Customer Reviews

Preventing Miscarriage: The Good News

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While "Preventing Miscarriage: the Good News" provided much detailed information, I found it to provide little hope or optimism to me as someone who experienced her first pregnancy and miscarriage. Each of the stories went into great detail on the many miscarriages experienced by each women and the final desperate measures they took to have a successful pregnancy. The unwritten message I received was "once a miscarrier, always a miscarrier." I would recommend this book to anyone who has experienced more than two or three miscarriages. But if this is your first miscarriage and you want to read this book, be prepared to be depressed.

After experiencing indescribable pain and guilt when my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, I sought answers in as many books about pregnancy loss as I could find. This book was a helpful source of medical information for me. I found that it contained a wide range of medical explanations for miscarriage, and also included tips and suggestions for finding answers to my questions about my loss. It motivated me to actively pursue answers from my doctor instead of accepting the traditional assumption that a first miscarriage is usually just a "fluke" that does not justify any inquiry. It encourages couples to take a proactive approach to coping with miscarriage and preventing other failed pregnancies through action, understanding, and questioning.

Much of the book does, however, dwell on stories of women with fertility problems, repeated miscarriages, and uncommon medical disorders. This can be frightening to those of us who are coping with our first loss, hoping that it will be our last. I looked at these stories as an affirmation that women should investigate the cause of their miscarriage to at least rule-out some of the factors that can contribute to a failed pregnancy. Because at least 50% of all miscarriages are thought to occur due to chromosomal abnormalities in the developing fetus, these stories describe situations and problems that are not necessarily common to the majority of women who have miscarried. Yet, after my miscarriage, I found myself hungry for answers, desperate to understand the science behind such a terrible emotional and physical experience. This book provided me with an understanding of miscarriage that has helped me ask my doctor some important questions, and move forward with my life.

One important thing to note: This book was written in the early 90's, and may not contain the most current information on infertility and miscarriage.

The authors offer concise explanations and a greatdeal of hope with their discussion on miscarriages.Ob's have traditionally waited until at least thethird miscarriage to begin to investigate causes, but Dr. Scher believes one shouldn't have to go through repeated heartbreak to at least start thinking about preventing another. This book explains the mechanics of pregnancy and subsequentmiscarriage beautifully, in every day language. After my own experiences I found very little information on the possible causes and implications, both in literature and from my own doctor. Afterreading this book, I understood a great deal moreabout what was happening to me and perhaps why. For example, possible explanations are given for miscarriages at different times during pregnancy. I fit cleanly within one category, which reduced theprobable causes to three types of problems, each treatable. I knew what to ask my own doctor, and I understood his answers as they applied to me. The book is incredibly upbeat and optimistic despite the sad subject. In addition, Dr. Scheris an academician at a respected institution, and publishes in professional journals about the subject. His professional expertise and personalempathy make for a powerful presentation.

I've really found this book helpful, and after 4 miscarriages, I have now safely made it past my first trimester of pregnancy. One of the most disturbing problems with miscarriage is that though you feel overwhelming guilt, there seems to be very little information about what can be done to prevent it. Not only does this book have stories from real women who have gone through the heartbreak and trauma of miscarriage, it also has very practical advice on what you can do to prevent it. It presents technical information in a clearly understood, yet very compassionate manner. I liked this book so much that I recently bought a second copy for a friend. The ONLY complaint I have, and the only reason this book did not receive a fifth star, is because it was copyrighted in 1990 - almost 12 years ago. I sincerely hope that Dr. Scher and Ms. Dix consider writing a second edition to this book. I think it would be well received, and helpful to a great many people. And THAT book, I will be sure to rate as a perfect 5 stars!

A lot has happened in the past 10 years in the area of recurrent miscarriage, and this book is, unfortunately, hopelessly out of date. For example, he mentions being "immunized" with your partner's white blood cells as a possible treatment for a specific immune problem, even though studies have shown that this treatment doesn't decrease the rate of miscarriage. If you buy this book, buy it to be read the personal stories of women who have overcome recurrent pregnancy loss, but don't rely on any of the medical information without first consulting a more up to date book, like "Miscarriage: What Every Woman Needs to Know" by Lesley Regan which was published in 2001. It's only available through Amazon UK, unfortunately, but is well worth the effort to get a copy.

I had 2 miscarriages in 2000 and I purchased a few books on the subject. The book "Preventing Miscarriage: The Good News" is the best book I read. It was very informative and supportive, too. The medical/physical reasons associated with miscarriage are very thoroughly explained without using too much medical jargon. The information is straightforward. It was easy to understand and it is a book that can always be used for reference in the future.

Most books addressing miscarriage focus on the emotional aspects of the miscarriage when you are really looking for information on why you might have miscarried and what you can do to prevent it from happening again. Although this book was published in 1990, I found that the information included in it is timely. It generally addressed all of the potential medical issues, tests, and treatments that took me hours and hours of research and Internet "surfing" to pinpoint. It is a quick read and is an invaluable tool in helping couples to address the appropriate testing and potential physical issues with their doctor. I did not find this book to be depressing at all, although I do agree with another reviewer that it might be a book for couples who have had more than one miscarriage because many insurers/doctors will not address physical causes for a miscarriage until you have had more than one. I found this book to be very encouraging that the cause for your miscarriage might be identified and treated to give you more peace of mind the next time you try!

I had looked a long time for a reference to help make sense of my miscarriages. Most books only dealt with the emotional side of the problem. The did not dealve into the possible physical causes. Dr. Scher's book helped me to outline the possible causes and treatments for them. My nightmare was turned into a tangible, solvable problem. I sought treatment based on his book. My son will celebrate his first birthday this month.

If you have had a miscarriage, you probably know that pregnancy books tend to have a few pages on the topic and nothing more. If you miscarry, you're left wondering why it happened, if it will happen again and how to prevent it. These were the questions I asked. This book answers them all. The information is very comprehensive and discusses not only the medical facts, but also the emotional aspects of healing and moving forward. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has had a miscarriage.

This is a very compassionate and informative book - a "must read" for anyone who has experienced a miscarriage. Dr. Scher explains in clear layperson's terms the many different possible causes of miscarriage. He even goes back to the basics and explains the female anatomy and the menstrual cycle (important for those trying to conceive at the right time!).

This book also contains many personal stories from couples who have had miscarriages, as well as the success of live births after they tried different approaches. This adds a very personal and touching aspect to the book - one which couples who have experienced the same loss can relate to.

I must admit that I was originally 'prejudiced' that Dr. Scher is a male doctor and may not be able to fully empathize with a woman's feelings. But I was proved definitely wrong! This book definitely emits 'heart' and caring -- male or female -- and he gives much hope for people who have experienced pregnancy loss. I for one am encouraged, especially after having two miscarriages. Thanks for a great book in your inventory!