A M Hayton

A Silent Cry: Wombtwin Survivors Tell Their Stories A M Hayton

Publisher Marketing: A collection of seventy poignant personal stories written by wombtwin survivors - that is, the sole survivors of a twin or multiple pregnancy. Edited by Althea Hayton, with a foreword by Elizabeth Noble, author of "Primal Connections" and expert on pre-natal psychotherapy. These stories, published anonymously, reveal that the loss of a twin before birth leave a marked impression on the survivor. They describe some of the physical signs that there was once a twin, such as a fetus papyraceous or an ultrasound image of two sacs. They also reveal that there is a deep psychological effect on the surviving twin which takes many forms, including a sense of something missing, imaginary friends and feeling strangely alone, even among friends. The longer stories describe a long and difficult journey in search of healing - a journey that ends with a ritual of letting go. The anthology includes a glossary and Althea's personal story as an epilogue, for she is a wombtwin survivor herself. Of interest to wombtwin survivors, their families and experts in multiple birth and twinning; essential reading for therapists who have wombtwin survivors among their patients or clients and important material for any psychotherapist interested in pre-birth influences on human psychology. Psychologists and students of philosophy who wish to learn about pre-birth memories and how they may be influencing adult behaviours, will find in these stories fresh insights and astonishing new ideas. It will be hard for most of the population at large to discern whether these stories are wise or simply weird. Is this idea of a "psychological effect" a matter of fact or un-scientific foolishness? Are these stories authentic or absurd? Meanwhile, as the world debates, wombtwin survivors will rejoice that at last their story is told and their cries are no longer silent.