A Therapist’s Guide To The Best Books for Pregnant + Postpartum Women in California
🌿 Best Books for Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Motherhood: A Therapist’s Guide
Becoming a mom is life-changing — and not always in the ways people talk about on Instagram. Between exhaustion, shifting relationships, postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety, and the weight of the mental load, it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one struggling.
Hi I’m Alexa, therapist, mom of two, and founder of Therapy For California Moms. As a therapist who specializes in supporting moms throughout California, I often recommend books that are real, compassionate, and relatable. These are not “perfect mom” manuals. They’re guides that remind you: you’re not broken, you’re not alone, and you deserve support.
Here are my top book recommendations for pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood — explained the way I’d share them with a client in session.
🤰 Books for Pregnancy
The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson
Pregnancy may end with birth, but that’s just the beginning. This book helps you prepare for the recovery, healing, and emotional changes that follow. Johnson’s guidance makes you realize postpartum isn’t about “bouncing back” — it’s about rebuilding and honoring your body, while creating a circle of care around you.
What No One Tells You by Alexandra Sacks and Catherine Birndorf
Even before the baby arrives, your sense of self starts to shift. This book gives language to the anxiety, fear, and questions that show up during pregnancy. It helps you understand that big emotions are normal, and it offers a roadmap for navigating the identity changes that come with motherhood.
👶 Books for Postpartum
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman
If you’ve ever had a thought that made you wonder “what’s wrong with me?”, this book will feel like a lifeline. Through honest words and illustrations, Kleiman normalizes the scary, anxious, or guilt-filled thoughts that so many moms have but rarely say out loud. It’s validating, funny at times, and most of all — reassuring.
The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson
During postpartum, this book becomes even more essential. It offers both practical tools and deep wisdom for navigating those raw, exhausting months after birth. It reminds you that your healing is just as important as caring for your baby.
What No One Tells You by Alexandra Sacks and Catherine Birndorf
This is another grounding read for the postpartum period. It breaks down the emotional truths of becoming a mother — from postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety to relationship strain and identity loss. Instead of sugarcoating, it tells you: “this is real, this is common, and you will get through it.”
🌿 Books for Motherhood (Beyond the Newborn Stage)
The Good Enough Mother by Donald Winnicott
This book offers a powerful concept: your kids don’t need a perfect mom, they need a “good enough” one. Missing cues, losing your patience, needing space — these aren’t failures, they’re part of how children learn resilience. It’s a freeing reminder for moms who feel crushed by impossible standards.
Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself by Lisa Marchiano
Motherhood doesn’t just raise children, it transforms you. Marchiano explores how motherhood stirs up your deepest fears and desires, and how it pushes you to grow in unexpected ways. It’s a thoughtful, psychological book that pairs beautifully with therapy, inviting you to reflect on who you’re becoming.
Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Becoming a Mother by Lucy Jones
Lucy Jones captures what so many moms feel but don’t have words for: that motherhood is a metamorphosis. Through stories and research, she explains how becoming a mom reshapes your body, brain, relationships, and identity. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t recognize yourself anymore, this book validates that what you’re experiencing is a real, universal transition.
🌿 Why These Books Matter
Pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood can feel isolating. Books like these don’t replace therapy, but they can make you feel seen and understood. They give language to experiences you might not have been able to name yet — and sometimes, that’s the first step toward healing.
❓ FAQ About Therapy for Moms in California
Q: Do I need to be in crisis to start therapy?
Not at all. Many moms I work with are functioning on the outside but exhausted on the inside. Therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and prevent burnout.
Q: How does therapy help if I’m already reading books on postpartum depression or anxiety?
Books are wonderful companions, but therapy gives you personalized support. Together, we can explore how what you’re reading applies to your unique life.
Q: Is it selfish to spend time on therapy or reading when my family needs me?
No. Taking care of yourself is one of the best ways you take care of your family. Your well-being is the foundation they depend on.
💛 Mama, you don’t have to do this alone. Books can support you, but real change comes when you have a safe, judgment-free space to talk about what you’re carrying. If you’re in California and ready to feel more connected, supported, and grounded in Motherhood.
