I wrote a book about my perinatal loss.
I have experienced several different kinds of perinatal loss through early miscarriages, late pregnancy losses, struggled with infertility, and have brought healthy, lively babies into the world.
I’ve had a total of seven pregnancies and each one was very different. My first pregnancy ended around seven and a half months when I delivered my stillborn son. Over a year later, I became pregnant with a girl that was deemed “incompatible with life.” I continued to carry her despite her grim outcome. About six months after she was born (and passed) I became pregnant again with a boy and went on to have a smooth pregnancy and delivery. A couple of years later I experienced two back to back miscarriages. After I recovered from those losses I went on to have two more healthy babies- a girl and then a boy.
Why I’m sharing my story about perinatal loss.
Several years ago, when I was feeling the pains of pregnancy loss, I felt alone. I used to scour the internet for any stories of mothers that walked through similar circumstances. There weren’t many, but I did find a few. I clung to their stories as hope that the season I was in would not last forever. Today, I have three beautiful, lively, healthy, strong children- ages 6, 4, and 1 years old.
Over the past couple of years, I have felt a stirring in my heart to share my story in hopes that it encourages others going through similar struggles.
Why the name, Joy In Suffering?
My happiness fled the day I found out my firstborn son was stillborn. The news of my child’s life gone broke me and brought me to my knees. I was no longer happy because of the circumstances I found myself in. In fact, I didn’t have actual happiness in my life for the next few years.
With the losses I was experiencing, I learned how fleeting and fragile human life is- including my own. I only had one life and I did not want to spend my time being upset. I learned the true meaning of joy and knew I must have it in order to make the best of my life- despite my circumstances of perinatal loss.
You see, Joy is long-lasting and deep. It’s knowing that there will be an end to the darkness just as we know the morning light will come. It took me realizing that my situations were out of my control and surrendering them to the will of the only One who could carry me.
Through this time in my life when I experienced joy while suffering that I realized it was possible to have Joy In Suffering.
My story of Joy In Suffering is available to order.
With a year in the making, I am happy to announce that my book is officially available to order!
- If you are a mother that has suffered similar circumstances, or a woman who longs to have her arms full, it is my prayer that this book brings you hope, comfort, and love.
- If you know someone experiencing a similar situation, this book could be a loving way to show them that you are there for them.
Where to order my book, Joy In Suffering?
You can find it on Amazon and other online retailers as a paperback, or digital copy.
If you’d like a signed copy, you can order through my shop *free shipping*.
Have you experienced miscarriage or infant loss? I’d love to hear from you. It’s easy to feel like you are all alone, but sometimes it helps to talk to someone who can relate. Feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email.
~Rosemary Pope