Beyond Childlessness : For Every Woman Who Ever Wanted to Have a Child - And Didn't

by Rachel Black, Louise Scull

Childlessness is a growing issue throughout the developed world. Current estimates suggest that 2025% of women now of childbearing age will not, for a variety of reasons, ever have a child. This sensitive and intelligent book offers support, shared experience and practical strategies to those for whom childlessness is not a positive choice but a circumstance they have to learn to live with. Even now, many women find it very difficult to discuss this emotive topic with family and friends so this ground-breaking and accessible book will be profoundly and widely welcomed. This book is uniquethere is nothing on the market dealing with childlessness in this way. Includes a very wide range of personal stories, reflecting the myriad reasons why women do not have children.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2005

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me hope that even though I couldn't have children I could still have a productive and purposeful life.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There seems to be a dearth of information, social networks, or discussion around the experiences of childless women, so I'm very glad to have discovered this book. It was a great comfort to me to read the stories of other women who have experienced the same often conflicting emotions that I have around childlessness and others' perceptions of childless women. While it's targeted primarily at women in their forties, I think it would be relevant to any women who has chosen not to pursue (or continue pursuing) IVF or similar treatments and who is trying to come to terms with a future without children.

[NoMo Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond Childlessness is a book offering true support and guidance for women who have been unable to have children. Written by Rachel Black and Louise Scull, who are both childless themselves, it was published in the early 2000s and was one of the earlier support books to deal with the topic - and it still speaks to anyone childless today.

The book is full of practical guidance, and accompanied by sensitive and empathetic understanding from the authors on how it really feels to face childlessness - much of which would be useful reading for the wider family or social circles around non-mothers. It covers issues such as the desire for a child, fertility treatment, self-worth, relationships with partners and the wider world, old age, coping mechanisms, grief and alternative routes to nurturing. Importantly, it also seeks to show women how they can build a new identity and life beyond being a non-parent.

As part of their research, Rachel and Louise also interviewed a wide range of women, as well as some men; all of whom are childless for a variety of different reasons. The excerpts from these interviews bring the book alive as you glimpse into the real-life stories and emotions of other women with similar experiences to you. The authors and these interviewees combine to create a sense of community, and this is undoubtedly a wise and comforting book for anyone experiencing the grief and confusion of infertility or childlessness to turn to for support.

[RJC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non fiction. A personal look at women not having babies, this is aimed more at women aged 45 plus. Good to hear different viewpoints.