Creating Life Against the Odds: The Journey from Infertility to Parenthood [Paperback]

FACOG Ilona Laszlo Higgins MD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2006

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 s

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

REVIEWS:

"Dr. Lonny Higgins and I were OB/GYN residents together at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston. Though our paths have been different, we both share a life-long commitment to women's health and empowerment. In Creating Life Against The Odds, Lonny tackles the subject of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and how to negotiate this area with maximum access to one's inner guidance with information and self-knowledge. She has done a magnificent job with a challenging subject!" -- Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom (Bantam, 2005), The Wisdom of Menopause (Bantam, 2001), and Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom (Bantam, 1998)

"For a long time I have felt that my field was in desperate need of a book written for the general reader that was accurate, included reliable information, was balanced, and, most importantly, presented a lot of the provocative issues surrounding the treatment of the infertile couple. There is no question that Dr. Higgins has achieved this and much more. Her unique perspective as a physician and a mother who has journeyed along with her patients gave her the knowledge, both professional and psychological, to write this informative and emotionally exciting book." -- Christos Coutifaris, MD, PhD Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Center for Reproductive Medicine and Surgery President, Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

"Dr Higgins combines her personal and professional experience into a sound book, one that makes both good science and good sense. It presents an excellent balance of the cognitive and emotional perspectives, and I recommend it highly." -- John F. McDermott, MD Professor and Chair Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry John A. Burns School of Medicine University of Hawaii

About the Author

"Dr. Lonny Higgins and I were OB/GYN residents together at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston. Though our paths have been different, we both share a life-long commitment to women's health and empowerment. In Creating Life Against the Odds, Lonny

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris (November 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425730663
• ISBN-13: 978-1425730666
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,337,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing. May 6, 2010

By ThatsWhatSheSaid

Amazon Verified Purchase

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!! Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Best Books On 3rd Party Reproduction Ever! January 9, 2007

By M. Gatlin

This author has beautifully written a book in language we can all grasp, appreciate, and understand about a topic that for years has been secret, taboo, and uncomfortable to talk about. Lonny Higgins has also gathered numerous first hand accounts from individuals from all over the world who have come forward to share their infertility frustrations, experiences, and stories so that we all might gain better insight -- and perhaps take the word 'scary' out of the entire journey. While I may not be a professional book editor, I gave a great sigh of relief when I read this book because it not only validated me and my feelings regarding my experience with ART -- but it also helped me gain a different perspective regarding other people and their own personal journeys. It's a must read for anyone going through the DE process.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Reading For Anyone Considering Third Party Reproduction January 24, 2007

By Amy in WV

This book should be recommended to ART moms to be by all assisted fertility clinics nationwide, especially to those prospective parents who are considering third party reproduction. Most of the literature available to such parents comes from the paradigm of adoption, but ART has its own special nuances that the adoption literature is lacking. This book contains very comprehensive and over-arching information about all types of assisted reproductive technologies and the vocabulary necessary to talk about ART with others, both professional and personal in nature. As ART becomes more commonplace and widespread, the need for this kind of manual becomes more apparent. The author comes from a very unique background of philosophy, medicine (she is an OB/GYN), and experience (she is very open about her use of third party reproduction), that enables her to communicate very well some of the most current issues surrounding the choices necessary by couples considering using such technology. Perhaps most important is her discussion of appropriate vocabulary for all the nuances of third party reproduction, especially the ramifications of such language in defining legal precedent. This is a very important book that is groundbreaking in its approach to a very complex and ever growing field. Hopefully it will set the stage for many discussions of ART to come. I recommend this book highly for anyone interested in third party reproduction.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book January 26, 2007

By K. Petzoldt

The flow of this narrative takes even the beginner at infertility through an empowering journey of information. The personal stories remind us that this IS a strong possiblity for so many couples out there.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great first book if you are considering using a donor January 14, 2007

By KD

An informative and thought-provoking easy read. This book is positive and supportive with an emphasis on the emotional and psychological aspects of attempting to overcome infertility with donor(s) and/or gestational carrier. Another unique aspect of this text is its focus on the needs of child/children created this way. Incorporates the experiences of many women, families and children in an entertaining way, humorous at times. Thankfully un-preachy. Excellent discussion of disclosure choices and implications.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensitive, insightful, comprehensive, accurate, accessible. January 10, 2007

By D. B.

All of these words describe Dr. Ilona Laszlo Higgins' new book on the journey from infertility to parenthood. As a seasoned OB-GYN, and as a woman who herself longed for and gave birth to a child in the face of infertility, Dr. Higgins explores every aspect of this deeply human topic.

What is infertility? When, and how, should one approach the decision to seek help in conceiving? Who are the experts? What are the options? How should one choose? How can people support themselves and their partners on this journey? How much does it cost? Do the procedures hurt? What legal, ethical and spiritual issues may arise? What are the experiences of donors? Surrogates? Siblings? Who are the "real" parents? What, when, and how should one tell about his/her assisted conception to the child? To family? To friends?

In vivid vignettes, in Q and A, and in words that everyone can understand, Dr. Higgins interweaves her professional expertise with a true rainbow of first-hand narratives, to illuminate each of these topics and many more. Her information is up to the minute, and her perspective is both intimate and far-seeing.

While this book speaks to anyone contemplating assisted reproduction, I believe it is an important resource for professionals as well. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is opening up entirely new paradigms in family building. The "traditional" models simply do not encompass this new reality. With extraordinary clarity and compassion, Dr. Higgins pinpoints areas in which the traditional terminology and concepts of family and parentage can diminish and distort the self-perception and lived experience of ART parents, their children and their families. The possible solutions which Dr. Higgins offers feel spot on.... They are precisely reflective of both the biological and psychological realties of ART, they are inclusive of a broad range of cultural and lifestyle affiliations, and they rightly acknowledge the pioneering nature of this unique journey. For any professional advising ART candidates this is an excellent book to have in one's back pocket, and an excellent reference to offer to clients.

While I read the entire book in an afternoon, its lively and humane prose invites the reader back for many return helpings. Two thumbs way up. Read more ›