Parenthood Lost

Losing a pregnancy or newborn is a grievous experience. Today the perinatal death rate in the U.S.—which refers to fetuses 20 weeks old through babies 4 weeks old—is about 14 per 1,000 births. Many more children die earlier in pregnancy and later in childhood. In Parenthood Lost, Dr. Michael Berman shares his insights from his experiences helping parents deal with their grief and unravels the confusing genetic and medical causes of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death. Through original poetry, firsthand stories told by parents, and articles describing genetic and medical disorders, Parenthood Lost offers clarification and hope for parents who have suffered this tragedy.

Dr. Berman includes a section on the most common reasons for perinatal losses, with detailed medical information written by practicing obstetricians, and a helpful glossary of terms.

MICHAEL R. BERMAN, M.D., FACOG is Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine and attending physician, Yale-New Haven Hospital./e He is currently the President of the Yale-New Haven Physician Hospital Organization. A graduate of New York Medical College, Dr. Berman is the founder and editor of Hygeia (www.hygeia.org), a Web site devoted to alleviating the angst of a pregnancy loss or death of a child. He also administers the Hygeia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring medically indigent and underserved populations, nationally and internationally, interactive information on maternal and child health. Dr. Berman practices obstetrics and gynecology in New Haven and lives in Woodbridge, Connecticut with his wife and two daughters.