A Silent Sorrow: Pregnancy Loss [Paperback]

Ingrid Kohn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1992

A warm, invaluable guide for parents who have endured one of the most unrecognized sorrows in life: the loss of an unborn or newborn baby. Examines such issues as why men and women grieve differently, the impact pregnancy loss can have on each parent's career, how to cope with ending an impaired pregnancy, the dual burden of pregnancy loss and infertility, and managing stress during a pregnancy that follows a loss. Up-to-date medical information, discussions of medical care, and an extensive resource appendix listing support groups, infertility and adoption resources, books, and more.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nothing can erase the sense of loss when a pregnancy doesn't come to fruition, but this book may provide some measure of comfort and hope (as well as a good bit of guidance) for those who have lost a wanted child (or ended a pregnancy because the fetus was impaired). Kohn and Moffitt know that no two grieving processes are quite alike, but certain patterns do show up often, and always there are both medical and emotional matters to attend to. Their first section is devoted to the grief after such a loss, covering the emotional stages that the mother and father go through, as well as grief's impact on their relationship during the crisis. The second section considers early losses due to miscarriage, ectopic or molar pregnancy, crisis pregnancies, stillborn and newborn deaths, and the terrible burden of choice--carry to term, or abort?--presented when the fetus is impaired. Finally, the third section prepares one for the reaction of others. A sensitive medical practitioner can make all the difference, and religion, too, can offer solace--the authors identify a pronounced need for formal death rituals to give the grief process a sense of closure. Even after their extensive experience with bereavement, the authors conclude that it is a long-term thing: "Neither sorrow nor the children lost are ever truly forgotten."
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The shock of becoming parents without a baby to love is compounded by uncertainty over the cause and lack of rituals for mourning when a pregnancy ends too soon. To help parents obtain the medical and emotional support they need, the authors, founders of the Mt. Sinai Medical Center Pregnancy Support Group, provide practical suggestions to validate parents' grief; cope with the unique concerns of early loss, crisis pregnancies, stillbirth, and newborn death; find medical, religious, and family support; and manage their lives afterwards. The writing is insightful and the tone respectful and supportive, making this text an ideal guide for those who endure this loss. With its comprehensive coverage, additional data on managing problem pregnancies and rituals, and extensive list of references, this guide also becomes an essential sourcebook for professionals who work with bereaved parents.
- Kathryn Hammell Carpenter, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Dell (December 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440507138
• ISBN-13: 978-0440507130
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,364,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was very helpful for me after my miscarriage., September 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Silent Sorrow: Pregnancy Loss (Hardcover)

This book was extremely well written and compassionate. The authors included information for all kinds of pregnancy loss and validated everything that I have been going through in the past months. I was very impressed with how well they integrated personal stories with medical information and comforting thoughts. I read the entire book in one night, cried, and felt much better in the morning. It taught me that I am not crazy for feeling the way I do and that I'm not alone.