Let’s be honest—pregnancy can feel like a full-time research project. One minute you’re Googling “Is it safe to eat feta?” and the next you’re falling down a rabbit hole of birth plans and breast pumps. There’s a lot of information to sort through – some of it conflicting, some of it patronizing, some of it overly clinical. That’s where Nurture comes in. It’s meant to be an inclusive, supportive journey from the first trimester through the fourth. The tone of this book can be best described as a no-judgement friend who knows just the right moment to text you that “you’re doing amazing.” That tone is a big reason some parents swear by it as a calming guide through pregnancies ups, downs and anxieties. For others, it can veer too far into holistic approaches and start feeling more wellness-retreat than practical guide.
The Cliff Notes
Published in 2017, Nurture is part pregnancy guide, part emotional lifeline. You can sense Erica Chidi’s background as a doula throughout the book. A doula is non-medical, trained professional who helps provide support for pregnancy and birth. Doulas basically help keep soon-to-be moms feeling calm and cared for, and that’s the vibe of this book. Chidi doesn’t just tell you what’s happening in your body each month—she also checks in on how you’re feeling. The book blends practical info (think: what to expect at each prenatal appointment and even how to carve out space for yourself at work) with mental health support, partner tips, meditations, journaling prompts, and nourishing recipes. Those prompts and meditations are a real differentiator for this pregnancy guide. Few books on the topic spend as much time on the emotional side of pregnancy, helping you check in with yourself during an extremely transformative time.
Throughout, Chidi uses thoughtful, affirming language. This book can help you better understand not just pregnancy but yourself, pregnant.
What’s covered in Nurture
The book covers topics from self-care during your pregnancy journey to a trimester-by-trimester guide to what’s going on with your body and your baby and much more. Some things you can expect in Nurture:
- Tools and self-care – The first part of the book offers practical tools for navigating everything from your relationships to your workplace. There are helpful tables and prompts to support kickstarting the kind of self-reflection and conversations you may be too tired or emotionally depleted for once baby arrives.
- Month-by-month guidance: In the second section, you’ll walk through what you’ll experience month-by-month in each trimester. What’s different about Nurture, though, is that unlike other books that will give you just the details on your baby’s development, this section will also walk through your feelings and why you might be feeling them. Plus, you’ll get natural remedies for nausea, stretching exercises and tips to combat heartburn in later pregnancy.
- What to expect for labor, delivery and beyond: The final section takes you into the details of labor, delivery and beyond. You’ll learn the lingo of birth and what signs of labor to look out for. But Nurture knows that postpartum is actually just the beginning. Chidi covers bleeding, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, mood swings, and all the weird, powerful things that happen in the first weeks of motherhood. She also talks about how to ask for help, set boundaries, and reconnect with yourself (and your partner)in a new chapter of life.
- A focus on emotional and mental health: Throughout the chapters, Chidi offers grounding rituals and tools to help you slow down and reconnect with yourself. She also doesn’t shy away from the hard parts of pregnancy. She talks openly about miscarriage, grief, fear of birth, body image struggles, and the identity shift that happens when you become a parent.
Who Is Erica Chidi?
A passionate advocate for women’s health and well-being, Erica Chidi is a former doula, educator, Goop podcaster and author who has made it her mission to support people through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
Before becoming an author, Chidi started her career as a doula, offering hands-on support to pregnant women in all kinds of settings—including volunteering in the San Francisco County Jail, where she supported pregnant women who were incarcerated.
In 2017, Erica co-founded LOOM, a modern wellness and education platform designed to make reproductive and sexual health more accessible, inclusive, and easy to understand. LOOM grew into a digital resource for people navigating everything from periods and pregnancy to parenting and menopause.
In her work, Chidi encourages people to tune into their own wisdom and trust their bodies—messages that shine through in Nurture and resonate strongly with many readers.
Who should read Nurture?
If you’re the type of reader that would prefer to get straight into the hard facts, this book will likely not be a fit for you. While Nurture will cover the stages of pregnancy and the birth experience ,Chidi is not a doctor and this book is not medical advice. It offers a more holistic, naturopathic approach that can be a turn-off for some readers. Others, though, describe this book as “a warm hug.”
Nurture might be for you if:
- You’re a first-time mom that’s starting to feel the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy.
- You prefer books that take a warmer tone and more holistic approach.
- You are interested in homeopathic approaches and mindfulness
- You’re looking for a guide that’s inclusive of different identities and family structures
- You’ve dealt with anxiety, trauma, or mental health challenges and want a more mindful approach
- You’re craving a guide with a more supportive tone
What do parents say about Nurture?
What parents liked about Nurture:
- “This is the most approachable, easy to digest, least judgmental, and most comprehensive book out there.”– Amazon reviewer
- “The tone of the book is completely different from most pregnancy books--no shaming or absolute pronouncements made, and Chidi truly makes you feel that everything will be fine, as long as you do what you feel is right for you and your baby.”– Goodreads reviewer
- “A nice holistic approach to physical and mental wellbeing.”– Reddit poster
What parents didn’t like about nurture:
- “Giving it three stars because of how helpful I found the labor and newborn info to be—the pregnancy phase felt really full of mindfulness exercises and recipes.” –Goodreads reviewer
- “There are some really nice grounding mindfulness moments in this book, but I had a hard time with the herbs, essential oils and tinctures and other non-evidence-based advice.” – Amazon reviewer
- “I enjoyed the mental focus stuff but I’m sorry I’m not going through my home and buying all new natural cleaning products…I don’t have the time or money... Very elitist for sure. – Reddit Poster
Final Thoughts
Nurture isn’t your typical pregnancy guide—and that’s exactly its strength. In a landscape that can often be filled with medical jargon and contradictory advice, Chidi offers something softer: a thoughtful, emotionally attuned companion for the journey through pregnancy and early motherhood. This book won’t be for everyone—some may find it leans too far into holistic care or feel it lacks clinical depth. But for many, that’s what makes it feel like a breath of fresh air. It’s a reminder that pregnancy isn’t just a medical condition to manage—it’s a life chapter to move through with care, reflection, and self-trust. If you’re looking for a guide that centers your emotional wellbeing, speaks with warmth instead of authority, and encourages you to listen to your own voice amid the noise, Nurture may be a good addition to your bookshelf.
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