A Guide for Fathers: When a Baby Dies – Tim Nelson

The author of “A Father’s Story” and co-founder of A Place To Remember, Timothy Nelson, published this small pocket-sized guide. It lays out the basic information that a man needs to know when his child dies–and does so in no-nonsense, easy to read, non-flowery language. Includes chapters “The Early Hours”, “If You Have Other Children”, “The Arrangements”, “Going Home”, “Back to Work”, “Guilt/Blame”, “Anger”, “Going to a Support Group”, “Communicating In the Month Ahead”, “Future Pregnancy”, and “Life Goes On.” 

Coming to Term: A Father’s Story of Birth, Loss, and Survival – William H. Woodwell, Jr

Kim and William Woodwell’s story is every parent’s nightmare. Pregnant, Kim was rushed to the hospital with a severe case of pre-eclampsia, a condition that can be fatal to mother and baby. Doctors held off delivery as long as possible, but after only 24 weeks of gestation, Kim gave birth to twins. William, a freelance writer and editor, gives a riveting, poignant, often piercing account of these events, following the twins through birth, the death of the smaller one, Nina, and the survival and ultimate health of Josie. Woodwell gives power to his account with minute, seemingly inconsequential details such as how, on his way to the hospital where his wife has been taken by ambulance, he turned the radio on and off, “wanting but unable just to think.” The hospital scene is described in similarly vivid detail: the wires, tubes and monitoring machinery, and especially the “clop-CLOP clop-CLOP” of the babies’ heartbeats. “Their hearts beat on like nothing’s wrong. Kim says they sound like horses…. It’s hard enough coming into the world the way most of us do. For them, it will be that much more of a surprise, that much more of a shock. Fact is, we’re essentially powerless to help them now, except to keep them in there as long as we can.” Though the doctors in the neonatal intensive care unit did their best, tiny Nina’s organs begin to fail one at a time and she finally dies. Though she has mild cerebral palsy, Josie is now four years old and is progressing well. Woodwell’s honest account of the events and the emotions he and his wife shared will be felt by all readers.

From Father to Father: Letters From Loss Dad to Loss Dad – Emily R Long 

This book is a simple book of letters written for you, a grieving loss dad, from other loss dads who are living and surviving after the death of their precious child. In the pages of this book, fathers from around the world share letters of love from their hearts to yours with the hope that, maybe, in the darkest, loneliest hours of grief, you will find a little bit of comfort in the words of another father who has been where you are now. Too often a father’s grief and experience of loss is overshadowed or unacknowledged after the death of their children. This book offers acknowledgement and gives voice to the experience of fathers grieving their children. The fathers speaking through these pages offer support and recognition to let you know that you are not alone. They are here with you.

Heart Works: A Father’s Grief – Jerre Peterson

This is a book for everyone who has ever loved. This is a book about the beauty of life.
Across the pages of this book, a father makes a courageous effort to put into print his deepest feelings regarding life. Heart Works explores the paralyzing depths of grief, the awesome power of love and the incredible light of hope.
The newly bereaved, unable to concentrate, can pick this book up, read a page or simply gaze at the photographs and feel a connection with their own emotions.
People who have swallowed their grief for years can use this book as a tool to open themselves up and allow the grief to start lifting.
Those who have not yet experienced a death, yet have sadness due to a divorce, relationship breakup, or loss of a job will find solace by the words in Hearts Works.
All who read this book will be reminded of the fragility of life, and be encouraged to love more, show more patience, and slow down to enjoy the beauty of this world.

Letters to My Unborn Children: Meditations on the Silent Grief of Miscarriage – Shawn T Collins

This book contains author Shawn T. Collins reflections on the silent grief of miscarriage, and encouragement to those who grieve that you are not alone. Miscarriage is a silent grief. It is unexpected before it happens, frequently unexplainable when it occurs, and rarely discussed afterwards. Parents grieve in different ways and at different times from each other. That can complicate and exacerbate their grief. Shawn and Kristine Collins experienced this when three of their pregnancies ended in first trimester miscarriages. Letters to My Unborn Children discusses the tension between cautious excitement and hope for new life with each pregnancy, and the raw grief, vanished dreams and cynicism that accompanied each loss. Recognizing other forms of silent grief helped Shawn and Kristine begin to grieve and heal together. The gentle honesty with which Shawn integrates the miscarriages into his identity invites you into universal experiences of fear, hope, grief, and transformation.

Miscarriage: A Man’s Book – Rick Wheat

Written by a Marriage and Family Therapist who has experienced the difficulties of miscarriage first-hand. The first page is devoted to “an emergency page nine items a man should know right away when his wife has just had a miscarriage, including “recognize the importance of this event. This may well be the worst thing that has ever happened to your wife and maybe to you, too.” He talks about things that will be difficult and discusses the stages of grief and some of the responses that may result such as guilt, depression or withdrawal. He also gives some practical tips on how to keep the marital relationship strong after such a devastating event

Strong and Tender -Pat Schwiebert, RN

Strong and Tender: a guide for the father whose baby has died is filled with helpful suggestions and tender stories from grieving fathers. It gives dads permission to feel their pain and help them understand some of the responses they’re having to the death of their child.

Swallowed by a Snake: The Gift of the Masculine Side of Healing – Thomas R Golden

Swallowed by a Snake is a book for men and women about the masculine side of healing from loss. Discover new and powerful ways to heal. How the genders differ in their healing. Greater understanding between partners. Examples of successful and uniqueness. New ways to understand your grief. Ways the individual’s loss can impact the entire family. Swallowed by a Snake is meant to be a map and a guide trough the experience of loss. It will help you move through the pain of loss and into a place of healing and transformation.

When Men Grieve: Why Men Grieve Differently & How You Can Help – Elizabeth Levang, PhD 

Psychologist Elizabeth Levang, author of Remembering with Love, explains the special ways that men grieve so those who love them can better understand what they’re going through.