Be careful of baby/birthing books. I read a few and although there were some helpful things in there, there was a good deal of misleading information. Your birth experience will be a unique experience and although books can be helpful, the birth of your child will be an individual experience between you and your baby (and your partner if you want). I didn't read any birthing books that I would recommend besides baby name books. Instead we took birthing classes that were wonderful because we got to meet other couples who were expecting around the same time. It was a fun and personal experience where we got to ask the instructor (who was a birthing coach) lots of questions. She was unbiased in her opinions and was happy to discuss all of the options there were. The number one thing she emphasized was that the mother stay strong on what she decides she wants for her birthing plan and not to get pushed into something you don't feel comfortable with by family, friends, physician or doula.

The birth is just one thing. When that sweet little baby comes along, I would suggest On Being Babywise. Even if there are some things you might disagree with, there is a lot of helpful information about how to get a child on a routine at an early age which is not only good for the baby but also for mom and dad too. My own experience with it changed a very tough situation with my daughter, who at 10 months stopped sleeping at night and didn't take naps, to a much more enjoyable time where she began sleeping through the night, took long naps and I got to do the same. Using the same technique, my son started sleeping through the night at 3 months. He's 2.5 now and is so used to his schedule that he will often times put himself in bed at nap time and he automatically becomes tired around the same time every night. It's a beautiful thing and makes having kids so much more enjoyable for all people involved.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth is definitely my favorite.