Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book! Excellent Dr.!
This book was great! After I read it, I made an appt with the Dr. It's with his help that my husband and I have a little girl. I highly recommend it for couples having problems with conceiving. ... Read more

Product Description
An essential guide for anyone uncertain how to love and support an infertile wife, daughter, sister, or friend.

In this heartfelt collection of stories and advice, authors Shari DeGraff Stewart and Julia Fichtner Krahm help anyone who cares about one of the seven million infertile women in the U.S. translate love into supportive words and actions. Drawing from their own experiences and those of others, the authors offer compassionate guidance on how to address many common challenges that readers might face when helping a loved one through this difficult time:
For those who don't know what to say--words and responses that are helpful to her, and importantly, what she absolutely doesn't want to hear
- For those who feel helpless--advice on what to do to support, comfort, and empower her in what may be the fight of her life
- For those who want to ''get it''--guidance on how to walk alongside her when she feels like no one understands her loneliness, anxiety, and pain

With accessible suggestions for husbands, family members, and friends, this book will help readers deliver the level of support that inspires an infertile woman to say, ''I don't think I would have survived without his support,'' or ''I wouldn t have made it without her.'' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Finally!
Finally, I've found a guide to help me understand what my best friend is feeling.This book is deeply affecting--and enlightening--to a painfully common experience that can and SHOULD be shared with loved ones. Start by sharing this book.

A counselor's take on this book
As a therapist specializing in infertility, I'm always challenged to help my clients deal with the pain of thoughtless comments from friends, family and co-workers. This book offers them a way to tell their loved ones what they truly need from them in a way that is easy to absorb and understand. The clients and members of my Resolve support group and Mind Body group say they love this book and several have bought copies of the book as presents for their family members. This is truly a valuable resource to help my clients on their journey to parenthood. The book answers so many questions, explains so much about the infertility process, and is so nicely presented, I wish I had thought of it myself!"
- Kathy Fountain, LMHC, Tampa, FL. Infertility specialist

Changed my relationship with my husband!
After my husband read the book I noticed an immediate difference with how he supports me. When he is unsure of what to say he will just hold me and say "I'm so sorry you are going through this". It feels so much better that having him blab on and on and try to "fix" my problems. I also think that he understands more that it really isn't just that his wife is "crazy". Before he read the book I felt like I had to plead my case with him as to why I was feeling the way I was about other pregnant women, certain social situations, and anything else that bothered me on a particular day. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is a support for someone dealing with fertiliy issues!

The book I desperately NEEDED and WISHED for.
I am the most fertile woman in the world. That fact did not allow me to be the best of friends to my dearest friend during her journey through infertility two years ago.I searched in vain a book, a website, anything to tell me what to say or more importantly what NOT to say. There was nothing at all and I just made mistake after mistake and said so many insensitive things that I thought were so supportive at the time. I would have given anything for this book. If you love anyone who is going through infertility and you want to be a good friend you will buy this book and read it cover to cover. If you want to help her loved ones, a husband, a family member or another member of your circle of friends, buy them this book. It is a godsend. It is so well written and gives clear do's and don'ts for each scenario and stage she may be going through and insight into her mind so if she can't share you can get a glimpse of what may be going on. It gives you ideas of how to help and how NOT to "help". I was brought to tears several times reading all the things she could not tell me and all the things I never knew she went through. I would give anything to change that time in our friendship and this book would have given me that. This is the MUST READ for anyone with a loved one dealing with infertility.

They took the words right out of my heart!
Our fertility therapist recommended my husband and I buy this book for our parents.We bought 3, one for each set of parents, and one for us so we knew what they were reading.Since they have read this book, the lines of communication and sensitivity to our situation have improved 200%!They finally get what we are feeling and seem to not make the comments or wonder why we feel the way we do in certain situations.After seeing this fantastic result, my hubby and I decided we needed to again share the wealth of info with some close friends and bought 2 more copies.So far, everyone who has read it, including us feels like it is truly a God send.This book takes all the pain we are feeling in our heart and shows the people in our lives just what we are feeling in so many different experiences.If you are going through infertility and/or know someone who is, this is worth every cent! I wish I would have known about it when we started this journey over 2 years ago, I have a feeling I would have been able to avoid a few crying sessions!!!Do you Love someone who is Infertile? ... Read more

Product Description
Creating Life Against the Odds

Most prospective parents, when arriving at the decision to have children, presume their journey will be an exciting and rewarding one, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby.When those dreams are shattered because they cannot conceive or miscarry, they ask, "Why me?What did I do wrong?"The trauma of infertility is as devastating to one's self-esteem as any other life crisis, it can destroy intimate relationships--or it can bring out the best in us.

In her book, Creating Life Against the Odds, Dr. Higgins, an obstetrician/gynecologist, describes her own experience becoming a mother by ovum donation.She also shares the first hand accounts of dozens of others who have turned to assisted reproductive technology (ART) in order to realize their dreams of becoming parents.These are stories Dr. Higgins has heard from her patients and from hundreds of women (and men) she has counseled or communicated with through confidential Internet support groups.The stories of these courageous individuals became the inspiration for Creating Life Against the Odds.

Dr. Higgins takes us along on their journeys as they struggle with infertility, as they explore the options that medical science now offers, as they meet obstacles, and as they adjust to repeated loss.She also takes us into the minds and hearts of sperm and ovum donors, surrogates, and gestational carriers, looking at what makes them want to lend such an intimate, helping hand.Are they like organ donors? Do they do it for financial gain?When ART enters the picture and donors or surrogates are used, how should we describe their relationship to the children they helped create?And what about the children?Are they like adoptees?How do they understand their birth origins?And what should their parents tell them?

Dr. Higgins' wisdom as a well-traveled physician, who has delivered babies and counseled patients from many cultures, allows her to tackle tough practical and ethical questions from a global perspective. These questions are answered honestly, with deep compassion and respect for those courageous men and women who have sought the help of ART and who belong, as a result, to a special group of parents whose success in family-building is due to an extraordinary commitment and a selfless expression of love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The best book available on egg donation
After reviewing several other books, it was refreshing to find a book that addressed all aspects of egg donation. This book walks the reader through all stages - the decision making, the conception, through the birth and beyond. The author does a great job sharing both her stories and the stories of women and families that she has interviewed, giving a broad perspective. I also appreciated the author's section on appropriate language and talking to others about egg donation. Highly recommended.

Disappointing.
This was a disappointing purchase. As a young (late 20s) infertile woman, I was hoping to gain another perspective on the winding path from infertility to confidently deciding to try ART with egg donation.Since the subtitle of the book is "the journey from infertility to parenthood" I figured it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to expect such an emotional arc to be explored.

In actuality the author was a 49 year old mother of two who had never struggled with infertility in her life when she decided she wanted to be pregnant again.Since she was 49, egg donation was her best option, and it worked out well for her.I don't judge her life choices, but I would hardly consider that story to be one of infertility.I really found it very hard to identify with her emotions and struggles.She simply has never had to go through the emotional work of accepting that you will never have your own genetic child -- a process that I think results in a more complex treatment of the egg donation decision. She does pepper the book with stories of other people's experience of gamete donation, but 90% of the book is really all about her, so I felt like not identifying with her weakened the whole book for me.

