Books!

I decided that I need help working through my grief. I'm interested in grief counseling but not the work to find one that understands perinatal loss and the cost for them is astronomical ($100+/session!) so I turned to what I always turn to, books!

I love self-help books and I love when they make me feel normal and give me a vision of what's on the other side of this dark. I've heard only good things about these books. 

The book Empty Cradle, Broken Heart is one that is full of stories from parents who have been there. The book opens with this paragraph "The death of a baby is even more hidden because it violates our expectations. In addition, when we hear about the death of a baby, many of us do not recognize the depth of loss to the parents. The fact that the baby was in the womb or in the parents' arm for such a brief time adds to their pain and isolation." I have a feeling this book will speak directly to my heart. 

The book Grieving the Child I Never Knew is one that is full of biblical passages and a daily devotion and space to journal. Unfortunately, the copy I purchased has been written in and I have to reorder the book. But I look forward to journaling through my journey of grief.

The book Pregnancy After a Loss is one for future reading. You don't have to go through the same thing I have to understand that the idea of a pregnancy after so many violated pregnancies is one filled with terror. I don't know how to survive this again and again. To come so close and to have my body betray me, my husband, and our healthy son, is one that makes me wonder if I'm meant to be a mother to living babies or if I'm supposed to just accept my fate and be living-childless. 

I hope and pray that these books help me to find hope and happiness without guilt. Life is hard but life after the loss of a child is harder. I pray that someone who needs encouragement finds my blog. I hope that the tools and stories I share here, help someone through the loss of anyone special to them: friend, sibling, parent, child, pet, etc.