Read About Grief & Healing

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Resources for the grieving MoTher

READ ABOUT GRIEF & HEALING
Reading what others have written about grief and the healing process will help you begin to form the words to define your own. I found that most religious-heavy texts angered me as I processed my own grief, but I know that they brought comfort to many other mothers. Texts with religious sentiments are marked with an (R) below so that you can distinguish between them and decide what is most comforting to you. To find a book that is a perfect fit for you and/or your family, check out the Bereaved Optimist's Book Club and the Bereaved Optimist's Book Club Facebook Page.

BOOKS:
When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner (R) (A Summary of this Text can be found here.)
Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenburg (R)
Healing Grief by Amy Hillyard Jensen
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart by Deborah L. Davis
I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith
Always Within: Grieving the Loss of your Infant by Melissa L. Eshleman
Beyond Tears: Living after Losing a Child by Ellen Mitchell
Healing a Parent’s Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas After Your Child Dies by Alan D. Wolfelt
Empty Arms: Coping with Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Death by Sherokee Ilse
To Linger on Hot Coals (anthology) by Stephanie Paige Cole and Catherine Bayly
Letters to Leia by Angela Williams
Brona: A Memior by Mara Hill
Out of the Ashes: Healing in the Afterloss by Benjamin Scott Allen
SITES, BLOGS, & COLLECTIONS:
Fox Sightings: A Blog of Love and Grief and All the In-Betweens (by Heather Carnaghan on www.CharlottesPurpose.com)
Wanted, Chosen Planned (by Alexis Marie Chute, author of "Expecting Sunshine")
One Pink Balloon (by Rebecca Wood)
Glow in the Woods
Compassionate Friends "We Need Not Walk Alone" Magazine
The Centering Corporation and Grief Digest Magazine have a large collection of books in English and Spanish on prenatal and infant loss.
SPECIFIC ARTICLES & POSTS:
Compassionate Friends: Letter to the Newly Bereaved (*This is a good place to start your reading.)
In My Heart Forever: The Science Behind the Sentiment (Article by Heather Carnaghan for Grief Digest Magazine)
When a Grieving Mother Talks, Listen (Article in the NY Times by Jen Gunter)
A Letter to My Doctor (Blog Post on One Pink Balloon)
Miscarriage- My Story (Post on my friend's blog, Cassie the Mom) *not about stillbirth, but discusses dealing with a loss.
Parents and the Grieving Process by First Candle
NPR Article, "Deep Grief: Creating Meaning From Mourning"
POETRY:
The Beautiful Before: Charlotte's Story in Poetry and Prose
After Loss: Turning to Poetry for Grief and Healing (NPR Morning Edition Segment)
PODCASTS:
Stillbirth Matters by The Star Legacy Foundation
INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES:
Star Legacy Foundation offers free informational brochures on miscarriage, stillbirth, pregnancy after loss, and many more through their online store under the product type, "Helpful information". The brochures are free. Simply add them to your "cart" and order the ones you are interested in.