Maternal Hope is a collection of deeply personal, real-life essays about the often-unspoken sides of trying to build a family—fertility struggles, infertility treatment (IVF, IUI), pregnancy loss (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth), traumatic birth, NICU stays, surrogacy, and perinatal/postpartum mental health. It’s honest, nuanced, and ultimately hopeful—centered on resilience and the many ways families are made.

Anyone touched by the complexities of family formation: people in fertility treatment or considering egg/sperm/embryo options; those grieving miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss; readers facing pregnancy after loss; partners and spouses; single parents by choice; LGBTQ+ readers pursuing parenthood; and friends, family, and clinicians who want to better support someone they love.

• Infertility, IVF, miscarriage, secondary infertility, and endometriosis

• Ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy after loss, stillbirth, and neonatal loss

• NICU, traumatic birth, and postpartum depression/anxiety/PTSD

• International surrogacy, donor conception, LGBTQ+ family building, rare childhood disease, and choosing to be childfree

• Grief, meaning-making, and compassionate support

Either works. Many readers dip into the table of contents and choose what resonates that day (for example: miscarriage, NICU, postpartum mental health, or surrogacy). If you’re raw or newly grieving, it’s okay to skim, skip, and go slowly.

It’s both candid and compassionate—no glossing over the hard parts, no one-size-fits-all “fix.” The voices are diverse in background and path (IVF, surrogacy, NICU, pregnancy after loss, LGBTQ+ journeys), and the essays honor complexity while pointing toward practical care and community.

Readers tell us the essays make them feel seen and less alone. You’ll find language for hard conversations, validation for complicated emotions, and reflections that can sit with you on the rough days—without toxic positivity. It’s a companion through uncertainty and grief, and a reminder that hope can coexist with heartbreak.

Our hope is not cheerleading; it’s grounded. It’s the kind that sits beside grief, honors complexity, and notices small lights—connection, compassion, and possibility—even when the path is uncertain.

That’s valid. We encourage you to set gentle boundaries—read with a friend, pause when needed, and return when you’re ready. You’re allowed to take care of your heart.

No. Although the title includes “Maternal,” the book is for anyone. We use clear, inclusive language and focus on the human experience of longing, loss, and love.

We avoid assumptions about gender, bodies, partners, or paths to parenthood. Where medical terms are necessary (e.g., ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis), we use them plainly and contextually.

No. The stories in Maternal Hope are lived experiences, not clinical guidance. Always consult your healthcare team (OB-GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, primary care doctor, and/or mental health professional) for medical decisions.

We have a section in Maternal Hope pointing readers to reputable organizations, books, and podcasts so you can continue learning and find support that fits your situation.

The foreword is by Whitney Bischoff Angel, RN—longtime fertility nurse, egg-freezing advocate, and founder of Lily Concierge Consulting, which supports people navigating fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. Her perspective bridges medical insight and compassionate care.

We looked for honest storytelling across a range of paths—IVF and IUI, recurrent loss, pregnancy after loss, NICU, surrogacy, postpartum mental health, LGBTQ+ family building, and single-parent journeys. We edited with care to preserve each writer’s voice and ensure accuracy and respect.

Choose a theme per meeting (e.g., miscarriage, NICU, postpartum mental health) and invite members to read 1–2 essays. Use the lived experiences as springboards for conversation—what helped, what didn’t, how to ask for and offer support.

Clinicians can keep copies in waiting rooms, recommend relevant essays to patients, and use excerpts in training on trauma-informed, patient-centered care.

Absolutely. Readers may find it useful to bring an essay to a counseling session or a support meeting. It can help put words to experiences and open space for grief, anger, love, and hope.

Yes. The essays offer insight into what support actually feels like—what helps, what harms, and how to show up over time. It’s useful for partners, friends, extended family, OB-GYNs, midwives, doulas, therapists, social workers, and support-group leaders.