Reproductive Heartbreak. Real Hope.
Not every path to parenthood is simple—or spoken aloud.
Maternal Hope is a powerful collection of raw and rarely shared stories from everyday people navigating painful realities on the road to starting a family.
More than a dozen contributing authors share candid essays that reflect a wide range of family-building experiences. Each author opens their heart and details a deeply personal journey shaped by longing, loss, courage, and love.
Their stories span everything from infertility, in vitro fertilization, and ectopic pregnancy to miscarriage, infant loss, and postpartum depression. You’ll also discover accounts of NICU admissions, traumatic births, pregnancy after loss, child health issues, and more.
The wisdom shared in Maternal Hope dismantles the myth of “happily ever after” and instead honors the complexity, resilience, and truth of what it means to build a family when doing so is anything but simple.
Inside Maternal Hope, you’ll find:
Honest depictions of fertility struggles, pregnancy complications, shared grief, and maternal mental health
The perspectives of a gay father navigating international surrogacy and a lesbian mother pursuing IVF
The reflections of a woman who is childfree by choice
Support, validation, and resources for those who’ve felt alone in their experiences
A reminder that every path to parenthood can be beautiful—even the ones no one talks about
Born from their own lived experiences with twin infant loss and postpartum depression, Camille Seigle and Ali Mann Stevens created this book to break the silence and offer hope to those navigating the often-invisible challenges of becoming a parent.
Maternal Hope is a light in the dark. A balm for the soul. A chorus of voices that says: You are not alone.
Available October 21
Preorder Now
"Virtually anyone facing the daunting prospect of having a baby (or not having one, or losing one) will find words of wisdom in these pages."
— Kirkus Reviews
What People Are Saying…
“A compassionate and much-needed contribution to the conversation about reproductive and maternal mental health.”
JESSICA ZUCKER, PhD
Psychologist and author of the award-winning I Had a Miscarriage and Normalize It
“The honesty that pours forth in these pages is both compelling and comforting.”
EVE RODSKY
New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space
“A powerful reminder of the importance of community in difficult times.”
AMANDA KLOOTS
Celebrity fitness trainer and New York Times bestselling author of Live Your Life
“A testament to the quiet courage of people navigating some of life’s most vulnerable moments.”
NEEL SHAH, MD
Chief medical officer, Maven Clinic
“A powerful offering of light, empathy, and resilience to anyone navigating the many layers of building and growing a family.”
JESSICA SHEPHERD, MD
Chief medical officer of Hers and author of Generation M
“A collection as diverse as motherhood itself, filled with unique perspectives and experiences designed to make us all think and feel.”
ZIBBY OWENS
Podcast host, Totally Booked with Zibby, author, and bookstore owner
“Tender, raw, and alive with the kind of truth that only emerges when we feel safe enough to be fully seen.”
JORDAN YOUNGER
Founder and CEO of The Balanced Blonde and host of The Balanced Blonde podcast
“Maternal Hope gives voice to the often-unseen journey of building a family.”
ANDREA SYRTASH
Relationships author and editor-in-chief, pregnantish
“I wish I’d had this book when I suffered a pregnancy loss and felt completely alone in my grief.”
MARY CATHERINE STARR
Author of Mama Needs a Minute! and artist behind @momlife_comics on Instagram
“Honest, heartfelt reflections from real families who have been through dark moments and found light on the other side.”
MOLLIE WEST DUFFY
Wall Street Journal bestselling coauthor of No Hard Feelings and Big Feelings
“For those whose journey has been marked by adversity, disappointment, or trauma, this book provides hope.”
BEC HOLMES, PhD
Senior vice president, CCRM Fertility
“This beautifully honest book offers validation, insight, and hope for all of us in the invisible challenges we navigate.”
SIMONE AHUJA
Mother, innovation strategist, and author of Disrupt It Yourself
“Perfectly captures the beautiful and messy complexity of trying to become a parent.”
CAITLIN WEAVER
Bestselling author of Such a Good Family