An invitation -- Notes on the creation of this book -- Breaking -- Reconnecting -- Serving -- Collaborating -- Reconsidering -- Delivering -- Rebuilding -- Our thanks

"A primary care physician's moving memoir of navigating a complicated path to motherhood, interwoven with the stories of twenty-one of her patients, friends, and medical colleagues-and sharing the intimate truths of their diverse perspectives on being part of all kinds of families, born and built and chosen"--

Held Together is a heartfelt exploration of the struggles and triumphs of women facing various challenges on their journeys to parenthood and family life. Dr. Rebecca Thompson, drawing from her own experiences with life-threatening pregnancy losses and rare medical conditions, creates a community by gathering stories from women who have faced fertility issues, adoption, fostering, surrogacy, mental illness, grief, and more. These personal narratives reveal the universal nature of struggles in raising children and sustaining families, offering comfort and reassurance that no one is alone in their difficulties. The book celebrates the resilience, healing, and unexpected joys that come from embracing life's complexities and imperfections