Stillborn: written out of love for Tom and Tim

Stillborn by Desirée van Nieuwenhoven

A mother on a mission to give a voice to baby loss.

Desirée van Nieuwenhoven's heart-wrenching memoir Stillborn is an unflinching account of her journey through the unimaginable grief of losing three children.

With raw honesty and a touch of Dutch bluntness, she shares the story of her miscarriage, the near-fatal HELLP syndrome that claimed her son Tom's life, and the stillbirth of her son Tim.

In the face of such profound loss, van Nieuwenhoven finds strength and resilience in the most unexpected places. She discovers a community of bereaved mothers who become her lifeline, and she embarks on a mission to break the silence surrounding baby loss.

There are no words for what it’s like to lose a baby. But there are stories. Soft, raw, aching stories — full of love, longing, and the slow return to life.

Stillborn is not just a book. It’s a lifeline. A hand on your shoulder. A whisper in the silence that says: “You are not alone.”

In this deeply moving and honest book, Desirée van Nieuwenhoven shares her personal journey after the stillbirth of her baby — and the years that followed. With grace, vulnerability, and gentle guidance, she invites you into the heart of what it means to grieve a child who didn’t get to stay, and to keep loving them anyway.

Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, Stillborn will meet you where you are. It’s a safe space for tears, tenderness, and truth. For parents who have lived the unimaginable. For friends and loved ones who want to understand. And for anyone who knows that grief is love — with nowhere to go.

Through poetic reflections, quiet wisdom, and soul-deep compassion, Stillborn offers more than understanding. It offers connection. Recognition. And the gentle reminder that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. That your baby matters. And that love never ends.

Read it if you’ve lost a baby. Read it if you love someone who has. Read it if you want to know how life can grow again, even after it breaks.

© 2024 EZ Books (Ebook): 9789493372009

Translators: Kim and Toni Simpson, Tamara Hargrove

Release date

Ebook: 29 June 2024