LINKS TO READINGS
Select the photo or title for a direct
link to more info on each book. Many include sample pages, reviews, and
purchase information.
BY SUBJECT
General Wellness
IVF
Personal Experiences
Adoption
Grief & Depression
Spirituality
ABOUT THE READINGS
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The books listed on this page are those that I have turned to at one point or another along my journey. I have included my own personal notes on each book along with links to more information. Each of these readings have helped me to become better educated regarding the subject of infertility, to further understand that the pain I am experiencing is not unique, and to work toward healing myself while (re)gaining the strength required to continue. If you have personal readings that you wish to see added to this site, please feel free to contact me. Sunny
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Liza Charlesworth This book is an absolute must for any couple that is about to embark on the IVF path. Note that if you already have full awareness of what the barriers are to pregnancy, the beginning sections of this book will simply be an educational experience for you. However, this is very well written from firsthand experience. All of the
technical jargon is fully explained, along with the meds, the
process, and recommendations on how to maximize your success. I
couldn't have gone through the IVF process without this book!
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NURTURING YOURSELF THROUGH IVF: Lynn Daley
This is a
very simple & quick read, with absolutely essential topics such as
"Being Kind to Yourself: and "Finding Your Life Raft"
packed into a small book. Told from
personal experiences of not only the author but also includes
quotes from the women that she met along the way. Nice, relaxing
book with good references. |
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Elizabeth Swire Falker More Info Coming Soon |
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Sometimes we
need to read and hear about the experiences of others to
know that we are not alone. Neither of these books provide
recommendations. They simply recount their personal battles,
which many of us can identify with. Make certain that you are in
the right frame of mind when reading either of these gems, as
the accounts are admittedly gut-wrenching, though helpful in
their own right. |
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THE EMPTY PICTURE FRAME: An Inconceivable Journey Through Infertility Jenna Currier Nadeau
I am just getting started with
this book, but one must appreciate it when Chapter One is
titled, "Children, Children Everywhere, But Not A One For Me"! I
like Jenna already, just from a quick scan of the book. |
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A LITTLE PREGNANT: Linda Carbone and Ed Decker "A Little Pregnant" is written from both the wife's and husband's points of view with a twist - they alternate chapters throughout the book. This is very well-written by both authors and I haven't yet finished it (as I haven't come back to a place where I feel that I can handle the raw recount of their experiences). What I do
recall that I really appreciated, both in previewing and reading
the beginnings of the book, is Linda's firm (and almost proud)
proclamation that she's totally mastered the infertility gig.
What a revelation that was for me to read and to understand. I
had never thought of it that way. While I've always worked as
hard as I can to come out on top, I never considered how good I
was at the art of infertility! Eye-opening. |
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SPIRIT BABIES: Walter Makichen Another book that I haven't completely finished but have gotten through enough of it that I can recommend it to those who are open to clairvoyants such as Makichen. Those who truly possess psychic capabilities do not typically have their own t.v. show or infomercial. They may however, write a book or two! This is just a wonderful concept to believe in when you are struggling with the "where is my child?" syndrome. Even if you take it with a grain of salt, it feels so good to submit to the remote possibility that children choose their parents, even before their spirits take human form. This could also easily be translated to adoption in that the child who has already been born is waiting for you. A heartwarming read, if nothing else.
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CHAKRA MEDITATION: Discover Energy, Creativity, Focus, Love, Communication, Wisdom, and Spirit Swami Saradananada More Info Coming Soon |
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ESSENTIAL SPIRITUALITY: Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D. More Info Coming Soon |
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THE INFERTILITY CURE: Randine Lewis, Ph.D. I really honed in on this book as I was preparing for IVF cycle and found that I could very easily identify with Dr. Lewis. She became drawn to the practices of Chinese wellness |
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as she tackled her personal issue of infertility. She writes with a identifiable "voice", yet one can easily respect and trust her awareness and recommendations - because it has not only worked for her, but for countless of her clients since. Chapters in the
book are dedicated to the combination of Eastern medicine in
conjunction with various forms of Assisted Reproductive
Technology (ART), including IVF. Lastly, there is chapter
devoted to acceptance if it simply wasn't meant to be for you.
I've personally held off on reading this chapter as I haven't
"given up" yet, but Dr. Lewis is definitely outstanding as an
author and a professional, in my humble opinion. |
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HEALING MIND, HEALTHY WOMAN: More Info
Coming Soon |
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Baron Baptiste To be honest, it's been a couple of years since I read this book, but I devoured it cover to cover. While this does not touch on |
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infertility, as an approach to
overall wellness and getting in touch with who you are, it is an
excellent resource. While traveling the infertility path, it's
important to connect with yourself along the way and yoga
is a terrific way to do just that. I also have a couple of
Baron's DVDs and really appreciate his approach as well as the vinyasas that he incorporates into "power yoga" practices. I can't yet do the Crow pose shown on the cover, but each time I practice, I continue to gain the confidence to try! |
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WHEN WILL I STOP HURTING? June Cerza Kolf There is no
book that is going to "cure" the symptom of grief. It is a
process that each of us must work through in our own way when
faced with it and in our own time. However, based on my personal experiences with loss, I would say that I am comfortable with
this quick and easy read when the pain is fresh. Even if you
are holding on to a not so recent loss, this tiny book could
help. |
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75 WAYS TO BEAT DEPRESSION: Richard Rybolt More Info Coming Soon
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FEELING GOOD: David D. Burns, M.D. Although the sub-sub title of this popular book is "The Clinically Proven Drug-Free Treatment for Depression", it should be noted that medication may be necessary in some cases, short-term or long-term. Also, the "New" Mood Therapy is not so new anymore, since the first print was 1980 and the therapy is based on Dr. Albert Ellis's |
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Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT or RET), which most who have received formal treatment for depression will quickly identify with. If I personally had to document every list and log suggested to work through my depression (journaling aside), I wouldn't have time to sleep at night, let alone face the world! But the reader
can take from this what works for him/her as we do still have
free will and the author does not attempt to shove it all down
your throat. It is a very easy read, and certainly worth
exploring if you are not at all familiar with the REBT process.
It's a pretty good book, all things considered and you may find
many of the exercises and/or questionnaires beneficial to work
through. |
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HAPPINESS: Joan Duncan Oliver This is a
"cute" little book (seriously, very small) that touches on some
of my favorite subjects such as mindfulness, acceptance, and
relating to nature. It's a good one to turn to when you need a
quick lift or a moving quote to get you through the day. It's
not too deep, but just enough when you're tired of poring over
the minutia of typical self help novels. It doesn't hurt to have
this one around. |
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THE MINDFUL WAY THROUGH DEPRESSION: Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness Mark
Williams, John Teasdale, Ziadel Segal, and More Info Coming Soon
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