Empty Cradle, Broken Heart ─ 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 after such tragedy. Deborah Davis encourages grieving and makes suggestions for coping. This book 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 necessary support in this gentle guide. If reading this book moves you to cry, try to accept this reaction. Your tears merge with those of other grieving parents. A purpose of this book is to let bereaved parents know that they are not alone in their grief. With factual information and the words and insights of other bereaved parents, you can establish realistic expectations for your grief. This new edition of "Empty Cradle, Broken Heart" is meant to help you through these difficult experiences by giving you things to think about, providing suggestions for coping and encouraging you to do what you need to survive your baby's death. Whether your baby dies recently or long ago, this information can be useful to you.

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, including "Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby", "Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child: The Emotional Journey", and "Intensive Parenting: Surviving the Emotional Journey Through the NICU" and has written many articles for parents and professionals.