I also thought her relationship with her donor was just plain odd.Basically she first heard of her donor through her doctor, started wavering on the egg donation idea, and then the donor FOUND THE AUTHOR and asked if she could please be her donor.WTF?I could not understand the motivation/psyche of the donor from reading this story and it just seemed, well, odd.Definitely a total outlier in the world of recipient/donor pairs out there and therefore not too helpful for the rest of us.

That being said, she does have information present that would be helpful if you are just learning about the world of ART and infertility.If you have read much of anything else in the past, it won't be new information to you.And I appreciated her nonjudgmental treatment of all flavors and varieties of family out there.

I don't usually take the time to review books on Amazon, but given that all reviews thus far are glowing beyond glowing, I really felt the need to give a perspective buyer some warning!!

Just what I needed to know!
I really enjoyed this book and found that I could relate to the author's points so well.It certainly gave me some food for thought and I enjoyed reading the case studies from different people who had been through the fertility process.I would highly recommend it.

Someoene does understand
This book helped me realize that I am not alone in feeling all of the horrendous emotions that come with infertility.With real life anecdotes, this author conveys what most of us have probably felt and dealt with in our struggles. It is filled with relevant experiences written in an honest and relate-able tone, while also sensitively conveying some very important information and factors to consider. Highly recommended for women over forty trying to form their family.

Unique perspective to view infertility
This book is well researched and documented.However, it is not just a clinical synopsis but a well balanced combination of medical data and personal stories.This particular publication has the unique perspective of being written by a board certified obstitician/gynecologist who is also the patient herself.Therefore, the medical facts, tests and statistics take on a palpable human quality.

This is a must read for all with questions regarding infertility and the myriad of options. ... Read more

Product Description
Hope and encouragement for those dealing with infertility.

Issues of Infertility are epidemic within and without the church. The pain and disappointment runs so deep, and often threatens the relationships of those involved. Water from the Rock is an excellent resource for women facing this crisis on a daily basis. Rather than addressing the medical aspects of infertility, this book helps readers focus on reaching out to God and allowing Him to comfort them throughout this trial. Biblically based strategies are offered in each chapter to help women and couples move from emotional grief to spiritual growth as they travel this difficult road. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An excellent resource for navigating the grief of infertility
The best way to succinctly describe this book is as a "How-To" manual for dealing with the grief of infertility. Each of the three authors have walked this journey and they combine their experiences and expertise (they are professional ministers and a professional counselor) to walk along side the reader through the ins and outs of grief.

The book is divided into 2 sections. The first section deals with identifying the stages of grief and how it manifests specifically in infertility grief. Each chapter identifies a new stage and offers constructive, biblically sound suggestions on navigating it.

The second section focuses more specifically on overall coping and healing, rather than stage specific exercises. It concentrates on the wounded woman's possible necessity to reconcile with herself and her identity in Christ, with God, with her spouse, her family and/or her friends. The authors challenge the reader to reach beyond her grief out to others around her and encourage the reader to really internalize that God's plan for her life is not limited by infertility. My favorite line in the book is at the very end and states in a prayer,

[God,] help me to realize that the purpose of my suffering far exceeds the pain of my suffering.

While I don't agree with the authors that infertility is a "special calling" (a minor part of the book so don't dismay if you also disagree), I do know that God can redeem any pain by making His glory known through it. There is great purpose in evidencing God's glory throughout the earth, and this specific challenge from the authors stirred my heart to search beyond, rather than dwell in my pain.

At the end of each chapter, the authors offer challenging questions designed to nudge the reader to introspection. These questions would make excellent prompts for journaling, or, with some modifications for privacy, a spring board for a small group discussion. The authors also offer a specific action challenge at the end of each chapter.

What I love the most about this book is how constructive and tangible the tools are. They are very prescriptive with "do this," and "think about that." As I said, it's almost like a "How-To" manual and at this stage in my grief, I found that very helpful because at times in my Infertility Grief Journey, I found myself almost being afraid that I was doing things out of order, or too quickly or too slowly, and it was helpful for me to just have an outside reference as sort of a guide of what to expect, what to be on my guard for, etc. Of course, it goes without saying that everyone's process is different, but even in my limited interactions with other Infertility women (compared to the interactions of the authors), Inoticed quite a few commonalities too, and this book draws on that. The solutions they offer are physical, emotional and spiritual changes. I appreciated this holistic approach and at this point in my journey, it's just so helpful to have someone say "Do this." "Expect that." "Guard your heart from this."

This book is very brief. They offer scriptural support for their claims, especially any about the nature and character of God and His will for one's life. However they are very matter-of-fact and do not dwell long on their point or on the exegesis of any scriptural support. The book is very simplistically written, making it easy to read and process.

My reason for pointing this out is that I think it is important that any potential reader identify where she is at and what she is ready to handle before picking up this book. The frank, matter of fact approach can come across as "rushing" you through the grief process if you're not ready to move on. It can almost come across as judgmental because an issue is so black and white and already resolved to these women, while you may be fresh and wrestling in your grief.

However, on the other hand, this might serve to equip you as sort of a road map of what to expect in the future, or as a good review of where God has already taken you. In my particular case, I was wishing that I had read it earlier so that I could have the book to accompany me through the various stages, but I can see easily how someone of another temperament might want to read this with a little more emotional distance from the situation.

I will say that I personally detected no hint of insensitivity or judgment from the authors, but I've also already digested and processed a lot of my emotions to date. If I were still reeling, I might respond differently. On the other hand again, this might have been doubly "useful" were I still reeling.

All of that to say, search your heart for the kind of tool that you need right now. If you need an empathetic, heartfelt, gentle encouragement, try something like Hannah's Hope. If you need something a little more clinical, or more of a kick in the bloomers, this is an excellent resource. The two books are not at all similar or interchangeable but are appropriate for different places in someone's Infertility journey.

I will say that I did not do the written exercises. I may find the book even more challenging if I go back and do them, but I also recognize what is realistic for my lifestyle and know that it is unlikely that I will prioritize time to complete them. However, I appreciate that I was able to learn from and be challenged by the book without the exercises. I can only imagine how much more I would be challenged if I were to complete the written questions.

This book is unlike any other Infertility book I've read or have in my ever-growing pile to read. I appreciate the fresh approach and the practical tools. Now knowing what to expect from the book, and preparing your heart accordingly for where you are at in your grief process, I would encourage you to trust the authors' virtuous intentions and their submission to God's leading as they wrote this and when you are ready, pick up this book and read it. Whether this will serve as a GPS for your yet to be arrived at destination or a chronicle of where God has already faithfully taken you, I assure you that you will be edified, equipped and challenged by this book.

