As someone who's interested in natural childbirth, I thought this might be useful. I'd heard positive things about the method from online forums. But the book kind of makes you feel like if you feel any pain or feel any worries, you're failing. I liked the Birthing from Within approach a bit better - worrying during pregnancy is natural! But I did like the visualisations on the CD that came with the book and found them very relaxing.

This book is another book focussed on actually giving birth. There was a bit too much information on birth art for my taste, as I didn't find it all that relevant. However, I think that the portions that deal with actually coping with pain and so on will be useful closer to the big day. I'll also recommend some chapters to Julian.

Kitzinger is an anthropologist who's been writing about pregnancy and childbirth for decades, often critically. This book is another great general reference text - lots of focus on homebirth and waterbirths as well.

A really interesting perspective on pregnancy and childbirth; for those interested in such things - this is a really positive, exciting book filled with a can-do attitude. Kitzinger is an anthropologist, but it doesn't read like that. The idea of a pregnancy book being positive might seem like an truism, but many are filled with ridiculous warnings about all sorts of rare disorders that can crop up, which do little to put women at ease.

A really good general reference text - lots of information on very early pregnancy and also on nutrition. The childbirth section is really good too, with lots and lots of information on how it all happens.