Miscarriage: Why it Happens and How Best to Reduce Your Risks--A Doctor's Guide to the Facts

by Henry M. Lerner

Whether it occurs in the first trimester or later in a pregnancy, a miscarriage is always an emotionally traumatic event, sometimes a physically daunting one, and all too often an isolating experience. Adding to the frustration and disappointment of the 800,000 women who miscarry every year, busy obstetricians often lack up-to-date or specific knowledge about the causes and consequences of this profound event.Into this fact-vacuum comes After Miscarriage , a book that every physician will confidently recommend and that women hungry for information will seek out. From the chromosomal, illness-related, immunological, and genetic reasons for miscarriage to the diagnostic tests and surgical procedures now available, this authoritative guide reflects the latest medical information on why miscarriages do and don't happen and the best methodologies known for recovery and preparing to conceive again. Complete with stories from women who have miscarried and reassuring input from a female doctor, After Miscarriage also provides substantive advice for coping with the anxiety and depression that often accompany the loss of pregnancy.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skimmed through most of the medical sections, searching instead for advice on recovering from the emotional ramifications of miscarriage. But this wasn't big on emotions, which in some weird way I found comforting. It was, in a large and comprehensive bookstore, the only book on the shelves dealing with miscarriage. Which is telling. And the authors reinforced this lack of acknowledgment about a situation so common and so dismissed by stating very clearly: most people just aren't going to get it- they'll tell you, "oh, you'll try again." or "it happens to so many women" etc etc (my "favorite" comment from a friend was "You're not really pregnant until the 2nd trimester- before that it doesn't count." So, had my baby died one week later, she would have "counted"?). But the reassurance came in the statements that this is devastating, no matter when in the pregnancy it occurs and you will mourn and grieve and must allow yourself to fall apart.

Frankly, the discussion of medical reasons for miscarriage were terrifying and left me with a sense of hopelessness about the prospect of conceiving and carrying a baby to term. But that is an emotional reaction to a very important need to understanding and treatment.

I wondered why Misoprostal was not discussed as an alternative to D&C. Perhaps because the jury is still out re: treatment protocol.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helps remove some of the guilt and worry one can feel after a miscarriage. Why did it happen? What could I have done differently? For the most part, the book assures you that a majority of miscarriages are completely out of your control, and they happen merely by chance. It does go into detail about the other possible causes, and also helps you identify what you can do now/in the future, both for emotional recovery and ensuring a healthy pregnancy.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who has suffered a miscarriage or who is worried about miscarriages. For me, it helped me stop assigning blame on myself for what happened, since it's almost certainly just due to the random mismatching of chromosomes.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very informative and comforting read. I recommend it. Miscarriage is a deeply scarring, silent ache and I know many many women who suffer with it. It was good to understand it better from the physical aspect and to conclude that no one is at fault. In no way will this cause the pain to go away but it might help one come a little closer to terms. So many times docotrs explain but it doesn't sink in until one has a chance to take it in on their own. This book might help with that.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book didn't have a ton of information that I hadn't already heard from my reproductive endocrinologist, and since I've had recurrent losses, a lot of the book didn't apply to me other than the chapter specifically about recurrent miscarriages, but I think it would be very useful to someone who has had one or two losses. And it has so many great reasons for helping you get over thinking that a miscarriage is your fault.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who's going through or went through miscarriage and wants to know more. It helped me realize I was not alone and everything I was going through was normal and natural.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certain aspects didn't apply to me, because I know more about what is going with my loss than lots of others, but for medical purposes I found it helpful and easily laid out so I could skip the parts that didn't apply to me

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this to anyone that has had a miscarriage and having difficulty understanding it. And recommend it especially to those with recurrent or second term miscarriages.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book really explained a lot I didn't know and gave me an insight of why my daughter is the way she is

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comforting.