Rating: 
Summary: Honest and straightforward
Review: I had high hopes for this book given the credentials of the author and its recent publication date (2003). For those women who have experienced their first miscarriage, this book may be helpful to provide some basic information. Overall, I found the tone of the book somewhat patronizing. Dr. Lerner, when discussing Rhogam, calls it "special medicine" (p. 12). It would be more helpful to decribe what this product is in a straightforward manner - describing it as "special medicine" is not useful. I recommend this book be used as one of many information sources when researching miscarriage. Women (and men) will find there are differing opinions and research studies available that contradict Dr. Lerner's opinions. It is beneficial to seek out these resources if you want to be fully informed on the topic of miscarriage.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment
Review: If you have had only one miscarriage and just want a good biology lesson on the different ways miscarriage can occur, this book may be for you. However, I do not recommend this book to anyone who has suffered two or more miscarriages and is seeking advice on what to do about it. After my second, my main concern was trying to at least have an educated guess as to whether they were caused by chromosomal abnormalities or some other cause which potentially needs to be treated before trying again. This book did not give me the answers I was looking for and instead left me more frustrated and confused than ever. Additionally, after reading several books and every article I could find on miscarriage in magazines and on the internet, it seems to me that many of Dr. Lerner's opinions are in the minority. He flatly recommends that women not seek testing until they have suffered three losses in a row. However, many doctors and the American College of Obstetritians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now recommend doing so after two, especially if the woman is in her 30's or 40's. I also do not think Dr. Lerner explained that there can be certain circumstances of your pregnancy and first trimester miscarriage that point to the likelihood that it was not chromosomal abnormality - I had to learn this from other sources (examples are occurring later in the trimester and normal fetus and hearbeat shown on ultrasound before miscarrying). He also flatly says that stress does not cause miscarriages because he has seen no study proving this to his satisfaction (he uses this reasoning for a lot of his opinions but does not explain how difficult it is to prove anything in this area). I have read of numerous studies (and also acknowledged by the ACOG) that indicate that stress can in fact cause or at least contribute to miscarriage. After seeing so much information that contradicts many of Dr. Lerner's opinions, I just don't have much confidence in what he has to say. Another fault I find is that while he acknowledges progesterone deficiency can cause early miscarriages, he is against the use of progesterone supplements but does not address whether he thinks there is a possible solution for this problem, again leaving me frustrated. My recommendation is that if you read this book, at least don't stop there - read everything you can about miscarriages from reputable sources and don't take this doctor's word as the gospel. While there doesn't seem to be any complete certainty in this subject area, by becoming as informed as possible and using your own common sense you can figure out some of the answers you need in order to go on.
Rating: 
Summary: I expected more...keep looking!
Review: This is a very general book, and almost dismissive of the first time sufferer. My circumstances do not make me the proper audience for this book, and it is not for the person with difficulty in conceiving, with an underlying health condition, a woman over 35, and a host of others. The explanations are fairly elementary, and like another reviewer, find that many other publications contradict his theories. If this is the "best book on m/c available", then I need to go to the Medical School library.
In my personal experience, I find that the author has only a cursory grasp of thyroid and auto-immune issues, and in fact confuses Grave's disease for Hashimoto's. If one is to write a book which will encroach on specialties other than one's own, have the proper specialists at least review it! The best part of the book is the section on the psychological aspect of pregnancy loss. This is the only book I have seen which discussed the differences a man and woman may feel through a miscarriage.
Not the book for me. The author makes it seem as though, suffering "only" one miscarriage, regardless of my circumstances, I do not deserve to "drain the national healthcare" in my quest for answers. Keep looking.
Rating:
Summary: A thorough, helpful book
Review: This is an excellent guide to preventing, coping with, and surviving miscarriage. Dr. Lerner covers all of the important information, and even includes a chapter on the emotional repercussions of miscarriage. I would recommend it for anyone who has had a miscarriage.
Rating:
Summary: THE answer book about miscarriages
Review: When I was asked to review this book, I didn't give it a second thought. I myself have a personal connection with this subject. When my daughter was almost 3 years old, after being pregnant for the first time since she was born, I had a miscarriage. There are so many questions surrounding the reasons for miscarriages - what causes them; can they be prevented; is there a way to lower the risks of having another...? Answers to these and other compelling questions are best discussed in the book, "Miscarriage: Why It Happens and How Best to Reduce Your Risks," by Henry M. Lerner, M.D. I thought I had known all there was to know about miscarriages, but this book truly opened my eyes and gave me much more information. Miscarriages are a common occurrence, happening in 1 out of 5 pregnancies, and for a number of reasons. Some of what this book discusses: what exactly is a miscarriage; reasons miscarriages occur; the role of infections and the environment in causing miscarriages. It discusses past and current research studies and its results, and even answered a few myths I had believed to be true (see pg 53 for timing sex for a boy or girl; and pg 120 for microwave oven exposure). MyParenTime highly recommends this book -- besides personally answering some questions I had about my own miscarriage, this informative book touched upon so many areas and explained the topic of miscarriage in terms we can all understand. To anyone who has experienced the devastation of a miscarriage, and to those just looking for information...this book has it all.
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