PARENTING

Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love

HarperOne. Apr. 2025. 432p. ISBN 9780063339019. $29.99. CHILD REARING
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Family medicine and public health physician Thompson endured several life-threatening pregnancy losses and rare medical conditions. In this book, she discusses the physical and emotional scars she was left with after five pregnancies. She became overwhelmed and lonely. To combat those feelings, she decided to share her story and found others wanted to talk about their ordeals too. Each section in this book begins with Thompson’s own experiences and then broadens to include first-person accounts from others who have faced similar obstacles. From infertility and pregnancy loss to surrogacy, job loss, mental illness, or genetic disorders, the narratives come from women worldwide of varied backgrounds. This book indicates that many of the women gained wisdom from each other’s stories, and they were grateful for that.
VERDICT This touching, beautifully written work will help many people who have endured loss or complicated paths to parenthood. They are sure to find experiences that resonate with them.
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