Today we are celebrating National Poetry Day! There is something about poetry that uniquely captures the joys, challenges, and transformative moments of parenthood. Whether you have 2 minutes between jobs, or 45 minutes trapped under a sleeping baby, poetry can fit! And no matter what your mood, there's a poem for you - laugh out loud, sob your heart out, or take a deep relaxing breath.
To start you off on your poetic adventure, we’ve curated a list of must-read poetry books that beautifully reflect the themes of parenthood, kids, and the evolving dynamics of family life. Happy reading!

Night Feeds and Morning Songs – Ana Sampson
A Mother’s Birth - Maria Tempany
A love so strong – Maria Tempany
The Republic of Motherhood – Liz Berry
Solidarity – Chaneen Saliee
Tiny Lungs – Joanna Bennett
Songs of Love and Strength – An anthology of Poems on Motherhood – Edited by Katharine Perry
Mum Poem Press books
Why Mums are Amazing
Guide to Self Care
Choices
Lullabies for new mums
I am a spider mother – Flora Cruft
The Newborn Mother - Kate Thirlwall and Tim Smyth
Nobody Told Me – Hollie McNish
Boom! – Carolyn Jess-Cooke
Motherhood: Poems about Mothers – Carmela Ciuraru
Twenty-Nine: Poems on Motherhood – Annie Ridout
Warm like summer – Karen McMillan
What kind of woman – Kate Baer
No walk in the park – Jemma Chawla
Buried in the margins – Keri Folsom
Nothing is Yours – Caitlin Kendall
Witch Mother Child Lover – Jen Corcoran
Home Baked – Ellen Clayton
Bathroom Prisoners – Laura Lewis-Waters
Will I ever pee alone again? – Emma Conway
Moon Milk – Rachel Bower
Mother, nature – Aoife Lyall
Mother Self – Madhushala Senaratne
Messy – poems about motherhood – Susie B.
Keen Observer – Harry Barden
I have no idea what I’m doing – poems on pregnancy and motherhood – Grace Pilkington
Other resources
@themumpoempress is in hibernation at the moment but they have some gorgeous posts to read and poetry writing prompts still visible on their Instagram.
Maternal Journal is a global community movement that uses creative journaling to boost wellbeing in pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Maternal Journal publishes free journaling resources and guided exercises introduce different creative styles and techniques to help you get started. Watch this space for Baby Umbrella Maternal Journal sessions coming soon.
Thank you to Nicola Kirkwood, one of our trustees and @creativemedicmum for compiling this list.
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