The books we read during our vegan pregnancy

Hello everyone! It’s Rita here, ready to tell you all about the books we read during our vegan pregnancy. Not everything that is learned is contained in books. In fact, there’s nothing like going through actual pregnancy and childbirth to learn what it is all about! Nonetheless, there are a few books out there that were super helpful to us during this special period of our lives. I was never one to embark on a new journey without doing a fair bit of research first. And being pregnant and becoming a mama has been the biggest and most important journey of André and I’s life together so far. We did attend a set of one on one childbirth classes with a midwife (and I can tell you more about that in another blog post, if that’s something you’d like to read about), and we rounded out that experience with the knowledge taken from these books. They helped us enjoy our pregnancy to the fullest while also anticipating and preparing the following stages with ease and tranquility.

Please note that these books are not exclusively vegan or even related to a plant-based diet. What we did was adapt whatever was not in line with veganism with our lifestyle and beliefs and dismissed whatever could simply not be adapted.

1. The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Genevieve Howland

   The Mama Natural’s popular pregnancy guide did not leave André’s nightstand for the duration of our entire pregnancy – he took on the challenge of reading this one while I read the others, and then we’d both share what we’d learned. Every Friday night, which was when we completed another week of gestation, we’d study what to expect from the following week and learn what was going on with mama and baby. This guide includes information about the physiology of the woman’s body and the baby’s development as the pregnancy progresses, and also covers the moment of childbirth. There are tips on how to nurture a loving relationship with your partner, how to pick non-toxic furniture and clothing for your baby, and even cloth diapers! It is as complete as it gets. 

2. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin

   This book is a real gem, as it not only includes a section on woman, baby and childbirth physiology, as well as first-hand testimonies written by dozens of women who, under the care of renowned midwife Ina May Gaskin and her colleagues in the community and birth centre The Village, gave birth to their babies naturally and actively. All these stories helped me a lot to understand the truth that a woman is perfectly fit to give birth and bears tremendous strength.

3. The Fourth Trimester, by Kimberly Ann Johnson

   Preparing for postpartum is as (or more!) important as preparing for pregnancy and childbirth. If I were to recommend only one book to future mamas, it would be this one. The concept of the fourth trimester, the trimester of the so called exterogestation, deserves all the attention we can muster. This is the time in which mother and baby are still closely linked in order to make the transition from the belly to the outside world as smooth and peaceful as possible. This book is designed to introduce the mother-to-be to the vulnerable period that she will live through after giving birth. It talks about caring for the baby, about caring for the body and mind, about the roller coaster of emotions that is the postpartum period, about the new relationship that is established between the couple and how to nurture love and complicity, about the importance of a healthy diet and also about returning to physical activity, with tips and instructions for exercises inspired by the practice of yoga. I highly recommend it!

4. The First Forty Days, by Amely Greeven, Marisa Belger and Heng Ou

   Similarly to The Fourth Trimester, The First Forty Days talks about the importance of caring for and nourishing the mother during the postpartum period, especially during the first forty days. It includes an introductory section which describes the postpartum traditions of some Asian and Latin cultures, and various functional recipes that aim to meet a woman's nutritional needs after childbirth. Many recipes are not vegan – not even vegetarian – but all are easily adaptable.

5. Parto Ativo, by Janet Balaskas

   Janet Balaskas is the key reference to mention when talking about the concept of active childbirth. This book compares modern Western practices of childbirth (highly medicated and instrumentalized) to a natural and non-invasive approach to childbirth in which the woman is the protagonist rather than a passive figure. In addition to describing the physiology of childbirth, it includes many exercises and practical activities that can be used to prepare for childbirth and to practice during labour.

6. Ina MaY’s Guide to Breastfeeding, by Ina May Gaskin

   Once the potential difficulties of pregnancy and childbirth are overcome, a new ordeal arises for the new mother, the baby and the couple too (yes, because daddy can and should participate) - to establish a healthy breastfeeding relationship and routine. There is nothing more natural than a woman breastfeeding her baby, but that does not necessarily mean it is effortless. In fact, for many women, myself included, the initial phase can be very, very difficult. André and I attended private lessons on breastfeeding, conducted by the same midwife and lactation consultant that accompanied us during those first few weeks after our baby was born. But again, knowledge does not take up space, and when it comes to breastfeeding, every piece of information helps. This book by Ina May Gaskin has a very straightforward and simple approach to this subject and, like her sister work described above, is packed with tools that will help the new mum feel safe, calm and able to overcome any possible difficulties.