Recommended: Enthusiastically

A must read
I have read many books on infertility and this one is a definite must have.Every chapter touches on exactly what I have been through, or am experiencing right now.It's great to have a Christian outlook, and reflection questions at the end of each chapter. A+++

MUST HAVE
I would highly recommend this book for anyone going through or who has just gone through infertility treatment.It helps you understand the grief process and confirms that your feelings while going through the infertility journey are real.The chapters are 1. Denial/Shock, 2. Desperation/Panic, 3. Anger/Resentment, 4. Sadness/Depression, 5. Inadequacy/Guilt, 6. Hope/Peace, 7. Reconciliation/Integration, 8. Does Time Heal All Wounds?, 9. Relationship, Reconciliation, and Restoration, 10. Renewing Your Mind, 11. Refuge in the Rock.It is really a MUST HAVE.

what a great resource:water from the rock
This book puts feelings and emotions (which are rarely discussed in society) into words to help couples dealing with infertility.The authors define stages of grief dealing with infertility and give ways to handle these stages in a positive way.It has been a great tool for me as I seek to sensitively deal with friends struggling with this issue.The book steers clear of medical and technical issues and addresses handling emotions (anger, grief) in a Godly way.I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with infertility and for anyone who knows someone who is.It would be a great small group tool also. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume describes in step-by-step detail a uniquetherapeutic approach developed to treat couples confronting thepainful challenge of infertility. Therapists learn how they can helpcouples accept the possibility of not having genetically relatedchildren; acknowledge each other's feelings and deal with problemsthat may arise in their relationship; and assess the potential gains,pitfalls, and psychological effects of available treatmentoptions. Detailed guidelines are set forth for implementingtherapeutic interventions in each of five unique stages typicallyexperienced by couples.Illuminating the tasks that couples andtherapists face throughout the process, the book is illustrated withextensive case examples that bring the material to life. A usefulAppendix provides current information on medical evaluation andtreatment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A helpful, compassionate book
As an individual and as part of a couple I've read dozens of books on infertility. Unfortunately, they are usually preachy and/or clinical. "Couple Therapy For Infertility" was neither. It offered newinsight into how infertility effects relationships. It gave me personalguidance - I've recommended it to friends and to my therapist! I amthrilled such a book has *finally* been published. This is an importanttopic that demands such sensitivity and compassion. Recommended reading forall couples. Thank you sincerely!

A must read for couples facing infertility treatment!
This is a magnificent resource.Infertility treatment has become so common.The medical advances have been tremendous.But before this book appeared few experts in infertility paid attention to the psychologicalconsequences couples oftenface when they try to conceive.Many times theemotional difficulty can literally tear a couple apart.Using case studiesand extremely thoughtful analysis, the authors prevent a guide for bothcouples and professionals to help overcome the many hurdles raised by thisrapidly expanding technology ... Read more

Product Description
Those struggling with infertility will appreciate this sixty day devotional companion of hope, healing, and encouragement, arranged by theme, featuring Scripture, devotional reading, prayer, space for journaling, and reflective questions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Best book for infertility journey
I love this book! It has provided comfort many times through our infertility journey. It let me know I was not the only one questioning God at times. I have read this book from cover to cover multiple times. In fact, I pulled it out at the doctor's office today while waiting for more testing. Highly recommend this book to anyone who is having difficulty conceiving. It is appropriate for wherever you are in your journey.

Longing for a Child: Devotions of Hop for Your Journey through Infertility
This book of devotions has been full of wonderful blessings.My husband and I read the book together and it helped to open the line of communication about this difficult time in our lives.We were able to talk about how infertility if affecting both of us.The book was so good I bought it for a friend and now she and her husband are in the process of reading it!

Wrap Yourself Up in This Book!
Kathe Wunnenberg's ability to speak to a woman's hurting heart is unparalleled. Her deep love of women and the friendships that God has put into her life have created a rich quilt of stories that you will want to wrap yourself up in!As a childless woman myself, God has used Kathe's insight to comfort me, encourage me, and inspire me.This book will be a regular gift that I will provide to girlfriends who are struggling with childlessness.

Not Alone
Kathe touches the heart of those who are going through the pain of infertility because she has been there.This is not just a book reporting what others are feeling.She captures the heartache because she has born it too.This is a good book for working through current emotions or preparing for future healing.I found the devotional chapters mirrored my own journey of emotions.I highly recommend this to anyone who has dealt with or is dealing with the pain and frustration of infertility.I would also give this as a gift to anyone struggling in this area. ... Read more

Product Description
"Persevering Through Infertility" is a collection of the real life stories of individuals and couples who have experienced IVF, IUI, Secondary Infertility, Donor Eggs, Donor Sperm, Advanced Maternal Age, Diet, Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Uterine Lining issues, Blocked Tubes, Male Factor, Surrogacy, Domestic and International Adoption, Embryo Adoption, etc. These men and women are courageous, they are determined, and they are focused. They are the most deserving to be parents, and due to a physical problem or a stroke of bad luck, they struggle with something that comes naturally for most. You will find that not all the stories resulted in pregnancy. Some have resolved their infertility, in a variety of ways, while others continue on the journey. While the statistics are not encouraging, there are tools to help beat the odds and while this book doesn't promise to be a silver bullet or medical miracle, it will help those experiencing Infertility cut a few corners, have less frustration, gain knowledge, insight, hope, inspiration, encouragement, comfort and power and all the ammunition to tip the scales in their favor for successfully resolving their infertility. Knowledge is the area where you have the most control. It gives you the power to make the right decisions for yourself, and provides you with the key to finding and choosing your resolution based on an educated decision, not a purely emotional one. It is the closest thing to the silver bullet we all seek. Unfortunately, for many, it sometimes takes years and the more time that goes by, the more the chances for success decline. That's why shortening the learning curve is so critical. We are often so overwhelmed by the emotional attachments to our inability to conceive that we become paralyzed and take make decisions based on raw emotion, rather than educated choices. "Persevering Through Infertility" speaks from the heart, to the heart, and provides insight and pers ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Hope
This book was referred by a friend from RESOLVE.I found this book an easy way to get up to speed on how to deal with infertilty.While every situation is different, I found something to relate to in each story, even when the circumstances were different than mine.It helped me deal with alot of the emotional things that I was going through and personally helped me move to the next step.For me it was adoption.Although this has been and still is an emotional rollercoaster, at least I feel that I can make an intelligent choice and know all the different options.It was also comforting that these woman were successful and it gave me hope.(something that none of the doctors gave me) ... Read more

Product Description
Eat your way to pregnancy!The Infertility Diet is anutritional approach to fertility enhancement and miscarriageprevention.Endorsed by infertility doctors across the country, thisbook is based on over 500 medical studies linking fertility andnutrition, and is a groundbreaker in the field.The essential dietfor anyone trying to have a baby.A caring gift for all potentialparents.

The Infertility Diet: Get Pregnant and Prevent Miscarriage suppliesspecific nutritional advice for couples with problems including spermcount, motility, morphology and clumping; miscarriage; candidaalbicans; cervical fluid; endometriosis; estrogen/progesteronebalance; hypothyroidism; luteal phase defects; ovulation; PCO;elevated prolactin levels; and prostaglandin.Learn what foods toeat--and what foods to avoid--to get pregnant and carry your baby toterm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Not the best resource
I questioned a lot of items in this book to my acupuncturist and neither one of us were impressed. When struggling with infertility women often grasp whatever information they can get and run with it. Take caution and do your research first... for example, a true "yam" as mentioned in the book is difficult to find in the US (google it!) and is often mistaken for a sweet potato. And kelp can mess with your thyroid if you have a thyroid condition (common in infertility). There is also some good research about the use of wheat (ie: NOT eating wheat) in infertility. DO YOUR RESEARCH.

