There are a few books that I will be keeping on my bookshelf, books that I would highly recommend. If you have any that you'd highly recommend, let me know. I'd love to add them to my collection. I am also starting to think about the books that I will someday share with my child to help us tell them the story of their conception. If you have any suggestions for those books please let me know.
My Favorite Infertility Books
Navigating the Land of IF by Melissa Ford
This is my favorite. I've shared it with my mom, my sister, and my bestie. The awesome Melissa Ford covered all of the things that I was struggling with and made me feel that I had a trusted friend to advise me about how to deal with finding myself stranded on the IF island. I got this book before I found Mel and this online community, and I knew that I'd found someone who understood and could help me explain what this experience was like to others. Anyone (infertile of not!) who doesn't yet have this book should buy one ASAP.
Helping the Stork (Vercollone, Moss, and Moss c1997)
This is one of only two books that I have found that deals with the choice to use donor insemination. I read it in anticipation that it might be our path to a family, and appreciated all of the different bits of advice it offered. It really helped me start to get my head around DS as an option and what it might mean for us as a family. Now that we are headed down this path, I want to read it again, and see if I can get ML to read it too. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who might be facing this choice.
Mommies, Daddies, Donors, Surrogates (Ehrensaft c2005)
This is the only other book that I have found that is focused exclusively on the issues facing families who grow with the help of others. I didn't like it as much as "Helping the Stork" but it does bring up some good things to think about and consider if this is going to be your path.
Unsung Lullabies ( Jaffe, Diamond, and Diamond c2005)
It took me a while before I was ready to read this book. But when I was, It gave me some of the tools I needed to explore how I was feeling about this experience and to understand that these feelings are rooted deeply in who I am. I had to take this book in small doses because reading it gave me a lot to think about. It is one that I will keep on my bookself and come back to on occasion as I feel ready to do more inner-work and continue processing the complex emotions that this journey brings with it.
Whats on your bookshelf that you LOVE?
5 comments :
Thanks for the recommendations. Bizarrely, after 14+ years I don't own any IF related books. I spent so much time online reading everything I could, I guess I never thought about getting an actual book. I've been wanting to buy "Navigating the Land of IF" though. One day I will!
I just finished reading Melissa's book and really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing the other books!
I also, sadly, don't own any IF books, but really want to. Mayhaps I can get some soon.
As for books on my shelf that I love? Barbara Kingsolver, and travelogues, especially by women.
Hey Foxy,
Thanks for the compliments on the Grey Room! My blog has been acting up recently and taking forever to show up on the blogger reading list. I've been looking up ways to fix it, but no luck so far. I don't have any IF books either. Instead, I naively bought three pregnancy books when we first started trying. And even read through them in the beginning when I was so sure each month was "the month". Maybe you'll need to borrow them soon?! ;) As far as my other post goes, I don't like to post secretive posts like that. But at the same time, I've gotta be honest. And I really needed a laugh! I too have several posts that were therapeutic to write but will never see the light of day!
I have a few books you might like..The Infertility Cure for one..let me know and I'll pack it up. I also have the EMPTY PICTURE FRAME (which was based on a blog) it was excellent.
I love Navigating the land of IF..it's a great book. Also Unsung Lullibies..was a very good book.
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