A Spiritual Companion to Infertility
>> June 26, 2010
Julie Irwin Zimmerman, a journalist and mother of two, has combined her professional expertise and her personal story to produce an excellent resource on infertility. The eleven chapters begin with scripture quotations and end with prayers and reflections. Along with solid research, Zimmerman shares her own experiences and emotions as she discusses the effects of infertility on relationships and religious beliefs.
The chapter on morality of treatment opens with questions that arise from ongoing discoveries that facilitate biological parenthood, then addresses the ethical, legal, and moral dilemmas our culture has faced since the birth of the first in-vitro baby in 1978. Zimmerman concentrates on the positions of Christian denominations on such issues as fertility medications (and selective abortion), artificial and in-vitro insemination, and surrogacy. In the end, Zimmerman advises couples to learn as much as possible about their faith's positions, then decide together on their values before beginning treatment. "To do any less is unfair to ourselves and any children we might create," she writes.
The prayer and reflection section contains a passage from Philippians asking for "knowledge and full insight to determine what is best." There is also a prayer for God's guidance by St. Teresa of Avila, and a prayer of trust by John Henry Newman. The original prayer, O Lord, Help Me Decide, thanks God for a wide range of technologies in our lives today and asks for help in deciding "what is of you and from you" and courage to follow God's guidance "especially when it is hard to do so."
The chapter on special situations looks at infertility and step-parenting, miscarriage and stillbirth, and secondary infertility (having one or more children but being unable to conceive another). The final three chapters deal with the decision to give up the quest for biological parenthood. Adoption and choosing to be "childfree" are explored.
Throughout the work Zimmerman tackles thorny questions like what to tell others and how to weather frustration, disappointment, and loss. Each chapter's prayers and reflections are rich resources. A list of print and web-based references rounds out the story.
The chapter on morality of treatment opens with questions that arise from ongoing discoveries that facilitate biological parenthood, then addresses the ethical, legal, and moral dilemmas our culture has faced since the birth of the first in-vitro baby in 1978. Zimmerman concentrates on the positions of Christian denominations on such issues as fertility medications (and selective abortion), artificial and in-vitro insemination, and surrogacy. In the end, Zimmerman advises couples to learn as much as possible about their faith's positions, then decide together on their values before beginning treatment. "To do any less is unfair to ourselves and any children we might create," she writes.
The prayer and reflection section contains a passage from Philippians asking for "knowledge and full insight to determine what is best." There is also a prayer for God's guidance by St. Teresa of Avila, and a prayer of trust by John Henry Newman. The original prayer, O Lord, Help Me Decide, thanks God for a wide range of technologies in our lives today and asks for help in deciding "what is of you and from you" and courage to follow God's guidance "especially when it is hard to do so."
The chapter on special situations looks at infertility and step-parenting, miscarriage and stillbirth, and secondary infertility (having one or more children but being unable to conceive another). The final three chapters deal with the decision to give up the quest for biological parenthood. Adoption and choosing to be "childfree" are explored.
Throughout the work Zimmerman tackles thorny questions like what to tell others and how to weather frustration, disappointment, and loss. Each chapter's prayers and reflections are rich resources. A list of print and web-based references rounds out the story.
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