Lots of good recipes and tips
I love this book. It contains lots of recipes, most of them are actually quite delicious. My favorite is the walnut risotto with garlic.There is a lot of information on things to avoid, such as caffeine and alcohol. However, the author also says to avoid the dentist, as she claims that nitrous oxide exposure can affect your ability to conceive. That may be true, but avoiding the dentist is not really an option for me. Gotta take care of my teeth, sorry. I think the best aspect of this book is its emphasis on healthy eating and the recipes that are included. The author emphasizes reducing meat consumption and also says that excessive protein can impair fertility. The recipes in the book are all meatless. If someone is committed to eating a diet heavy in red meat or junk food, then they would not enjoy these recipes, and they probably shouldn't bother with this book.

A good how to!
This is a great book to get you started on improving your nutrition.
Eating wholesome foods and supplementing with the right nutrients are critical for fertility and successful pregnancy.

Fertility Diet
This book was good but could have been more detailed and i fealt it only hit the surface of this subject. It's a easy read.

Wrong author listed
It's sad to see that the author listed is not correct. The author is Fern Reiss. Martin Keltz is an MD who has endorsed Ms Reiss' book. ... Read more

Product Description
Infertility’s Anguish explores situations couples experience during their journey to find their fertility. Using a conversational style and anecdotes based on interviews with numerous infertile couples, Jan and Dan take you through these experiences and help you to develop coping strategies.

If you have been diagnosed with impaired fertility, have a relative or friend dealing with this situation, or counsel people in infertility crisis, then Infertility’s Anguish can help you better understand the emotions and issues encountered during this life journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Understanding is a major first step!
It's hard to "enjoy" a book on infertility. But it's obvious the Davises understand all the aspects and have interviewed many people in writing this book - they seem to be able to explain all the different issues involved in this anguishing experience.

Reading this book won't resolve your infertility, but it certainly will go a long way to help you cope with and understand this harrowing journey. Definitely recommended!

Thoughtfully written, touches your heart!
I found this book very helpful. Infertility is a lonely dis-ease to have. Reading the stories helps you feel less alone in your struggle.It is also very positive and encouraging about whatever outcome you choose/is chosen for you. And it's one of the few books that can be read by a couple that has tried everything but (for whatever reasons) decides/is forced to go child-free.Many other books end with the authors having a healthy baby, which can make you feel really left out if you and your partner are part of the percentage of people who don't.

Infertility's Anguish
Having experienced the pain of infertility, Dan and Jan Davis speak from the heart in this book as only they can do.It is apparent that the Davis' have resolved unselfishly to help others who are struggling with infertility and hope that this book will answer some of the questions, as well as serve as a good resource for these couples.I cannot imagine the pain, sorrow and anguish couples must face when they learn that conceiving and carrying a biological child is deemed impossible for them and not in their future.After reading this book, I can truly say I have a greater respect and sensitivity for childless couples everywhere.

Those who suffer with you
I am not infertile, but I know couples that are.I can tell you that this book has helped me to better understand their own personal struggle.It is difficult to relate to infertility issues when you have not experienced them for yourself.This book gives us a guide to a better understanding and compassion for those who know couples struggling with infertility.It is a well written and thought provoking book that I would reccommend to anyone.

Infertilitie's Anguish....Read All About It!!
Dan and Jan Davis have walked this road and are more than qualified to tell the story.A must read for the infertile and a must read for those who love someone who is infertile.I haven't read a publication that comes as close to the anguish that is felt living with an empty womb.The Davis's do a superb job of offering hope to the hopeless.Check it out for yourself. ... Read more

Product Description
A pioneer in the field of assisted reproduction, Dr. Richard Marrs has spent his life counseling couples who struggle with the pain of infertility, developing new treatments, and helping thousands to experience the wonder of birth. Now Dr. Marrs shares his knowledge and expertise in a groundbreaking book that answers all your questions, understands your concerns, and covers every aspect of fertility problems, including infertility's emotional price as well as its financial one. Based on the latest research and technologies--and the real-life experiences of thousands of couples--Dr. Marrs tells you everything you need to know about getting pregnant, including:

Product Description
There are many books on infertility, and on being childfree. Childfree After Infertility: Moving from Childlessness to a Joyous Life puts the two together, focusing solely on the formerly infertile, and how they have created happy, childfree lives. Including the stories of many who have made this transition, the book shows the infertile man or woman that it is possible to put infertility aside, and choose to live childfree, not childless. The book's upbeat tone leads the reader through what can be a difficult transition with grace and humour.Infertility can be devastating, affecting all facets of life. Readers of Childfree After Infertility will learn how their infertility has affected their lives, and how choosing to release their infertility and become childfree can open up a vast array of possibilities and opportunities that might never have existed had they remained childless. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Best book Ive ever read just what I needed!
This was the perfect book I just connected with every single word Heather wrote it was just what I needed to try to move forward with life after IVF and trying to have kids and in the process found out it was a blessing really as we are lucky in ways to not have them got to read it to understand soooooooo glad I read this book!

Awesome and helpful book!
If you have been struggling with infertility and finally decide to no longer continue treatments, this book will give you permission to take another path-- the childfree path.

Only If You're Looking to Reaffirm Your Childfree Decision
I just could not relate to this author.I'm happy that childfree worked for her, but there is a huge difference between making the decision to live childfree before you exhausted your treatment options and making the decison after coming to the logistical end of treatment (whether it be due to the insurance, finances or probability of success running out...).This book speaks to the former group of decision-makers; people who I would argue are closer to being childless by choice rather than chance.

My husband and I are nearing the end of our fertility treatment options and, in all honesty, are leaning more toward childfree than adoption, but not because we haven't seriously considered the latter.If you have no interest in adoption whatsoever, then you may be able to better relate to this book.If, however, you are struggling between the two, I think you'll find this book a little too one-sided and simplistic to be of much assistance. A better book would be "Sweet Grapes:How to Stop Being Infertile and Start Living Again" by Jean and Michael Carter.

A somewhat misleading title
A better title or this rather slim and somewhat melodramtic book might "Childfree Instead of Fertility Treatment" since that was the choice the author made and the one she is best qualified to talk about.

Everyone must make their own choices in this area and what works for one person may not work for another. However, potential purchasers should be aware that the author decided to terminate fertility treatment before trying either IUI or IVF and never seriously considered adoption. This suggests that choosing the childfree option was perhaps less of a struggle than for someone who has exhausted fertility treatment options and is now trying to decide between adoption (or egg/embryo/sperm donation) and childfree. Such a person may be better served by the book "Sweet Grapes: How to Stop Being Infertile and Start Living Again". That book has the added advantage of being written by a couple for couples.

On the other hand, the book does raise some good points and given the seriousness of the decision being made, buying both books would not be a complete waste of money.

Excellent "Moving On" Book
I do wish that I had had this book years ago, as it is an excellent book for those in the infertility maze who are trying to find their way to acheiving some sort of resolution.

