Customer Reviews

Girlfriend to Girlfriend: A Fertility Companion

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I could relate to this book until I got to the very end. I felt misled and betrayed by the author. No where on the back of the book or clearly stated in any of these reviews, is the clarification that this author only dealt with her fertility challenge "temporarily." She struggled and had a lot of pain and hardship for 3 years, but then she got the happy ending- her own little baby boy. This book seems to be marketed to those dealing with infertility (or fertility challenges) and the author herself wants to help women going through the struggle. This is admirable. And the description of her own struggle (which is 99% of the book) is deeply moving. But I wish I had known going into reading this book that she does go on to have a baby. Because what about those of us that don't get the happy ending? (At least not in the form of a pregnancy that works out?) I am one of those, and was anxiously waiting to hear how she moved past the pain into some semblance of peace and acceptance. A life beyond a desire for a baby. But she didn't stay fertility challenged so she never had to find a way beyond broken hopes, desires and the anger. She got lucky. But she puts a spiritual spin on it all that in a way is hurtful to those of us who she is supposedly trying to help- the fertility challenged who maybe stay fertility challenged! Just as she was feeling betrayed by her God, and wanting to release the anger so she could reconnect to a spiritual path, she got her "bundle of miracle." She implies that because she gave her struggle over to God, and decided to do something to try to help others, that is the reason in the end she got her baby. I came away from this book feeling really awful! There are a lot of women who have come to a spiritual crisis in their journey and let go to a higher power and who also contribute much in this world to help others. But we don't all get what we "want," the outcome so hoped for as Kristen did. There is a time when the window shuts and those women have to find a way to move on. If this is what you are looking for and need help with, this book does not offer much help or guidance in that way.

I read this book from cover to cover in one night. I just couldn't put it down. For the first time in months, I smiled, laughed, cried and laughed some more. I felt like I was able to breathe again ... truly breathe. I was not alone.

Infertility is a terrible thing to go through and I commend Kristen Magnacca for being brave enough to share her story. My favorite part of the book was when Kristen talked about always trying to be first in line at the doctors' office when she had to go for blood work time and time again. Me too, I've done that! This actually gave me back a sense of sanity. It was a small triumph, but never the less a triumph! I learned to recognize all victories big or small along this rollercoaster ride they call infertility.

Reading this book helped me get out of bed many mornings when I otherwise would not have. It reminded me to how good it felt to laugh and that I was not alone. Although I have many girlfriends to talk too ... no one understands as well as a girlfriend that has been through it, Girlfriend to Girlfriend.

I have purchased many copies of this book and send it to friends new and old that I learn are also going through infertility. Although I am still on the rollercoaster, I hope to someday touch someone's life as Kristen did mine by writing this book. As infertility takes away so many things, the gift of hope, encouragement and laughter is one we can take back. Thank you Kristen for this truly wonderful gift.

Girlfriend to Girlfriend is a very personal story shared by Kristen Magnacca as she goes along her own infertility journey. Kristen's tale is quite descriptive and provides a view into one person's detailed experience of the world of infertility.

If you are without support, this book lets you know what the process was like for Kristen and may help you feel connected with someone who experienced a similar struggle. I will recommend the book to coaching clients who are alone and need a sense that others also have rough infertility experiences.

The book is somewhat similar to A Little Pregnant by Linda Carbone and Ed Decker. Because I felt so completely a part of the experience through Carbone's book, I missed the perspective of Kristen's husband in this one.

At the end of each chapter, Kristen has a suggestion or two. While these are useful, there aren't many of them.

For me, the best part of the book is the personal sharing.

This book was a life saver. Oddly enough, although so many of us have difficulty conceiving, few speak so honestly and in such graphic detail of their experiences with fertility doctors, medications, and the medial industry overall, as the author does in this book. Reading it was like hearing the stories of someone who had been through all that I am currently dealing with.

The best part of this book was the honesty with which the author spoke of the communication difficulties her husband and she had and how they worked through some of the different ways they dealt with being infertile. I can relate totally and feel much less alone to know that other couples experience the same issues. I also loved the author's "girlfriend tips" at the end of the chapters. Somehow, she answered many of the questions that have been floating around in my mind for months, but I never knew whom to ask.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is going through treatment for infertility themselves or is close to someone else who is. It was both hysterically funny and incredibly sad and at the same time, it was painful but also a relief to read!

A Reader, South Boston, Mass

I thought I was alone in how much difficulty infertility caused in my relationship with my husband. I now realize that I am not alone and some of Kristen's ideas have helped both my husband and me. I especially liked the part about the mind/body connection.

I read this book early in my own infertility journey. Unfortunately, all this book did for me was SCARE the living daylights out of me. The author encountered some of the "worst-case" scenarios that we all know exist: extreme adverse reaction to Clomid, ectopic pregnancy, etc. Rather than serve as a practical guide to the day-to-day drone of infertility, the book dealt in worst-case scenarios.

[...] the ultimate insult comes at the conclusion of the book when the author implies that you can "just relax" and get pregnant. All of us dealing with infertility have certainly been given that "advice" by all of our ignorant acquaintances and families already... which led us to look for books to help us cope. Shame on the author for compounding the insult.

I've actually read this book twice, the second time just recently after my husband and I were referred to a specialist and began a rather aggressive treatment plan for our infertility. It was only after this second time through that this book really struck a chord.

Prior to finding this book, I thought I was all alone with my feelings of anger, jealousy, depression, and even confusion over why it was all happening to us. But I found myself relating to the stories and situations in this book so closely. I would read passages to my husband outloud as if retelling a story from our own lives. I'm very thankful that the author was there, experiencing what we've been experiencing and had the courage to write a book about it.

This book has helped both myself and my husband understand that our feelings are normal and that we're not alone. It also gave us hope that someday our dream of starting a family will become a reality.

I finished this book in one day. After I was done, I had myself a good cathartic cry and was ready for whatever came next. Kristen explains things in a way that is easy to understand and made me feel validated. I just couldn't put the book down because I often felt like she knew what I feeling inside. I definitely recommend this book for anyone feeling a little down about their trip through infertility.

This is a great story. I was really surprised how much I liked this book. It was funny and insightful and full of very usefull information. Infertility is such an emotional subject, one most people do not want to talk about. It is rare to find such a honest and personal account. I would recommend this book to anyone thinking about infertility treatment.

I was diagnosed with a disorder called ploycystic ovarian syndrome about six months after I got married. The bottom line was that I am medically infertile. My husband and I tried everything the doctors told us to do, and we were having no success.
If you've never been in that situation, you would not understand the pain that goes along with it. It seems as though you're alone in your struggle, with more foreign feelings than you could ever get a handle on.
Then I found "Girlfriend to Girlfriend". As I turned each page, I realized that other women plan their days around ultrasounds, lab work, and hysterosalpingograms. I also learned that feeling my stomach turn inside out everytime I saw someone with a baby didn't make me a bad person. I was just a woman in pain, and I wasn't alone.
Kristen Magnacca was very brave to tell her story. I'm sure the pain of living through such troubled times was far from healed when she opened up her life to share with the world, but I'm glad she did it. I shared my fertility problems with Kristen, and prior to my last ultrasound I asked her to send me some positive energy, and she did. That was the day I had my first successful ovulation in a year! Now, I too am expecting. It's very early and I probably wouldn't share this news just yet, but I feel the need to say that when Kristen said she would share her story over a cup of tea at her house, she meant it. We communicate regualrly about my situation and hers, and now I see her as more than a respected writer. She's my good luck charm, and my friend.