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The Waiting Room
- Author
- Audrey Ward
- Narrator
- various
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 2 July 2026
- Run Time
- 10 hours 15 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
'An important book' Edwina Dunn, Founder of The Female Lead
The path to parenthood is deeply personal. When that journey twists and stalls, it can feel impossibly lonely. Yet connection, courage and hope can be found, often in the stories of those who have taken the road before us.
The Waiting Room exists because too many people experience infertility, loss and longing in silence. Every day in the UK, there are hundreds of miscarriages, about seven stillbirths, ten terminations for medical reasons and five neonatal deaths. Around 1 in every 80 pregnancies in the UK is ectopic. Globally, 1 in 6 couples face infertility at some point in their lives. Yet, the silence around the hospital visits and heartbreak remains.
What happens after the negative pregnancy tests, the first miscarriage, the failed round of IVF, the ectopic pregnancy or the stillbirth? What is it like to pursue adoption, surrogacy or donor conception, or come to terms with a life without children? Drawing on dozens of honest, hopeful, bravely shared accounts, Audrey Ward curates a selection of stories – including her own – from those whose journeys to (or away from) parenthood were anything but simple, to help answer all these questions, and more.
So, join us in The Waiting Room, a place of comfort, advice and connection, for anyone who has ever felt that parenthood is painfully out of reach.
'Shines a light on experiences too often hidden or misunderstood' Sharon Martin, Interim CEO, Fertility Network UK
Critics Review
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'A powerful and necessary book. It uses personal stories, beautifully told, to break the taboo around what happens when fertility and pregnancy don't follow the plan. I know it will be so valuable to countless people walking this painful and often lonely road.' Adam Kay, author of This Is Going to Hurt
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'I have such admiration for Audrey for writing this book, and for all those who contributed, who generously shared their stories.' From the Foreword by Marina Fogle, writer, broadcaster, Co-founder of The Bump Class and Brand Ambassador for Tommy's
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'An important book … The warmth of emotion and affection these pages and stories convey will help to guide hundreds of families who face this exciting yet rocky adventure with eyes wide open.' Edwina Dunn, Founder of The Female Lead
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'A deeply moving book that captures the reality of the fertility journey. Drawing on powerful personal stories, it shines a light on experiences too often hidden or misunderstood.' Sharon Martin, Interim CEO, Fertility Network UK
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‘Pregnancy and baby loss are devastating and can be very isolating. This is a book that will help many people feel less alone as they navigate their own challenging journey.’ Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive, Tommy’s
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'This is a unique record of the understated emotional and physical toll for both men and women. I salute Audrey and all her brave contributors.' Professor Jonathan W.A. Ramsay, Consultant Urologist and Andrologist
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'A wonderful compilation of personal stories, really bringing to life the range of complex emotional journeys people can go on when trying to conceive.' Nina Barnsley, Director at Donor Conception Network
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'This book reminds you that you are not alone, and that even in the most difficult moments, there is connection, resilience and hope to be found.' Shaun Greenaway, Co-founder of NeXYs Fertility
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Audrey Ward
- Narrator
- various
- Duration
- 10 hours 15 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9780008781804
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Infertility and fertilization, Reproductive medicine, Parenting, parenthood: advice, topics and issues, Narrative theme: death, grief, loss, Women’s health
Synopsis
'An important book' Edwina Dunn, Founder of The Female Lead The path to parenthood is deeply personal. When that journey twists and stalls, it can feel impossibly lonely. Yet connection, courage and hope can be found, often in the stories of those who have taken the road before us. The Waiting Room exists because too many people experience infertility, loss and longing in silence. Every day in the UK, there are hundreds of miscarriages, about seven stillbirths, ten terminations for medical reasons and five neonatal deaths. Around 1 in every 80 pregnancies in the UK is ectopic. Globally, 1 in 6 couples face infertility at some point in their lives. Yet, the silence around the hospital visits and heartbreak remains. What happens after the negative pregnancy tests, the first miscarriage, the failed round of IVF, the ectopic pregnancy or the stillbirth? What is it like to pursue adoption, surrogacy or donor conception, or come to terms with a life without children? Drawing on dozens of honest, hopeful, bravely shared accounts, Audrey Ward curates a selection of stories – including her own – from those whose journeys to (or away from) parenthood were anything but simple, to help answer all these questions, and more. So, join us in The Waiting Room, a place of comfort, advice and connection, for anyone who has ever felt that parenthood is painfully out of reach. 'Shines a light on experiences too often hidden or misunderstood' Sharon Martin, Interim CEO, Fertility Network UK
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