The Birth Book
Welcome to Your Birth Book Resource Hub
Everything you need, all in one place. This page is your companion to The Birth Book — use it to download your templates, explore the references, and dig deeper into the resources mentioned throughout the chapters.
Know someone who's expecting? Share the resource that will walk them through every step of their journey.
Your Free Resources
When you enter your email, you'll get instant access to all the checklists and birth preference PDFs from my book. It’s everything you need to feel prepared and confident — straight to your inbox.
Here's what's included:
Birth Preferences Template
What to Ask Your Doctor or Midwife
What to Ask About Your Hospital
What to Ask Your Homebirth or Birth Center Midwife
What to Ask Your Pediatrician
What to Pack for Labor & Delivery
Links From the Book
As you read through The Birth Book, you'll find references to websites, organizations, and tools I love. You can find them all here, organized by section — so you can always find what you're looking for.
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Verify state licensure of a doctor or midwife — Federation of State Medical Boards
Find a birth center — American Association of Birth Centers
Verify your CNM or CM midwife's credentials — American Midwifery Certification Board
For CPMs: Make an inquiry at the North American Registry of Midwives by emailing support@narm.org
Find a doctor as a woman of color — Health in Her Hue
Find a certified doula — DONA International
VBAC calculator — MFMu Network
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Sample protocol on intermittent auscultation in labor — AWHONN Position Statement
Research reference on eating in labor — A starting point for discussing this with your care team
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My Health Beyond Pregnancy — A handout for you and your primary care provider if you've had preeclampsia
Postpartum preeclampsia information — Preeclampsia Foundation
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Position changes for moving a posterior baby — Spinning Babies
Check your hospital's episiotomy rates — Leapfrog Hospital Ratings
Vaccine information for healthcare professionals — Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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Find an IBCLC in your community — ILCA Directory
Kellymom — Parenting and breastfeeding support
Getting started with breastfeeding — Stanford Medicine Newborn Nursery (includes videos on hand expression, well-fed baby checklist, and more)
National Women's Health and Breastfeeding Helpline — Free help in English and Spanish, Mon–Fri 9am–6pm ET: 1-800-994-9662 / womenshealth.gov
InfantRisk Call Center — Free expert guidance on medications and breastfeeding, Mon–Fri 8am–3pm CST: 1-806-352-2519 / infantrisk.com
Mommy Meds app — Up-to-date info on medication safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding, from Texas Tech's InfantRisk Center
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Bedsider — Birth control information
Postpartum emergency warning signs — Printable poster
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Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (24/7/365) / 988lifeline.org
Postpartum Support International — Get help, resources, and free online support groups
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Make Birth Better — UK-based organization with excellent informational PDFs
Postpartum Support International — Resources and free online support groups, including a BIPOC birth trauma group
Birth Trauma Association — UK-based, extensive information and support
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PUSH Pregnancy — Frequently updated resource page, a great place to start
Aaliyah in Action — Self-care boxes for grieving moms
Postpartum Support International — Loss & Grief — Peer mentoring and virtual support groups
Managing milk after a loss — PUSH Pregnancy
Breast massage and hand expression following perinatal loss — Instructional video
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep — Newborn photography for families experiencing loss
Star Legacy Foundation — Stillbirth research, education, and family support
What Readers & Experts Are Saying
The Birth Book was written to be the resource I wish I'd had — and it means everything to see it landing that way.
"With a kind, informed voice, Lincoln anticipates common questions pregnant people are likely to have, from the lighthearted to the practical. This is a solid addition to any new mother's bookshelf."
-Publisher’s Weekly
"THE BIRTH BOOK is exactly what I needed to read!…I’ve tried other books and resources and many have either felt (1) outdated (2) primarily focused on pregnancy but not birth (3) not thoroughly scientifically research or evidence-based.”
-Emily O., reader
"This is one of the best books about Labor and Delivery I’ve read — I wish it had existed during my first pregnancy!…This is the book we all need!"
-Kate S., reader
Publisher’s Weekly — Read the full review here
KOIN AM Extra — "Local doctor hopes to demystify labor, delivery in ‘The Birth Book’"(watch here)
Ms. — "Pregnancy Care Includes Abortion, Whether We Admit It or Not"(read here)
Natural Cycles — "Demystifying labor & delivery: Q&A with Dr. Lincoln"(read here)