Wanting Another Child: Coping With Secondary Infertility

Rating:
Summary: Helpful But Incomplete
Review: Harriet Fishman Simons's description of how it feels to have a child but be unable to have another exactly mirrored how I have felt, and I think the book was very perceptive in describing the unique sorrow that faces parents who want so much but cant have another child. Her description of the differences between how women and men deal with this problem is particularly good and corresponds to how I have felt and how other women I know have felt. I cried reading this book but found it cathartic. However, my one complaint about this book is the relative neglect is gives to the issue of secondary infertility stemming from multiple miscarriages rather than the failure to conceive. I have searched for books that deal with this issue--and I think this is not uncommon for women suffering from secondary infertility. The issue of whether to keep trying, the fact that in most cases the doctors cant give you any reason for the failure, the toll that miscarriage places on your marriage and on raising your child, arent really dealt with except for passing references.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read for Those Coping, or if You Know Someone
Review: I had no expectations when I opened this book, having read a number of books on infertility. What a pleasant surprise to discover that Ms. Fishman Simons knows the subject of secondary infertility so well and provides in her book just what couples experiencing this very much ignored problem need for guidance. While reading it was emotionally difficult at times, I found many perspectives that matched what I had felt and some insightful comments on how to get past secondary infertility. I highly recommend this book to anyone coping with secondary infertility, certainly as a beginning to "recovery," and to family and friends of the secondary infertile couple.

Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommend - it REALLY helped me!!!
Review: Where was this book when I REALLY needed it!!! They need to reprint this because there are so many people who could benifit from this book. I have dealt with my secondary infertility for 8 years from childbirth complications. I have never really felt like I "fit in" with the infertile childless and the people who could have more kids. I recommend this book with 5 stars+++. It may bring on some tears but that is part of the process of coming to terms and the grieving process. You will read about how other ladies have dealt with other peoples pregancies, caught between two worlds of the fertile and infertile, how families do not really give the support you hoped for and knowing they still love you, the second child you had in your mind and heart will never be and you have to mourn for that child, validating your idea of what is a family, adoption as an option, and accepting an only child family. It really helped me out a lot to realise I am not alone and validate my feelings that I have had the past 8 years. If you are a good friend or family member dealing with secondary infertility get this and read it then pass it on to your friend. She/he will feel so good that you cared enough to give it.It was written by a RESOLVE counselor. It is an EXCELLENT book for husbands to read because they see this differently in a lot of ways and this book will help them see the wives point of view. I highly recommend it. Please reprint it!!