Miscarriage: What Every Woman Needs to Know

This book and its research are very behind the times. The author does not acknowledge the one issue that is the cause of around 80% of miscarriages, immune issues. I find it astonishing that the UK, with the exception of five clinics, does not recognise the fantastic research and evidence by Dr Beer. So many women are suffering miscarriages needlessly because of it. Whilst the author acknowledges APA issues she does not 'believe' in Natural Kill Cells and other such immune problems. Don't buy this book, it's a waste of time, instead read the excellent Is Your Body Baby Friendly by Dr Beer. The world's top miscarriage and IVF specialists including the top five UK clinics have conducted their own research to back up his evidence and use appropriate treatments to prevent further miscarriages and IVF failures.

This book would be useful for some, but for me it did not address my scenario. It also does not seem to address the amount of physical pain that can sometimes (and was for me) involved. - David Bond's partner

I first bought this book after my second miscarriage. While desperately hurt by my losses, I'm the type to get proactive and use knowledge as a tool to help me through things if I can. Lesley Regan tells it like it is. That may mean, if you're at a particularly low ebb, that you find the book distressing. It doesn't promise you that you will definitely be able to have a baby and that it is only a matter of time. If you need that kind of reassurance, you should talk to a friend instead. But in the same way that she won't make promises medical science can't keep, she manages to keep her prose accessible and sympathetic while sticking firmly to the facts. I had five miscarriages in total before finally conceiving my son and without Professor Regan's book I would have been at a total loss. It gave me the strength to keep trying and keep looking for answers, even when I was ready to throw in the towel. For that, I will be eternally grateful.

I liked this book, because it is written in a very calm and factual style and does not throw the usual "Mandy was 31 when she experienced her first miscarriage"-stories at you. I was not interested in other women's experiences (there are millions on the net), but in facts and information on the subject. Even in presenting hurtful and scary information, the author tried to be positive and encouraging, which I apreciated a lot in my situation. Since I have had "only" one miscarriage, quite a bit of the information was not relevant for me.

If you want to read a book about miscarriage that is factual, matter of fact and provides bountiful knowledge then buy this book. After my recent miscarriage I wanted a book that would help me to understand what had happened but I also wanted to read about other people's experience and this is what the book lacked. Yes, it is facutal, and yes, it is a very good book for anyone who has suffered recurrent miscarriages. However it wasn't for me and I very much preferred the Miscarriage:Women's experiences and needs.

I had several miscarriages and bought this book to "help" me have a baby. Big mistake. This author is not up to date with the latest research and her lack of knowledge is causing many women to keep on suffering like I did. I even did IVF thinking it was the answer but I had an expensive miscarriage instead. I wasted so much time. I bought Dr Beer's book Is Your Body Baby Friendly? a year ago and had the blood tests and treatment for what I discovered was an overactive immune system and blood clotting disorder. I now have two healthy boys thanks to this book. Furthermore, I did not need IVF. I conceived naturally. Lesley Regan should read Dr Beer's book and become better informed.

First I would like to say that if you are researching books about miscarriage I am really sorry, whether it is yourself or someone you love, this is a heartbreaking situation to go through. As a sufferer of recurrent miscarriages (six with a seventh threatened as I write) I could also be said to 'suffer' recurrent books about miscarriage. This is the first one I have read in which I have had total faith. Professor Regan explains carefully the most up-to-date information about recognised causes and relevant tests, and also debunks much that is out there in books and especially on the web. For example she explains that dropping progesterone levels are a symptom of a pregnancy that is not working and not a cause, and that progesterone supplements therefore do not have a place in evidence based medicine. Knowing this I can quickly recognise a poor source of information if supplemental progesterone is suggested. Professor Regan also explains how the tests should be done, and I have found out that my hospital have not tested me correctly for antiphospholipid antibodies. Sadly the one time I had a sample they also wasted the opportunity to test for chromosomal abnormalities and make other investigations. However armed with this book I now can go back and request that things are done properly. Surprisingly for a book written by a medical expert she is very supportive of the use of alternative medicine, stating that until conventional medicine literally has all the answers there will be a place for alternative treatments. She also recognises the value in a person feeling that they are being proactive in dealing with their problems. One chapter towards the end is perhaps the most cheering chapter of all. While all of us that suffer this problem want to find 'a reason' so we know what we are dealing with, some of us will never have a cause identified. Professor Regan and her team have found that those women with no known cause for their miscarriages that remain under their care for their next pregnancy have a success rate of 80%, which she firmly attributes to Tender Loving Care. The only information lacking is how on earth we can get the optimum treatment described in the book at our local hospitals. I couldn't even get a consultant to see me with this pregnancy until I was in my second trimester, so no hope of TLC here. My tests of APA were done incorrectly and I know that other reviewers have had similar problems, but if we can't get the hospitals to acknowledge the information that we have (from this book and other reputable sources) I don't know what else can be done. At the moment I am praying that the consultant will refer me to St Mary's ( he refused previously). Maybe if enough of us read this book and start expecting to be treated correctly then consultants will have to buck their ideas up.

This is a wonderful book, written with just the right tone, for anyone affected by miscarriage. It is factual, frank and totally unpatronising, yet also hopeful and written in such a way that you feel you both like and trust the author. This book has made a great difference to my state of mind in the difficult days after my second miscarriage.

Of all the books and information I have read on miscarriage - this book is the most levelheaded and a must read when you have gone through such an emotional experience.Like most people who seek out this book, I have recently suffered a miscarriage. As I underwent fertility treatment (ICSI) and miscarried at 6 weeks so I was keen to learn as much as I could on the subject before I tried again to try and ensure a greater chance of success. The sea of data, rather than information, on the internet left me confused, upset and extremely worried. If I followed the advice it would mean I would have to wrap myself in cotton wool for 9 months.Lesley's book gives you the facts, backed up by the latest research in a warm and humane style. She explans all the medical terms and weaves several examples of her person experience throughout the book.At the end of Lesley's book I came away with the knowledge that miscarriages are common, are caused by several different reasons, but it is more likely that you will be able to "bring home a live baby" when you try again than miscarry.

It's worth reading from cover to cover, and then again, in order to find out cutting edge information about the latest ways of dealing with miscarriage. Use this information to help you get the best possible care and results from your local medical staff. For example, our local hospital failed to deal with our latest miscarriage sample properly and we consequently missed a golden opportunity to find out information about that particular miscarriage. We now know what went wrong, thanks to this book and have made sure that the hospital does too. We would never have known about this mistake had we not read this book. Thank you, thank you Professor Regan.