If you are pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant, or have recently given birth, you have probably heard of Jen Hamilton, the popular Labor and Delivery nurse who talks to millions every time she posts. With the encouragement of her online audience and publishers who wanted her to write a book, her first book, Birth Vibes: Stories and Strategies for an Empowered Birth, is currently available for pre-order. 

Now that I have daughters who actively think about when they eventually get married and have children, I read as much as I can about childbirth and the options they will have when their time comes for them. Jen Hamilton’s Birth Vibes is the exact type of book that any expecting mother should read, not only because of Hamilton’s expertise, but also because the way in which she writes eases a lot of anxiety that I know pregnant women have. I know I did. 

I wish I had a book like Birth Vibes when I was pregnant. It would have helped me tremendously. In the first half of her book, Hamilton tells real stories about situations that women have had while in the hospital delivering their babies. She tackles every imaginable situation, from encouraging women to be adaptable during childbirth to what to do when a birth partner is mean or overbearing. She writes about some of the aspects of birth that are must-haves: communication, support, adaptability, a great birth environment, compassion that health care providers can have for their pregnant patients, and last of all, closure when women assess how their births went. She also includes Vibe Checks after each chapter to advise expecting moms on how to have their best birth. For example, creating the environment an expectant mom wants by bringing photos, battery-powered candles, eye masks, and computers to pass the time. Or, how expectant moms need to clearly think about who they really want in the room when they deliver their baby. It makes a big difference because this experience is about the mom, not who is there for support.

Hamilton then provides worksheets where women can create their own Birth Vibes Profile to help them plan how they want their birth to look, including how they want to be communicated to, the interventions they do not want, and other planned aspects of childbirth.

The final part of Birth Vibes is all of the “nitty gritty,” as Hamilton calls it, about giving birth. She has information about how to pick the right caregivers, how to advocate for yourself as a woman of color, how to communicate with your care team, and everything about pain management, among other tips about preparing to have a baby. 

Being pregnant can be fraught with anxiety and a lot of preparation. I particularly like how Hamilton includes pre-written ways to talk to caregivers in order for expectant moms to have very open lines of communication. Jen Hamilton’s Birth Vibes walks women step by step through the process of preparing for and giving birth with a friendly and funny tone to round out this exceptional book.