Perinatal Book Reviews
A quick summary of my favourite perinatal books (so far!)
Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth
One of the first books that I read - inspiring birth stories with practical advice, promoting trust in the body’s natural ability to give birth. Ina challenges fear-based narratives and medicalised birth practices, advocating for midwifery care, informed choice, and a supportive environment to empower women through a more physiological, positive birth experience.
Dr Rachel Reed's Childbirth as a Rite of Passage
Maybe my favourite book. Reed explores birth as a transformative, sacred journey shaped by cultural, social, and medical influences. She argues modern maternity care often disrupts this process, disempowering women. Reed advocates for honouring childbirth as a personal, meaningful rite that supports autonomy, connection, and embodied wisdom.
Dr Rachel Reed’s website is full of informative information for your pregnancy journey, and she also co-hosted a fabulous podcast, The Midwives’ Cauldron, which you can listen to here
Rhea Dempsey's Birth with Confidence
My next favourite! Rhea empowers women to approach birth informed and resilient. She explores the impact of fear, pain, and the medical system on birth outcomes, introducing the concept of 'pain with purpose.' Dempsey encourages preparation, support, and confidence to reclaim birth as a powerful experience, and likens it to many other big life experiences - writing a PHD, acting on stage, completing an intense physical event
Rhea Dempsey's Beyond the Birth Plan
A follow-on from Birth with Confidence, Dempsey examines the gap between birth expectations and real-life experiences. She highlights how emotional preparation, care models, and support systems influence outcomes. Dempsey encourages women to build emotional resilience, understand birth terrain, and develop flexible, informed plans to navigate the unpredictability of childbirth with strength.
Join one of Rhea Dempsey’s birth preparation workshops here
Dr Sarah J. Buckley’s Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
Combining science and spirituality to support instinctive approaches to birth and parenting. She critiques mainstream medical practices, highlighting the hormonal physiology of birth and its long-term impacts. Buckley advocates for informed choices, trust in the body, and nurturing beginnings for mother and baby.
Dr Buckley has been a guest on many podcasts and speaks with eloquent passion - listen here on The Midwives’ Cauldron – ‘Hormones from conception to pregnancy, birthing to feeding, bonding & attachment’
Lucy Jones’s Matrescence
Explores the profound psychological, emotional, and biological transformation women undergo in becoming mothers. Drawing on science, history, and personal experience, Jones illuminates the complexity of this life phase, often overlooked in society. She advocates for greater recognition, support, and understanding of motherhood as a powerful developmental shift.
Heng Ou and Marisa Belger’s The First Forty Days
An interesting look at the traditional postpartum confinement period across different cultures, emphasising rest, nourishment, and support during the first six weeks after birth. Blending traditional wisdom with modern needs, she offers recipes, rituals, and guidance to help new mothers heal, bond with their baby, and transition gently into motherhood. Like all books, take what you need and what works for you.
Jessica Prescott and Vaughne Geary’s Life After Birth
A compassionate, practical guide to the postpartum period. Blending personal stories, expert advice, and holistic care tips, it supports mothers through emotional, physical, and lifestyle changes. The book emphasises nourishment, rest, community, and self-compassion in navigating early motherhood with confidence. Again, take what you need from this book, it might not resonate with you!
Illyin Morrison’s The Birth Debrief
Illyin guides women in processing and healing from challenging or traumatic birth experiences. Combining personal stories, professional insights, and practical tools, Morrison creates space for honest reflection and emotional recovery. She empowers women to reclaim their narratives, fostering understanding, resilience, and renewed confidence in their journeys.
