Pregnancy magazines are plentiful
Magazines about pregnancy were once a rare thing, but now there are so many it can be confusing picking which ones to subscribe to or buy at the newsstand. We got the scoop from Julia Beck, of Forty Weeks, who gave us an insider’s look behind the velvet rope of these titles that can guide and entertain you throughout your pregnancy.
Pregnancy Magazine (Curtis Circulation and IPO) – Fashion-forward in focus, this monthly publication dedicates its editorial pages to fashion, gear, and lifestyle for pregnancy and beyond. Look for familiar celebrity faces on the cover such as Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Gabrielle Reece and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon.
Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine (Halcyon Media LLC) offers up great user-friendly information in a beautifully laid out format. Their editorial team includes fashionistas, moms, and gear experts who dish out the real dirt. Fashion coverage tends to be interesting and more importantly, simple to pull off yourself. Look for an equal balance between maternity and non-maternity brands (think realistic). Tori Spelling and Samantha Harris have been featured in the past.
Fit Pregnancy (Weider Publications, Inc.) is both honest and very realistic of the pregnancy and new mother experience. Focus on fitness, nutrition, fashion, breastfeeding. More of a service than a lifestyle magazine- lots of how-to’s. Really focused on the important tasks, giving women useful hands-on tools on how to navigate through pregnancy. Gives women the nurturing, care and feeding. Editor-in-chief Peg Moline who’s been at the helm since its conception 15 years ago makes sure her magazine serves her reader well. It’s truly a labor of love. They do a stellar job with their annual report on best cities to have a baby (you go Portland, OR!). Their website is the best place to find the most hands-on information including the Best City Finder (looks like I need to move to Portland). (Courtney Thorne-Smith was a recent cover model, as was Brooke Burke with her last pregnancy.)
American Baby (Meredith, which also publishes Parents and Family Circle) has the highest circulation of any of the pregnancy magazines. Edited by Judy Nolte, the magazine and its companion website offer easy to use informative help. Regular sections such as Crib Notes feature the best of the best of all that’s new in maternity and baby. They do an excellent job of communicating the basics and especially conversant in gear. Their website has the most going on in terms of interactive information.
Plum Magazine(Groundbreak Publishing, Inc.) Plum is written specifically for the 35+ mom-to-be. It covers both lifestyle and practical topics, including celebrity features and interviews. Beautiful art direction and design make it an easy compelling read. (Jeri Ryan was a recent cover model, as was Jenna Elfman.)
Mothering Magazine(independently published) is the crunchy earth mama alternative. If you’reinterested in attachment parenting, breastfeeding, and naturalchildbirth, this is the best magazine for you because they focus on allof these things and more. Despite their natural approach, the magazineis well-written and beautifully laid out. (The current issue features Ricki Lake and her new documentary about childbirth, The Business of Being Born.)
Conceive Magazine (Intellectual Capital Productions, Inc.) is written for those starting to think about conceiving and those with fertility issues. This magazine is very honest, candid, and frank, and offers a candid glimpse into fertility.
The Bump is a regionally based resource guide for expectant women. It’s not really a magazine but Julia felt it was a publication we needed to include. Expect great local information, combined with an impressive national panel of experts. Their website is the best for figuring out what’s available in your neck of the woods.
Other magazines that cover prenatal care, but not exclusively, include:
Babytalk (Bonnier)
Cookie Magazine (Conde Nast)
Parenting (Bonnier Corp.)
Parents (Meredith)
Kiwi (May Media Group)
Wondertime (Disney)
Women’s magazines have also been covering the maternity beat (believe it or not) such as Cosmopolitan, Self, Vogue, Lucky.
What is/was your favorite pregnancy magazine and why? Do you read any that we didn’t list?
- Posted on Jan 23, 08 at 2:06PM
- Permalink
- 29 Comments
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I have to say, I was so disappointed in COOKIE.. its all ads! There is one excerpt in there with a story and some advice but thats it. It’s all high end fashion ads. I had a two year subscription, was very excited to get my first issue and I was so disappointed. Its not even a magazine, it a book of ads! haha
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
My husband and I also love the Compleat Mother (http://www.compleatmother.com/), even more alternative than Mothering Magazine.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I know this is sort of off the topic, but my husband and I are ready to start our family this year. I just finished my last pack of birth control and we are going to remain abstinent or use other protection for at least 4 weeks so that I am sure the birth control is out of my system before we try. My doctor told me to go ahead and start taking prenatal vitamins now, ones you can buy anywhere, and I was wondering what the best kind would be?
Any additional tips for conception are also welcome!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I love Fit Pregnancy Magazine! It has intelligently written articles that are based on the latest research and studies. They are pro-breastfeeding and babywearing and have an fine list of Medical Professionals and other contributors who are internationally recognized.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Tracy, I’m in the same boat you are in. I heard the most important thing is to make sure your vitamins have folic acid.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Can you believe I have NEVER read a pregnancy magazine? I guess I’m just an online junkie and get all of my info from sites like this one and kellymom, etc.
I have a tip for Tracy – most doctors recommend taking prenatal vitamin with a DHA component. I think any run of the mill prenatal is fine (I’ve taken GNC and Duane Reade brand before), but you should definitely buy a bottle of fish oil capsules (essentially, DHA) and take one a day too. If you can’t find fish oil, I think cod liver oil is similar. Also – take vitamins at night, after dinner, if you want to avoid tummy upset. As for birth control…we always had luck with pull and pray method :> Good luck with conception!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I loved Fit Pregnancy, and also Parents/Parenting for baby issues. Cookie I find pretentious. And Child is not far behind.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Pregnancy magazines have come so far in the past few years. I think my favorite is definitely Pregnancy & Newborn! The fashion is WONDERFUL and the stories are always interesting and readable. It’s a great all-in-one publication that makes me feel as though I’m not giving up my swanky “girly” magazines for a boring “mommy” guide.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I’m not a fan of Cookie- I will not be dressing my one year old in $60 t-shirts!
