As the first book on terminating a pregnancy for medical reasons, this is an essential, supportive and informative guide to breaking this taboo.
Terminating a pregnancy for medical reasons is one of the most common forms of baby loss—yet it is still taboo. Open this compassionate book to break that silence, find a home for complex feelings and rediscover hope. Rosanna Brown made the hardest "choice" a parent can make when she had to terminate the pregnancy of her son William for medical reasons. Here, she tells her own story, and weaves in case studies of other TFMR parents, before sharing information from healthcare experts and offering compassionate, practical advice. This book also includes advice for parents who decide to carry their pregnancy to term once they have been told their baby is unlikely to live; for medical professionals on how to manage appointments with compassion; for friends and family of TFMR parents; and for employers supporting someone returning to work following TFMR. Structured chronologically through the process, the book explores:
- Diagnosis for you and your baby: the 12- and 20-week scans, plus later-stage diagnoses
- The choice to end your baby's life: going through the medical process and saying goodbye
- Dealing with the aftermath: emotionally and physically, returning to work and receiving the post-mortem
- Grieving together: parenting your other children, handling big dates, finding your community, handling other pregnancies and returning to a happy, fulfilling life. This book will be the best friend or counsellor that readers may not have the confidence, capacity or finances to access in person.
