Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby

My title pretty well says it all, and what I particularly liked about this book is that it's not just the mother's feelings which are addressed, but also the husband's, grandparents, and friends. I would recommend this book to everyone

I bought lots of books when my baby was stillborn at 38wks. I was looking for answers to impossible questions, which of course I didn't find. What I did find was comfort and reassurance that what I was feeling was normal and that I wasn't going mad. I can recommend this book enough.

This book was recommended to me by a friend on SANDS and I was very greatful for it. My son was born asleep at term as well and this book was excellent to read when I was really struggling. It was also useful to understand how my husband and others around me were dealing with things differently to me and how grief affects you. It was useful when we considered trying again for another baby and throughout the next pregnancy. I couldn't recommend it highly enough. I'm just sorry anyone else has to go through this

I bought this book after our fourth child lived only for eleven hours after birth at term three months ago. I found it helpful to know that people do grieve in roughly the same way and that my responses were normal. Also, that the unhelpful way in which other people sometimes respond to me is also common. The book is well laid out and there is not too much emphasis on the formalities which have to take place after a baby dies. This is good because, by the time you get to this book, you are likely to have done all of those. I'm glad I wasn't put off by the rather crass title. Don't read it all at once if you are in this situation, small chunks at a time are best.

I got this book when my daughter was stillborn at 37 weeks. This book helped me make sense of the many emotions I went through. I found the quotes from bereaved parents very moving and they often brought out my tears and in that way helping me to get over the numbness I felt and start grieving. This book doesn't draw from religion which I also found helpful as I am not religious and even less so after my daughter's death.

This book was a great comfort to me when my son was born (stillborn). At the start I read it cover to cover devouring every word written and 6 months on I still read sections of it when I need to. It is very well written covering a large range of grieving emotions that you need to go through to be able to begin to cope with this tragedy.

Our daughter Emily Rose was born sleeping (stillborn) 3rd October 2004 and I have read quite a few books in the last few weeks and have found this to be one of the best. You don't need to read in all in one go or in the chapter order but can flick through and pick out the revelant pieces to your stage of grieving.I found this book very helpful and full of quotes from people who have experienced the loss of their babies.On page 64 there is a lady who talks about her daughter Emily Rose the same as us and I think that I was somehow 'guided' to buy this book.I would definately recommend it to anyone suffering any type of baby loss.

I found this book very helpful at a time when I really did not know what to do or how to cope. It offers practical suggestions as to how to deal with feelings, it provides some direction and most importantly it includes the experiences of others offering valuable identification. Of all the books I have read since my little boy was stillborn I have found this one to be the most helpful.

This book is the best I've read on what grief is like for a mother who has lost a baby. I lost my first child, a son on 19 May 2001 who was full term, and I have read a lot of books on this subject since then. But this book more than any other spoke to me about what grief is like. I kept hearing myself say "Yes, that's what I feel too". The women's stories were so honest and included all perspectives. I particularly liked the section on resolution of grief because it was the first time I've ever understood what that meant and how I would know what it would feel like. I savour this book and re-read it whenever I need reassurance that I'm still normal and that others have been this way before me. It's perfect - read it and you won't regret it!

Our son died aged six hours on 15th July 1997, and I discovered this book shortly after.I still dip in and out of it. I have also lent it to two friends, one who has experienced the stillbirth of her daughter, the other a miscarriage, and both have found it moving, inspiring and helpful. What most impressed me was that it didn't follow the stereotypical viewpoints which bereaved parents are 'supposed' to have. This book made me aware how many other mothers feel anger, despair, experience hallucinations - it even gave a list of the generally insensitive things other people say! There is even a section which I believe most writers shy away from - the one where parents have decided to terminate a pregnancy because the baby has abnormalities, and she addresses this with tenderness and understanding. The only thing I would criticise is the lack of a chapter which deals with when the dead baby is the last baby through lack of choice. Immediately after my son's birth, I had to have an emergency hysterectomy, because of uncontrollable bleeding, and that brings its own emotional baggage.