I’m getting a subscription to Mothering very soon….and now I guess I’m ‘crunchy’ according to your reviews.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
it would be nice if u guys included some pregnancy magazines which circulate outside the U.S.-given this a worldwide site =)
Sarah’s note: If someone would like to make a column like this for mags outside of the US, we’d certainly publish it, but since we are only familiar with these, we don’t feel comfortable making judgments on or promoting others. But if anyone wants to do a UK or AUS list, let us know!
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
“Despite their natural approach, the magazine is well-written and beautifully laid out.”
What??? So, you would expect a magazine about AP and natural family living to be poorly written and have an ugly layout?
Sarah’s note: For some reason, I don’t think that’s how it was meant to come across. Danielle is very crunchy herself!
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I’ve heard a lot of mommies (here in Canada) rave about Mothering and I really enjoy reading FitPregnancy, Conceive and others. It’s always fun to see what celebrity might end up on the cover. Here in Canada we have ‘Today’s Parent’ and they often feature a Canadian celebrity. I’m just thrilled with the choices – as someone who’s approaching the 35 age set, it’s great to see ‘Plum’. And, I think the review introduced me to a few others. Thanks for the write up!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I love Mothering magazine … however, if you have had a c-section (I have had two … one due to complications and one b.c there is nowhere near where I live that does vbacs), watch out! There is ALWAYS something anti-c-section in every issue and unless you take a strong mental stand, Mothering can make you feel really guilty and bad about your choices. That being said I read it every month and most of the time love their views on child matters.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
In my opinion American Baby is hard to beat, but Parenting comes in at a close second place. I know magazines have to pay their printing costs, but there are magazines like Country and Country Woman with NO ads that still manage to mainttain low subscription fees. When I see a copy with one ad after the other, I vote with my feet (figuratively speaking) and either don’t subscribe or cancel for a partial refund. I want articles not ads. If they want to advertise, feature a review of the product. Give me something to read for my money.
Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I’ve only read Pregnancy & Newborn once, in the waiting room of my OB-GYN about a week after I delivered my 2nd baby. I loved it so much I asked if I could take it home! The reason I loved it so much was it was an issue that was all about being a GUILT FREE parent. It was something I REALLY needed at that time, adjusting to caring for a new baby and a 2 year old, breastfeeding, sleeping, getting “me time”….plus there were quite a few ads that I was actually interested in!
As for Cookie…not so impressed. Too “upscale” for me.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:08 am
I love Mothering, every time it comes I plop myself down and read the entire thing cover to cover- even the letters to the editor. I am always in tears, inspired & empowered afterward. I can definitely not say the same about any other parenting magazine. In fact, American Baby and Parents make me sick. I don’t find them empowering to parents at all. Every other pages says “Consult your pediatrician…” I haven’t read Compleat Mother but I’ve heard good things about it (being the crunchy mama that I am.) I am sorry a previous responder was bummed about their Csection, not feeling supported at Mothering. I don’t think they’re Anti C-section, I think they’re Anti unwanted and unnecessary Csections from side effects mom wasn’t warned about. Feel the love, mama. It’s there for all of us.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:49 am
the only one i like is mothering.
January 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Thank you PSB!!! We’ll definitely give those a try!
January 24th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Thanks for the breakdown Julia- I’m sending that to my media planner!
January 24th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Lindsay,
Let the planners also know advetorials don’t feel like ads!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I’m glad The Bump is included on this list, even though it’s not technically a magazine. It is by far the best local pregnancy guide on the market–they have been my go-to for doing my maternity photography, shopping for my nursery decor, etc. If your city has a Bump guide, I would highly recommend picking one up. I got mine from my OB office…
January 29th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I think Fit Pregnancy provides the most credible information. It seems as if Pregnancy and Pregnancy & Newborn copy what they do, and don’t invest a lot in their editorial (both info and photography). It also creates a conflict of interest when you have a product in your edit and and ad of the same thing near it. American Baby fails to incorporate new information and cutting edge editorial. Cookie is way out of my league. I would also look at babycenter.com and fitpregnancy.com for any info you need.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I believe prenatal vitamins and minerals are the most critical ingredient in a healthy mother and baby. Look for a high quality prenatal vitamin with minerals at your local health food store as they often have fewer additives giving less of an opportunity to upset your stomach. Take with your meal. Plan on taking your prenatal vitamins three to six months before you become pregnant, during your pregnancy and for six months after the birth of your baby. Congrats and best wishes! Gail J. Dahl, “Pregnancy & Childbirth Secrets”
January 30th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I’m a Pregnancy magazine fan. I find all sorts of “need to know” info, plus a lot of fun and really sweet stories too. They did a prenatal vitamin article a few issues back that broke down exactly what’s in your average prenatal vitamin and why you need it(I’m definately pro-vitamin). I don’t think that they are just copying Fit Pregnancy at all. Plus I like that Pregnancy comes out EVERY month. I do read both magazines, but I was a little dissapointed that Fit Pregnancy’s last issue had Gabby Reece on the cover (with a prenatal workout inside), because Pregnancy magazine did almost the same thing a couple of months ago.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:18 am
Christie = employee of Pregnancy Magazine.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:51 am
I, too, am looking to get pregnant soon. I work in the industry, and recently picked up some information from the March of Dimes called “I am not Pregnant, but want my 9 months.” It explains all of the questions to ask your doctor at the pre-conception visit. Hope that helps (and works)!
Rachel
January 31st, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Who got paid to create this stupid list?
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July 31st, 2008 at 9:19 am
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