I tend to find many books about regarding the infertility issue very depressing, focusing on "making do" or pushing the reader off to the adoption route without seriously considering the childfree route.

The author tells her own story and explains to the reader in detail about how she arrived at her own choice to be childfree.

This book contains heartfelt case histories and helpful quotes from various women throughout.Each woman has a unique story, so the reader is bound to find someone to whom she can relate.

The author also includes helpful responses to those well-meaning (or not such well-meaning) people who will try to question the reader's positions and choices.

A definate must-read! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

If you are in the battle, pick up this book
I have read A LOT of books about infertility during my 5 year/13 procedure fight that resulted in my beautiful son.I wish this book had been available to me in the beginning of my fight, although I read it with interest and found myself learning stuff long after I thought I had heard it all.

The book covers the basics on through the more high tech including the diagnostic tests and procedures such as IUIs, IVFs, donor sperm, donor eggs, gestational surrogates, egg freezing, and genetic testing.There was a chapter devoted to alternative medicine (heavily influenced by Randine Lewis whose book I have also read.)The part of the book that I really appreciated was Chapter 17: The Emotional Challenges of Infertility.I am very happy that a medical doctor "gets" and seriously acknowledges the emotional suffering that infertility inflicts.

Most infertility veterans have heard of Dr. Schoolcraft and The Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicing.I always thought of it as THE place that, if you could afford it, was a woman's best chance of getting pregnant and this book confirms it for me talking about tests even I hadn't heard about.The book is packed with a lot of science/medical talk but it is readable due to the personal stories in each chapter.If I had one critisism it would be that the personal stories often find the problem and then are quickly resolved with a pregnancy after one procedure.Dr. Schoolcraft seems to acknowledge this by adding a personal story in Chapter 19 titled A Patient's Story that truly describes how long of a battle infertility can be.The patient, named Michelle, offers her own opinions and they are WONDERFUL - do not skip this chapter, it is excellent!

Overall I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Statistics show that over two million couples will experience some type of infertility issue when they try to become pregnant.However, when you are one of those two million, you feel completely alone and believe that no one can truly understand what you are going through.This honest and revealing book documents one couple's long and arduous journey to become parents from the eyes of the author.The longer this process took, the more emotional and difficult things became, and the more the author relied on this journal to sort out all the emotions she was having.She never expected that this journal would last for years, hundreds of hormone shots and pills, blood draws, surgical procedures, terrorist attacks, international flights and the most emotional and financial roller coaster that she had ever been on.But she and her husband were desperate to become parents, to have their own child to love, to hug, to experience life with. By sharing their experience, this book offers insight into the emotional, physical and sociological effects infertility has on a couple's relationship, their families, friends and themselves as individuals.It also provides in-depth detail of popular infertility treatments, domestic and international adoption processes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Interesting but annoying
This book was interesting and sucked me in quickly.It's Ostrea's diary that she kept starting from when she and her husband attempted to get pregnant.They went through fertility drugs, IUI, IVF and still could not get pregnant.They then investigated domestic adoption and ended up eventually adopting a boy from Russia.The story was touching, but I really resented her thoughts on Russia - treating it like a big dangerous, third-world country.She did concede that Moscow has some benefits that the outer regions of the country don't have, but I got tired of her attitude.Plus her insistence that they must have a white baby was pretty annoying as well.Also, the book was really poorly edited (if at all), which got annoying to notice all the errors.I'm guessing it was self-published due to the low quality of the editing.

This book will speak to many couples
This book reminds us of the powerful drive of all living things: To reproduce itself. Carrie Ostrea's experience will speak to many couples who experience infertility. They will find their own feelings and frustrations acknowledged in this poignant portrayal of the emotional, physical and sociological effects infertility has on a couple's relationship. Like Beverly Barna's book says, Infertility Sucks and we can see throughout Ostrea's book what miseries she went through. The grieving over something so fundamental as giving birth is painful to read about. But there is a bright light at the end of this tunnel: Adoption. Ostrea's story has a happy ending with good advice on adoption to boot.

Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

A revealing memoir offering personal insight
Family Bound: One Couple's Journey Through Infertility And Adoption by Carrie Ostrea is a revealing memoir offering personal insight into the difficulties of grieving due to infertility, of working with the adoption system, of adjusting to a new baby, and so much more. Offering very practical advice accompanied with real-life insights, and presented in a day-by-day journal-style format, Family Bound is recommended as revealing and insightful supplementary reading for anyone considering adoption.

What an eye-opener!
This book truly opened my eyes to the life of infertility and adoption.For the author (Carrie) to let others inside her personal experiences is extremely admirable.It was inspirational to read about a couple's journey to become parents from her own perspective.

Opened My Eyes
This amazing journey opened my eyes and mind to all the couples who are dealing with infertility.I've been following their story for a couple of years.Now that I've read the book, I can't wait to share it with all my friends! ... Read more

Product Description

Coping with Infertility is an essential source of emotional support for any couple struggling with involuntary childlessness. The book offers proven techniques and real-life examples from both men and women, in order to outline common emotional reactions and remind couples that they are not alone in their ups and downs. The coping skills discussed in the book have been assembled from years of working with individuals in clinical trials and have undergone rigorous scientific testing. These state-of-the-art techniques have been shown to be effective in helping couples deal with the stress, depression, relationship problems, and grief often associated with infertility. Coping with Infertility is an easily accessible and problem-focused guide for couples to use in overcoming the emotional roadblocks of infertility.

Customer Reviews (1)

Just OK
I am not done reading the book yet, but so far it is just ok.It goes into a lot of things i already knew and realized.It isn't quite the book i was looking for.I was looking to put my mind at east that what i have been dealing with and how i have been dealing with it is normal. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for Ob/Gyn residents, medical students, clinicians and othermedical professionals, this handy pocket reference contains a wealthof information presented in an outline format with over 150 tables,flowcharts and figures. The small trim size makes it easy to carry ina lab coat or scrub shirt pocket. Now in an entirely revised 5thEdition, this popular reference has been the pocket reference ofchoice for medical professionals around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

OB/GYN reference
GREAT guide for residents.I used this book and dog-earred many pages.Well worth the money.

great review for CREOG
Great book..wonderful quick guide to everything you need to know fast!

I also used this as a quick review for CREOG's, it has all the high yield stuff they'll test you on!

Cons: a slightly larger type version should be considered.

Could be better...
For this book, you need a magnifying glass to read it! The print is way too small. It's okay to use when accompanied with a textbook but not great on its own. Additionally, I think it's out of date and not up to ACOG standards. Of the entire 5 week rotation, I picked up this book once!

review
best little book I had as a resident, comes in handy at least once a week as a community-hospital-based FP.

*THE* OB/GYN Book for your pocket...
You can tell the medical students at your local teaching hospital.They're the ones with the short lab coats and the pockets bulging with small paper-back books.

For those who are in training to become a Doctor a premium is placed on easily-accessible, highly accurate and important information.I remember going through my clinical rotations and thinking that I needed a "pocket" book for every medical rotation to supplement my massive 20-pound, $100 texts while I was on the wards and in the clinic.

