What kind of book is
I Love You Still:
A Memorial Baby Book?

I Love You Still: A Memorial Baby Book is a baby memory book specifically made for mothers who've suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss. It is a decorative memory book filled with important milestones, beautifully illustrated in a gender-neutral theme. 

I Love You Still is both a comprehensive baby memory book and a space for mom. Its prompted and freeform journal space can be completed at any time during the healing process, and may be revisited for months or even years to come. 

What does
I Love You Still
have in common with traditional baby books?

I Love You Still shares many similarities with traditional baby memory books. In addition to the look and feel of the book, I Love You Still contains areas relating to the parents’ backgrounds and first meeting; a family snapshot and family tree; the journey to a positive pregnancy test and the first reactions of mom and dad; special preparations made for the baby; monthly pregnancy milestones and memories; the first doctor visit—including the baby’s due date; favorite baby names; and baby’s details including his/her name and why it was chosen.

How does
I Love You Still
differ from traditional baby memory books?

I Love You Still’s content was carefully written to be appropriate for a variety of pregnancy journeys. Segments are carefully worded and organized to limit unused sections that, in traditional baby books, often extend up to age five and serve as painful reminders of what could have been. Instead, this book celebrates the beauty of what was, while accommodating the emotions and events that come with pregnancy and newborn loss. 

Unlike traditional baby memory books, I Love You Still includes sections for memorial gestures as well as prompted and freeform journal space. These areas are designed to echo themes a mother might encounter in professional support sessions. Topics such as holding the space, grief and mourning, reflection and self-care are approached subtly but with intention. A Resources section in the end matter can point bereaved mothers to professional bereavement support both nationally and nearby.

Can pages be removed?

Yes, if the mother wishes. Some mothers may not wish to keep pages devoted to monthly pregnancy milestones beyond their baby’s gestational age, or pages devoted to time spent with the baby after birth if they did not have that opportunity. The illustration on and placement of these pages was specifically designed so they may be removed without interrupting the logical sequence of the text or the character storyline. 

That said, the book is not spiral bound, and the pages are not perforated. The first priority in making this book was to make a product of equal or superior quality to that of traditional baby memory books—and one that would last just as long. Perforated pages tear quickly with use, as can the attachment points for spiral binding.  

Does I Love You Still contain references to religion or the afterlife? 

I Love You Still makes room for each mother to include her own religious beliefs. The book’s text and imagery neither promote nor denounce a religious affiliation. 

What are the specifications of the book?

I Love You Still is an 8 x 10.5 inch padded hardcover book with Smyth sewn, lay-flat binding. Its decorative cover features a soft matte finish with raised gloss on the typeface and illustration. The book was professionally illustrated by Priscilla Alpaugh, professionally designed and printed. The 64 uncoated interior pages are designed to accept writing from ink or pencil without smearing or tearing, and are of a substantial weight to hold up to regular handling.

Why did you write the book?

I started writing I Love You Still after my dear friend lost her daughter to miscarriage. When I couldn’t find a memorial baby book suited to her specific needs, I decided to write it myself. Despite one in four women experiencing this painful loss during their lifetime—equating to between 500,000 and 1 million women in the U.S. each year—the topic is still considered too taboo for many major publishers to address. This leaves women like my friend with precious few options: generally, a traditional baby book with numerous chapters that do not apply, or a blank journal. The more the industry executives recoiled at the topic, the more resolute I became in making every detail as helpful and nurturing as possible for grieving moms.