They Were Still Born: Personal Stories About Stillbirth

I was at first slightly daunted at the idea of buying this book. I was already aware of many of the contributors work, but my daughter was not stillborn. She lived for six hours after birth. She did not slip silently from my body, and I don't know that particular pain.The intense pain of losing a child though is the same, and I devoured every page of this book. I nodded my head as I read parts that described perfectly experiences and feelings I've struggled to put into words. I read aloud parts to my husband that I wanted to underline by speaking them, and of course I cried, but my overwhelming feeling while reading, and now having finished the book is one of hope.My daughter died almost 18 months ago, after the first year of intense grief society expects "closure", especially if,like me you have been lucky enough to deliver a healthy child since your loss. Any bereaved parent can tell you this is not how it works, but reading this book gave me permission to not be "all better", but it also gave me hope. Reading essays from parents at different stages of their loss has helped me to face the future, but also to feel proud of my daughter. It's a process, this grief, and a book can't cure,(there is no cure) but it can be part of the process.

This is an ideal book for parents of a baby born asleep.I found it a great comfort to read similar experiences