Early into my OB/GYN Residency I got the hot scoop - THIS is the book to keep in your lab-coat if you're practicing OB/GYN.By the time I was a chief resident this book had saved me time and heartache and saved my patients from my blunders over and over.Like all "pocket" texts, this one doesn't contain lengthy discussions.But it DOES contain what you need to get through that night on OB/GYN call.And the next one.... and the next.

The treatment for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (and hundreds of other common clinical situations)- before it's burned into your brain it's right here at your fingertips.It even gives you concise "go-by's" for how to dictate your operative reports for the most common OB/GYN surgeries.

Since I got my first one a decade ago I've never NOT had a copy of this in my lab coat.I use it infrequently now, but when young trainees seem to need a push towards a clue - I push them towards this little gem. ... Read more

Product Description
This thoroughly revised version of the classic book Without Child includes essays, poems, and the very personal stories of courage and triumph from couples who themselves have experienced infertility. Ellen Sarasohn Glazer - a clinician who specializes in working with infertile couples - offers practical and sensitive advice for dealing with the many day-to-day challenges of infertility and shows the profound effect infertility has on emotions, relationships, and careers. This comprehensive resource includes new chapters on topics including cancer and infertility and gestational care. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

I Laughed and Cried
I loved the stories and poems in Experiencing Infertility. Some made me laugh, especially the pregnant after infertility diary. Others made me cry.I was especially touched by the two stories of people who dealt withinfertility after cancer treatment.I was also deeply moved by the finalessay in the book, Enduring Losses. Although I have mentioned someof my favorite essays, I really enjoyed all of them. The book wascompelling, compassionate and comprehensive. I encourage anyone goingthrough infertility--or pregnancy after infertility--to read it!

I loved this book
Experiencing Infertility is the most moving, deeply personal and poetic book that I have found about infertility.I liked Ellen Glazer's chapter introductions, all of which are brief, to-the-point and informative, but ILOVED the essays that her contributors wrote.Each one is interesting andtells a compelling story, but a few are true gems.I encourage readers toget this book and go immediately to the following essays: "EnduringLosses" and "You Can Take That to the Bank." As an adoptivemom, I was also deeply touched by "Random Acts of Love." This is a great book to own.I have read some of the essays several timesand have loaned it to my mother and two sisters.Although none of themhave personally experienced infertility, they all found it fascinating andeach seems more sensitive to what I have been through. A great find.

An Important Helping Hand
As somebody who is just starting out on the infertility bandwagon, I found the book useful, in mainly in letting me know that there are thousands of people who have grappled with the same whirlwind, and have felt just asalone as I have.

An essential companion to the infertility odyssey
I wish this book had been available when I was going through treatment.Reading it is like going to an infertility counselor and a support group, but at a fraction of the price.Very wise and insightful as well asinformative, comprehensive, up-to-date.

Writers share poignant stories about infertility.
There are many books out there about how to be an infertility patient, but few which capture the experience from the individuals'/couples' experience. I loved reading the personal accounts in Experiencing Infertility. So manyof them describe what it is really like-- painful, stressful, agonizing,frustrating, but also funny, absurd, and potentially transforming. This isa great book to return to over and over again. I loved the variety ofstories and poems. Some made me cry; others made me laugh; and many didboth. ... Read more

Product Description
Personal, easy to read, and possessed of a warm, welcome sense of humor… An excellent introduction for anyone facing infertility(Publishers Weekly)

Cindy Margolis may be known as the “most downloaded woman on the Internet,” but she was brought down to earth when she tried to conceive. Suddenly, she became another statistic: just one of the more than nine million women each year who are desperately trying to have a child.

After more than a year of disappointment and with a growing sense of insecurity, Cindy began a determined quest to have a family that included an array of treatments—including five in-vitro fertilizations and surrogacy—a journey that resulted in three happy and healthy children.

Now Cindy helps women navigate through the world of infertility treatments and procedures. Sincere, supportive, and funny, she provides the direction, advice, and information that could only come from a woman who’s been in the trenches— and who has emerged battle-scarred, but victorious. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Raising Awareness
Thank you Cindy Margolis for proving that infertility does not make a woman less attractive or desireable.Cindy very openly gives us a personal account of her infertility plus including helpful information.Hopefully more celebrities will become more open about their infertility challenges.Understandably, the book spends a good amount of time on surrogacy.

Very Helpfull
Is goog to know that we are not alone out there, that our dificulties is share by a million people, and someone have better answers for our questions.

Finally not alone
My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for ten months now and in that time I have watched 8 of my friends get pregnant, have a baby(ies) or get pregnant again; it has been very frustrating to be the only one not getting pregnant. This book truly made me feel like there were other people out there going through exactly what I was.The author presents a personal account of her journey that is easy to identify with and straightforward. I found myself laughing at the ridiculous things she did trying to get pregnant that I though only I did!I had trouble towards the end because I felt overwhelmed with what may lie ahead for me.It is a practical book though that honestly tells you what to expect.It does offer hope for all of us out there trying to conceive.

Bravo Cindy Margolis
Bravo Cindy Margolis for having the courage to write such a fun, informative book and work to remove the shame and secrecy around infertility. This book will help so many couples on a difficult road and hopefully open our society's eyes to the need to remove all stigma still surrounding infertility. We are a culture that celebrates beauty and fame so we desperately need those that seem to "have it all" to share their experiences.
I am so grateful to this author for this wonderful book! ... Read more

Product Description
A Little Pregnant is a poignant and refreshingly honest account of a husband and wife struggling over the course of a decade to have a child. Linda Carbone and Ed Decker offer a moving appraisal of their wrenching, confusing, frustrating, and sometimes comic ordeal. She feels ambivalent about having children; he has an urgent need to have them, at all costs. In alternating chapters, husband and wife present their own powerful versions of their descent into medical and marital turmoil -- as well as their story's unexpected happy ending.Amazon.com Review
Linda Carbone was scheduled for a fetal sonogram. A bitsuperstitious after having suffered two miscarriages, she wanted toskip the appointment, but the fertility clinic that helped herconceive this baby convinced her to go: "There aren't that many highsin life." Instead of seeing the baby's heartbeat, though, she watchedas the technician kept enlarging the image on the screen, looking fora heartbeat or any sign of movement. The pregnancy wasn't viable, shewas told, and the baby's body was about to "crumple." Carbone wouldsoon miscarry for the third time.

A Little Pregnant isfilled with moments like this that make one wonder just how muchcruelty a person can endure. Carbone, an editor, and her husband, EdDecker, a writer, faced nearly a decade of Job-like trials in theirquest for a child. She was injected with dangerous,personality-altering hormones and underwent in vitro fertilization;his testicles were operated on to relieve low sperm count; they burstinto tears whenever another couple or family member had a baby. Andthey drove each other crazy, nearly divorcing, not the leastbecause Decker was obsessed with parenthood and Carbone wasindifferent about it--and eventually developed a crush on herfertility doctor. All these soul-sapping events are told in acompulsively readable she-said, he-said format, suspended in a sort ofmagical realism, as if the pair can't now comprehend why they torturedthemselves--or allowed themselves to be tortured by others--for solong.

