I just want to start by saying that I’m so sorry. So sorry that you are needing to read this post. So sorry that you lost your precious baby, whether it was at 6 weeks pregnant, or your baby was already 6 weeks old. It all is so hard – the loss of a life and the loss of a future. I’m praying over all who read this post, and I hope these books bring you encouragement and comfort like they did me when we lost our sweet Hudson. You can ready his birth story here if you’re interested.
Although this book is specific to miscarriage, I truly believe that it would be beneficial for any type of loss. We lost Hudson at 19 weeks, and I was induced the day before I turned 20 weeks. The author has experience with early miscarriage, but it still encouraged me deeply. It goes through Psalm 139 in 31 days, sharing how God cares about you and your baby. It digs into some theology of suffering, which I truly appreciate. Nothing is going to be able to comfort you like the truth, which is found in God’s Word. This book does not contain any of the shallow statements people love to throw around after loss; in fact, it speaks against them. I also loved how the author had other people she knew tell their story in this book. In the back of the book, there are many book recommendations for loss, many more than I could list here.
There is also a Held podcast that I just started listening to! There are only 9 episodes, making it manageable and the opposite of overwhelming. I’ve only listened to 4 episodes at the time of writing this post, but they’ve all been really good.
2. A Water Lily Among the Wildflowers: Hope and Truth for Moms After Pregnancy Loss by Rachel Dickey
A real life friend actually wrote this book! I used to go to church with Rachel, and after we lost Hudson, all of our mutual friends were texting her and telling her what happened so that she could reach out. We met for coffee, and it was so encouraging to me. I’ve had a few women years ahead of me on their grief journey take the time to meet with me, and it always means so much. They have wisdom that I don’t yet have, and the perspective that I don’t have yet either.
This book feels like you’re meeting with one of those women for coffee, with each chapter starting with an entry from her journal. It answers the hard questions like, “Is my baby actually in heaven?” and “When does life begin?” It is practical, relatable, and such an amazing resource for any mama going through pregnancy loss.
3. You Are Still a Mother: Hope for Women Grieving a Stillbirth or Miscarriage by Jackie Gibson
A sweet friend on Instagram sent me this book after I miscarried, and it was a balm to my soul in those early days after loss. It is a very short read, which was also helpful so that I didn’t get overwhelmed. In fact, I remember thinking that I wished there was even more to read. It was so good and I just wanted to keep reading. This book truly offers truth and hope, real hope, that reminds us of God’s goodness and sovereignty, and how they can both be true at the same time.
4. I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith
My aunt gifted me this book after we lost Hudson, as it was one that encouraged her after her stillbirth years ago. I read the first half of the book all in one day – it was so good! I love Angie’s writing style and how she shared so much Biblical truth while it also felt like you were just reading her story.
I think it’s a must read for any loss mama, but it would be particularly good for a mom who has received a diagnosis about her unborn baby, and she is not sure they will survive.
5. Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
Many people recommended this book, so I decided to give it a try. Before I read it, I didn’t really know what lament was. A quick Google search gives the definition for lament as “a passionate expression of grief or sorrow,” but biblical lament goes so much deeper than that. This book truly gave me the tools to be able to lament in the early days, or now, months later, as the grief lingers. I don’t think this grief will ever go away, so I’m sure I will lament like this book teaches for the rest of my life (and in other life circumstances). Specifically, the author uses lament psalms and passages in the Bible to teach you how to lament. In fact, when you don’t have anything to say on your own, you can use Biblical laments for your own situation. There is a list of lament passages in the back of the book to reference later when you need to.
I had this book on my list after our miscarriage, and I found it at a used bookstore for $0.75. It felt like a little God wink in a really hard season. I really enjoyed reading through the devotional and I felt seen and understood in my loss during those early days. I think it was the first book I read on miscarriage. I will say that I didn’t relate to every way this author grieved, but maybe you will! I still recommend it and I’m so glad I read it, but everyone grieves in different ways.
BONUS 1: Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot
This book is not specific to pregnancy or infant loss, but I promise you that you will be encouraged. It goes through the different components of suffering, or “steps” if you will, and reminds us that God uses every bit of our suffering. None of it is ever for nothing. Elisabeth Elliot is no stranger to suffering, and it is so inspiring to hear how she remained faithful in the midst of her difficult (or really, tragic) circumstances. I highly recommend.
BONUS 2: Courageously Expecting: 30 Days of Encouragement for Pregnancy After Loss by Jenny Albers
You may not be ready for this book yet, and that’s totally okay. I wanted to include this book in this list so that you knew it existed when you’re ready to try again. I found this book by listening to a podcast with the author right after our loss, so I went ahead and bought the book for when we’re pregnant again. I read the first day already, just to see what it was all about, and I know it’s going to be so good and so encouraging.
In this with you,
All Things Allison Marie 
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