Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story (Paperback)

by Matthew Miller (Author)
Key Phrases: maybe baby, Pottery Barn, Des Moines, Food Network (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
For as long as he could remember, Miller had wanted to be a father, "wanted something better for something that would be a part of me." Based on a blog of the same name, this memoir charts the ups and downs as Miller and his wife, Constance, attempt a conception. In broad but deft strokes, Miller chronicles their faithful attempts at baby-making, writing about their decision finally to forgo birth control, the string of negative pregnancy tests, the promise and frustration of fertility treatments, the grasping for answers: "Nine months and nine menstrual cycles had now passed... we knew that morning intercourse could no longer be deemed a fail-safe solution for our inability to conceive." Miller's anxiety to become a father-as opposed to anxiety over having to be a father-is refreshing, and he generates significant sympathy. As in life, however, month after month of unsuccessful attempts can become repetitive and discouraging for readers, who probably could use a tighter edit.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description

A romantic, comedic, and heart-wrenching memoir from a want-to-be-dad turned syndicated blogger

Constance got her period for the tenth month in a row, and I stood in the bathroom having never felt like less of a man in my entire life. 'I think it's time,' I said. 'We should buy an over-the-counter sperm test so I can know it's my fault already.' One trip to the pharmacy, two home-fertility tests, and four days later, I officially had a low sperm count, and our inability to conceive finally attached itself to the word we had avoided uttering in ten months of unsuccessful sex. We were infertile, and it was, indeed, my fault.'

. . . And so Miller and his wife join the ranks of the 6.1 Americans who have issues with infertility.

One of a man's most prized prerogatives is the ability to produce a child. But what happens when that ability is challenged? Twenty-nine-year-old Matthew M.F. Miller came across that dilemma when he and his wife Constance's plans to have a child were thwarted by fertility problems. Miller's solution was not to mope, but to reach out to other 6.1 million couples in America who encounter the same situation. Maybe Baby is a romantic comedy--a book about love, inappropriate moments at the urologist's office, reproductive clinics, survival, and (hopefully one day) triumph--all through the eyes of a man. It is about the intense love and connection that adheres to any flavor of family unit, biological or otherwise.

Maybe Baby is a book that offers women comfort and insight on what their partners are thinking and going through, while encouraging men who are experiencing infertility--whether it is their medical problem or their wives'--with humor, honesty, and practicality.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: HCI (July 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757307485
• ISBN-13: 978-0757307485
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,285,112 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gorgeous book!, August 4, 2008

By	Ninotchka A. Beavers "Ninotchka Beavers" (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When we think of creating our families, most of us take for granted that we'll have exactly the number of children we want exactly when we want them. It seems the more "together" you have it when it comes to family planning the greater the disappointment when all things reproductive don't go as planned. In his book, Matt Miller does a wonderful job of expressing his dreams and hopes of fatherhood and the bitter disappointment that comes when those dreams suddenly become elusive. A beautiful, often humorous, always raw and honest account of the experience of infertility from a male point of view, this beautifully written book reads like a novel. The love Matt and his wife have for each other and for their family and friends is palpable and inspiring! Truly a "love story," this entertaining and informative book is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced or is currently experiencing any level of infertility or delay in family planning.