six, I've recommended this book to my doula and anyone else I know who is pregnant. It's such a breath of fresh air compared to the other pregnancy guide books out there on the market. There is no fear mongering in this book, no "rush to your doctor" about every little thing, and while there is still a healthy dose of mainstream views represented, they are done in a way that is non threatening and embracing to families of all types. A huge focus on nutrition and holistic care for oneself is the main theme of this book. Absolutely love the weekly affirmations and recipes included, which feature vegan, dairy free, grain free, and gluten free recipes so there is a little something for everyone. Classic illustrations and witty writing really brings the author in tune with the audience, never talking down, but more like a friend having a conversation with you. Only four stars for consistently pushing products that are absolutely not essential (newborn hats anyone?), crib, glass bottles for stay at home mamas, activity mats etc.... not exactly items I ever thought I would even see touched on in a book for natural parenting.

This book follows mama and baby through every week of the pregnancy. She gives you a manageable chapter to get through each week (remember you're totally tired being pregnant or chasing another toddler around so time is limited!). Each week starts with a quick update of what is going on with mama and baby and then dives into an important topic for that week or common questions mama might be having at that time in the pregnancy. At the end of each week she leaves mama with a list of 2-3 items to accomplish. And these items are attainable....one was "sleep". Can I get an amen?! The weeks are packed with beautiful illustrations and birth affirmations. There are also various checklists provided for mama to physically put a check mark next to as she prepares for baby's arrival, for things mama has been worrying about as well as things that haven't even crossed her mind yet. This hearty guide covers everything from a natural perspective, cover to cover, and everything is all gathered in one place. In a world of mommy-shaming, this book is all-inclusive. While it is naturally focused, there is no shaming. This guide does address fertility, loss, epidurals, and c-sections (or as I prefer to call it surgical birth), and gentle cesarean. All of these options are respected & honored for their ability to save lives.What I love about this book, is not only is it naturally-focused, but it acknowledges that mama plays a huge role in this pregnancy thing. You cannot have birth without mama and yet so many apps and books only focus on baby. Of course the health and development are important and Mama Natural discusses those topics too, but I love the immense emphasis placed on mama because her desires should be honored and respected. It is my hope that all women, no matter what their birth preference is, are respected for their choices. I want my daughter to have a world that respects her choices and wants to support her in that path. I pray that not only does this book help the Natural Mama now, but the Natural Mamas of the future as well. I highly recommend this book!

Bought this the day I found out I was pregnant—BEST decision. It breaks everything down week by week, keeps things simple, and actually makes you feel prepared instead of overwhelmed. I loved how it covers what’s happening with baby and your body, plus helpful tips on nutrition, natural remedies, and what to expect along the way. As a first-time mom, this gave me so much confidence and peace of mind. If you’re pregnant for the first time… just get it.

Fue un regalo para mi esposa, le encanto y nos ayudó a tomar decisiones.

It’s way to costly for what it is and it doesn’t even look like a original copy

I found this book helpful. I don’t have any experience with pregnancy or babies more so I have friends with kids so this kept me on track and feeling confident

Great book, has a natural flow like having a conversation with the author, great tips and the quality of book, paper and print is great!

What a great and thorough read. I love the accepting nature of the writings and I think that every type of mama, anywhere on the "natural pregnancy" scale, can identify with what Genevieve Holland has written. I definitely learnt about what to expect and it helped me define how I want to live my pregnancy and child birth. I highly recommend it to mama's-to-be around the world looking for answers to their questions, as well as a holistic, natural and accepting approach to pregnancy.