The book escapes what might have been an overly oppressivetone because the reader knows from the start that Decker and Carbonedid have a healthy baby girl, after--almost implausibly--an anguishingadoption attempt failed and they had finally resigned themselves tobeing childless. This is a magnificent examination of self-delusion,the cruelties of imperfect technology, and the gripping allure ofparenthood. --Erica Jorgensen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A Little TOO Much
A "Little" To Much to Handle
The engaging infertility memoir, A Little Pregnant, is a captivating story that almost no one will want to listen too. Though it is an interesting tale of the trials and tribulations that married couple Ed Decker and Linda Carbone experience in their journey to first conceive and then adopt a child, most people will either find the story too heart wrenching to finish or it will go completely over their heads. For couples facing infertility, which affects about 1 in 10 couples according to the American College of Physicians, it will probably hit too close to home, with its many disappointments and soul crushing moments. And for those who cannot relate to the struggles of infertility, it will completely miss the mark because it is full of convoluted and some times obscure medical procedures that most people either won't understand or just plain won't care to hear about. The book seems to have split personalities at every turn, from the enigmatic couple Carbone and Decker, to the feelings it evokes and the audience it is reaching out too, A Little Pregnant is constantly pulling its reader in two directions.
A Little Pregnant begins it tug of war right the start. It is told in from the perspective of both Decker and Carbone in alternating chapters that are rich in detail. This formats shows how profoundly and differently the couple was affected by their quest to become parents. There are countless medical procedures and so many heart breaking moments that at times the story becomes exhausting. It almost makes you wonder when they will stop and accept their fate of being childless. Their masochistic determination can be frustrating. But then there are other moments where you actually admire their strength and resilience in the face of such discouraging setbacks in their dream of conceiving.
The story starts with the couple happy, urban and in love but as they run into unexpected road blocks in the baby quest, they become resentful and impatient with each other. Carbone has always been ambivalent about having children. She grows to resent her husband for forcing her to the next level every time they lose a pregnancy or fail to conceive. She undergoes countless medical procedures, including a Dilation and Curettage for a uterine blockage, the fertility drug Clomid, treatment for endometriosis, IVF and procedure called GIFT. None of which produced a viable fetus. Disenchanted with her relationship with her husband, she develops a strong sexual attraction to the second most important man in her life, her fertility doctor, Dr. Gold. At one point as she realizes her growing crush for him she muses, "When I was at the office, Dr Gold and I would sometimes have long talks on the phone. I found myself doodling his name. I'd save messages he left on my voicemail and replay them again and again, the disembodied masculinity of his voice becoming both overly familiar and strange, like a word you say to many times in a row (97)." It's hard to tell if Carbone is beginning to lose her mind or is just trying to find a mental escape from such a draining process. She begins to wear make up and style her hair especially for her appointments with him. Then she starts to have vivid sexual fantasies about him, wondering if he has ever felt a "flicker of desire" for her during her exams. She graphically describes how she would like to "arouse him with her hands and mouth into a glorious erection" while sneaking off to secret meeting
places and not being bothered with birth control (p.98)." At times you wonder if Dr. Gold reciprocates these feelings. He gives her special treatment, such as calling her ahead of patients who have earlier appointments and having round the clock conversations with her. He tells her to "call him anytime", which is comforting to a patient, but also somewhat inappropriate.Her ambivalence fades as she seems to feel as if it is her duty to produce a child for her husband. She even appears rebellious at some points, determined have a child simply because she has been told that she may not be able to.
Decker on the other hand has always wanted children and sees himself as the perfect father. It is puzzling why he would marry a woman so vocal about her ambivalence to have children. Meanwhile Decker becomes obsessive with of having to perform on cue for the many samples he must leave. Also their lovemaking must be scheduled at specific times. In time they discover that not only Carbone, but Decker also has physical problem contributing to their infertility. Though Carbone never outwardly says it, you can sense her sighing with relief because she is no longer the sole reason they have not had child. Eventually all these factor cause him to have extreme anxiety attacks. He first tries a biofeedback device and when that doesn't work he goes to a therapist. Even though the therapist is dedicated to helping him and very accurate in what he thinks is causing his anxiety attacks, Decker leaves and never returns, too afraid to uncover whatever demons in his past have contributed to his current problems.
As the story drags on, it becomes an emotional roller coaster, with small victories contrasted with crushing defeats. They become pregnant three times only to have all of the pregnancies in end in early miscarriages. They try acupuncture as an alternative to
conventional medicine. Carbone visits a chiropractor and they both return to Decker's therapist to try to work through other problems they feel may be hindering them in becoming parents. None of these options prove successful, not due to lack of expertise or effort on the part of medical professionals, but because of Decker's and Carbone's fear of truly exploring themselves and each other in fear of what they may find. Their stubbornness is a recurring theme throughout the book, with them ignoring practicality at several different points. This tunnel vision could be interpreted as either single minded foolishness to fulfill the selfish desire to have a child or as the need to satisfy the basic human need to reproduce. Occasionally it seems like the former, but more often then not, it appears to be the latter.
It begins to seem as if the couple is being bullied by some higher power, and the reader begins to worry if they are doomed to never realize this dream, and if so where that will leave them as a couple. Their fights become more vicious and as they become older, they both become more desperate, because they know time is limited. Their communication also breaks down. Whenever Carbone tries to express to Decker that they should consider giving up, he silently presses her into going on. At one point he even tells her, if he must, he will do it without her (195). Many experts agree that infertility affects all three of the things couples fight about the most, money, sex and equal responsibility amongst partners (Holland). Decker and Carbone seem to almost reach their breaking point as all these things are not only a source of fights but great tension as well.
When they finally give up the notion of having a biological child and decide to adopt, a glimmer of hope is shown. They aren't able to go through an agency, because
they exceed their age limit, so they must pursue private adoption. They go through the process of retaining a lawyer and trying to find a birth mother to adopt from. They place ads in new papers across the country, basically advertising for women who wanted to give their child up for adoption. Finally a young girl named Nellie answers, 8 months pregnant and sure of her decision to give her child to a family that can give her child a better life. She is only in high school and it is implied that she has gotten pregnant by her step father. They go to Nebraska to pick up the child and instantly fall in love. Carbone, who was at first afraid of not being able to love someone else's child, now had an overwhelming fear of not being able to take home the baby she had instantly fell in love with. The birth mother's hesitation to sign the papers and sudden request to see the baby one last time worries Carbone.Her intuition proves true. At the last minute the young, teenage mother who had promised them her baby reneged. And there was nothing they could do but accept it. At this moment they decide no more and drive back to New York resigned to that fact that they will never have a child.
Surprisingly and unceremoniously Carbone becomes pregnant. On the ride home from their final test she realizes that she is experiencing all the early symptoms of pregnancy. Without drugs, schedules or doctors she gets pregnant, has an uneventful and easy pregnancy and gives birth to a healthy baby girl. With so much heart ache through out the book, one would hope that the happy ending would be detailed and fulfilling. Instead it is short and anticlimactic. Though there is a sense of relief, you cannot help but wonder was so much was worth it in the end. And would a child, the one thing that

divided them so much in the past, now fix their marriage that was so clearly broken by their obsession with having one?
Though A Little Pregnant draws you in from page one, it also, at times, pushes you away. It's bare, uncut honesty and the strength of Carbone and Decker can be refreshing and necessary at times, yet unsettling and frustrating at others. The attention to detail and fine narration makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. Except for the somewhat confusing medical procedures that the couple goes through, it is almost like talking with a friend. If given the chance, the book could be enjoyed by almost anyone, but they should keep this disclaimer in mind; be prepared to have your heartstrings pulled and you common sense tested as you go on this miserable trek towards parenthood with these wonderfully interesting people.

