The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Jill Romm

Oh how I loved this book. Now here we have a truly holistic book on our hands. This book is refreshing in that it is written so intelligently. There were many parts I really liked, and I would recommend this book to any and every pregnant women. It was so educational, inspiring, and empowering, which is just what I want in a good book. I’ll summarize some of my favorite parts.

The author gives a brief history of birth, which is one of my favorite things to learn about. Did you know that out of the 4 million women who give birth every year, only 1,600 of them do so at home? This is kind of an astounding number when you consider that a little over 100 years ago, 95% of women gave birth at home. I do enjoy the fact though that there are 1,600 women each year that are willing to go against the grain and have a homebirth. In the world of homebirth, sometimes it’s easy to feel alone.

I enjoyed the section on listening to your body. Most of us just simply don’t. Many people don’t even get to use the restroom at work when they need to. I really believe in listening to your body. It is even more so important during pregnancy. The author believes in making sure you sleep when you feel tired, making sure you eat what your body is telling you (and no that doesn’t just mean a bunch of junk food, it’s about knowing your body is asking for certain nutrients and getting those nutrients for your body), and paying attention to emotions you’re having.

I REALLY enjoyed the part about communicating with your baby. This is not touched on enough in most books. I love the thought that the baby can communicate with its mother before it is born. This makes sense to me and I believe it to be true. The author gives good insight into this such as how to listen and connect with your baby so that you are able to communicate.

The author then explains prenatal care and care from different types of providers. She is very respectful in her descriptions, but she is honest and tells it like it is. This part actually made me laugh. It is just so refreshing when an author is actually honest without any pretenses.

There is also very good information on nutrition in this book. I personally enjoyed the author’s understanding and acknowledgment of various alternative diets such as vegetarianism. I tend to be put off by books that automatically discredit alternative eating choices simple because they are not the norm or are poorly understood by the author. This author does not do that. I also respect her position of listening to your body in that even if you follow a certain way of eating, if you’re body is telling you something you need, listen to it.

One of my favorite parts of the whole book is the author’s information on weight. She “doesn’t place any emphasis on weight” because a woman can gain weight even on an inadequate diet. This is so incredibly true! It is nice to hear someone else verify this as most people just don’t get it, especially when it comes to pregnancy. Instead, pay attention to what a woman is actually eating and work on her nutrient intake.

This book also covers exercise, posture, emotions, physical changes, rest, herbs for pregnancy, and birth as a rite of passage. All of the information given is excellent. The last large chunk of the book is devoted to common concerns during pregnancy and what can be done for them. Very enlightening chapter.

This is a great book, especially if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. I just absolutely loved it!