Mourning Sickness: Stories and Poems About Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss

by Missy Martin (Editor), Jesse Loren (Editor), Kerry Trautman

This book weighs less than a pound but it holds the heavy weight of one of life's worst tragedies. In this first-of-its-kind collection, 51 contributors (many of them award-winning writers) share their personal journeys through miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death. The writing is so authentic it will steal your breath. Unpalatable truths are not avoided or tucked out of sight; they are exposed, explored, and embraced on every page in the spirit that cradling each experience in words can be healing to any reader who has suffered the loss of a baby.

Genres: Grief

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent secondary resource for those touched by the death of a newborn or late-term pregnancy loss. It is not something I would recommend as a first resource for those dealing with miscarriage, simply because it focuses more heavily on still births and later-term loses. Also, this is simply a collection of stories and experiences rather than a book to help a reader process a loss (my favorite miscarriage resource is still Miscarriage: Women Sharing from the Heart).

Some of the stories are true, some of the stories are fictional. As with most collections, some of the pieces are really good and others are just okay. Most of them are heart-wrenching.

There were a couple typos. I wish there weren't.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a poem in this anthology and this subject is dear to me, so I am somewhat biased. Mourning Sickness is a collection of essays and poetry addressing the loss of a baby. The emotions of grief are on full, honest display, from silent longing to screams of anguish. Many bereaved families are unable to concentrate enough to read an entire book, making a collection such as this ideal. The cover art is stunning. The selections in this book are a profound testament to the enduring love for a miscarried or stillborn baby.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories from many cultures and voices about infant loss, etc. Great book, but not in one sitting for me.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you. that's all I can really say.