Empty Cradle Surviving the Death of Your Baby

The heartache of miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death affects thousands of U.S. families every year. Empty Cradle, Broken Heart, Third Edition offers reassurance to parents who struggle with anger, guilt, and despair during and after such a tragedy. In this new and updated edition, Deborah Davis encourages grieving and strives to cover many different kinds of loss, including information on issues such as the death of one or more babies from a multiple birth, pregnancy interruption, and the questioning of aggressive medical intervention. There is also a special chapter for fathers as well as a chapter on "protective parenting" to help anxious parents enjoy their precious living children. Doctors, nurses, relatives, friends, and other support persons can gain special insight. Most importantly, parents facing the death of a baby will find the necessary support in this gentle guide.

Deborah L. Davis, Ph.D. is a developmental psychologist and writer who specializes in the emotional aspects of coping with crisis during pregnancy and infancy, and medical ethics and decision-making during pregnancy and in the NICU. She is the author of several books for bereaved parents and parents of premature babies and has written many articles for parents and professionals.

Contents 1. Please Read This First, 2. 1. Why Is This So Hard?, 3. 2. Grief and Mourning, 4. 3. How Your Brain Is Affected, 5. 4. Mindfulness-Based Coping Strategies, 6. 5. The Early Days and Months, 7. 6. Affirming Your Baby, 8. 7. Painful Feelings, 9. 8. The Journey of Healing, 10. 9. Making Peace with Agonizing Decisions, 11. 10. Especially for Fathers, 12. 11. You and Your Partner, 13. 12. Your Family, 14. 13. Support Networks, 15. 14. Trying Again, 16. 15. Subsequent Pregnancy, 17. 16. Bonding, Birth, and Beyond, 18. 17. Living in Remembrance, 19. Songs for an Empty Cradle, 20. Index,