Preventing Miscarriage: The Good News

by Jonathan Scher and Carol Dix

Book Overview

"A wonderfully written text that will provide clear, up-to-date explanations for complex medical problems involving recurrent pregnancy loss. The personal accounts allow us all to be inspired by the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060734817
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.7" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

The best book on miscarriage prevention

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.

A helpful tool for coping with miscarriage.

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.

A good start to addressing your concerns with your doctor

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!

Turned a nightmare into a tangible, solvable problem.

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.

A fantastic book! I understand so much more now.

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.