Love Conquers All
Linda Carbone and Ed Decker have created a masterpiece. An honest account of one of the most intimate experiences of their lives (their struggle with infertility), it is written in alternating chapters (her account, his account)overlapping and independently moving the story forward. Their humanity, humor, heartbreak and ultimate triumph draw the reader in and never let go. I would recommend this book for anyone who believes in the human spirit and its ability to make lemonade out of lemons.You won't be disappointed!!

details?
As detail-oriented as the authors are (the wife even describes the dress she wore before having surgery over a decade before the book was written!) there's a suprising lack of details regarding her pregnancy, their daughter's birth or life.

A Little Pregnant: Our Memoir of Fertility, Infertility, and a Marriage
This is a FABULOUS book for anyone who has been struggling with infertility!!I loved how this book has the male and female perspectives of each step of the journey.I laughed a lot and cried too.I highly recommend this one:)

Aninfertility book that includes the husband equally
I've read so many books about this subject matter.This is one of the few where the man is included.The chapters trade points of view between the couple so it's nice to hear from the male side of this tough journey.The book is funny, sad, and honest.A great book for both members of a partnership struggling with the emotional rollercoaster of wishing so hard for a baby that it hurts. ... Read more

Product Description
This text is devoted to the crisis of being unable to conceive or carry a child to term following the birth of one or more children, with special issues and strategies for resolution. It focuses on issues such as anger and depression, the effects on marriage, and relationships with family.Amazon.com Review
Secondary infertility is often a "hidden" issue, and couplessuffering from the inability to have another wanted child often feel caughtin the netherworld between the childless infertile and parents of largerfamilies. Harriet Fishman Simons, a clinician specializing in fertilityissues and a support group leader for RESOLVE, an advocacy group forinfertile individuals, has been involved ininfertility issues for over 20 years. In her book Wanting Another Child: Coping with Secondary Infertility, Simons discusses the plightof the secondarily infertile--the awkwardness of being among infertilecouples without children, the pain of watching other families conceiveagain. The book takes a broad-based look at an issue that is becoming morecommon as more couples rely on fertility treatments to form their families.Simons weaves personal stories with theory and sociological data. Sheincludes chapters on social and emotional issues (the effects of secondaryinfertility on the couple as well as friends, family,and coworkers), parenting during secondary infertility issues (helpingchildren cope with their parent's secondary infertility), and possibleresolutions to and strategies for coping with secondary infertility.Simons's style may be academic, but the information and message is not, andthis book is a welcome addition to a new subfield of study.--Ericka Lutz ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

shared emotions, but no solutions....
I checked out this book from the library with high hopes of finding answers to my various questions about secondary infertility, but was v. disappointed that it was no more than a collection of experiences sent to the author by a wide variety of people who are living with this infertility.OK so there's a whole community out there who are experiencing similar emotions and questions; what I am looking for are some guidelines and helpful suggestions.The author fails to provide good advice or useful decision-making tools to those dealing with this issue.Although a subject such as secondary infertility has a very large audience, perusing this book made me no wiser in answering questions I have about the situation.2 pts. for dealing with a topic important to many of us, -3 for not shedding light on my questtions.I failed to see the value-add from the author other than making the reader aware that there are many other people out there grappling with the same issues and emotions.Don't waste your time with this book.

Why is this out of print?
I found this book so helpful in making me realize I wasn't alone in this strange mixture of feelings.While I found it helpful to be part of a support group for others suffering from infertility, I also found it difficult at times to relate to those suffering from primary infertility, and I did not want to seem ungrateful for the wonderful child I had when so many people had no child at all.I have passed this book along to several other people and have suggested it to others online -- I only wish it were still in print!

Highly Recommend - it REALLY helped me!!!
Where was this book when I REALLY needed it!!! They need to reprint this because there are so many people who could benifit from this book. I have dealt with my secondary infertility for 8 years from childbirth complications. I have never really felt like I "fit in" with the infertile childless and the people who could have more kids.I recommend this book with 5 stars+++. It may bring on some tears but that is part of the process of coming to terms and the grieving process. You will read about how other ladies have dealt with other peoples pregancies, caught between two worlds of the fertile and infertile, how families do not really give the support you hoped for and knowing they still love you, the second child you had in your mind and heart will never be and you have to mourn for that child, validating your idea of what is a family, adoption as an option, and accepting an only child family. It really helped me out a lot to realise I am not alone and validate my feelings that I have had the past 8 years. If you are a good friend or family member dealing with secondary infertility get this and read it then pass it on to your friend. She/he will feel so good that you cared enough to give it.It was written by a RESOLVE counselor. It is an EXCELLENT book for husbands to read because they see this differently in a lot of ways and this book will help them see the wives point of view. I highly recommend it. Please reprint it!!

An Excellent Read for Those Coping, or if You Know Someone
I had no expectations when I opened this book, having read a number of books on infertility. What a pleasant surprise to discover that Ms. Fishman Simons knows the subject of secondary infertility so well and provides in her book just what couples experiencing this very much ignored problem need for guidance. While reading it was emotionally difficult at times, I found many perspectives that matched what I had felt and some insightful comments on how to get past secondary infertility. I highly recommend this book to anyone coping with secondary infertility, certainly as a beginning to "recovery," and to family and friends of the secondary infertile couple.

An Excellent Read for Those Coping, or if You Know Someone
I had no expectations when I opened this book, having read a number of books on infertility. What a pleasant surprise to discover that Ms. Fishman Simons knows the subject of secondary infertility so well and provides in her book just what couples experiencing this very much ignored problem need for guidance. While reading it was emotionally difficult at times, I found many perspectives that matched what I had felt and some insightful comments on how to get past secondary infertility. I highly recommend this book to anyone coping with secondary infertility, certainly as a beginning to "recovery," and to family and friends of the secondary infertile couple. ... Read more

Product Description
The new edition of this canonical text on male reproductive medicine will cement the book's market-leading position. Practitioners across many specialties - including urologists, gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, medical endocrinologists and many in internal medicine and family practice - will see men with suboptimal fertility and reproductive problems. The book provides an excellent source of timely, well-considered information for those training in this young and rapidly evolving field. While several recent books provide targeted 'cookbooks' for those in a male reproductive laboratory, or quick reference for practising generalists, the modern, comprehensive reference providing both a background for male reproductive medicine as well as clinical practice information based on that foundation has been lacking until now. The book has been extensively revised with a particular focus on modern molecular medicine. Appropriate therapeutic interventions are highlighted throughout. ... Read more