Taking Control

“Taking Control” aims to provide a guidance for Muslim women who are trying to conceive. Author Farah Dualeh, who herself has tried to conceive for many years, shares her personal experience along with psychological tools to cope with this traumatic ordeal for women who struggle to become mothers. Dualeh also gives extensive content from Islamic perspective, including rulings on certain issues, as well as prayers. In this book, women who are trying to conceive will be encouraged to take control of their infertility experience at different levels: * within themselves * within their marriage * in relation to social pressures * on treatment options * and on what their family can look like (even when different from the 'norm')

By Farah Dualeh

Contents Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 9 Part 1 Trying to Conceive 15 1. My Story and My Approach 17 2. Womanhood and Identity 33 3. The Body and the Period 38 4. In the Company of Greats & Delayed Parenthood 41 5. The Most Difficult Question 45 6. Emotional Support 51 7. Dealing With Social Pressures 61 8. An Awesome Marriage 67 9. What Friends and Family Need to Know - Your Message 77 10. Stories of the Brave 84 Part 2 Treatment Options 97 Part 3 Your Family, Your Options 129 Epilogue 149 Endnote 151