“I don’t think we move past challenging experiences. I think we integrate them into our identities and into the wisdom we carry forward.” -Dr. Rebecca Thompson

In Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love, Dr. Rebecca Thompson, family medicine and public health physician, weaves her personal story of life-threatening pregnancy complications into the stories of twenty-one patients, friends, and medical colleagues. Through profoundly honest and emotionally raw accounts, the book creates a space for connection, offering comfort to anyone touched by challenges in building or sustaining families.

At its heart, Held Together aims to expand the understanding of motherhood’s true diversity, while advocating for empathy, inclusion, and improved support for all women and families.

Storytelling as healing Several of Dr. Thompson’s collaborators shared that working on the book was the first time they had ever told their story in a coherent, cohesive way, and that the process allowed them to integrate the experience rather than feel stuck in it. Dr. Thompson draws a distinction between “moving past” challenges and carrying them forward with purpose.

Building community, one relationship at a time Near the close of the episode, Dr. Thompson reflects on what it takes to build real community: patience, persistence, and the willingness to start small. Most of Held Together was written in 20-minute windows, in parking lots, between appointments, in the in-between moments of a full life. The book itself is proof that small, consistent actions can accumulate into something meaningful.

References & Resources

Book: Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love by Rebecca N. Thompson, MD Available through affiliate links on Dr. Thompson’s website (a portion of proceeds benefits Postpartum Support International), through your local independent bookstore, or your library.

Postpartum Support International — an organization supporting maternal and family mental health: postpartum.net

Kintsugi — the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with gold lacquer, referenced in the book as a metaphor for post-traumatic growth and finding beauty in imperfection.

Connect with Dr. Thompson

Rebecca N. Thompson, MD, is a family medicine and public health physician from Portland, Oregon, who specializes in women’s and children’s health. She is the author of Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love, a collaborative project more than a decade in the making.

🌐 Website: www.rebeccanthompson.com (Note: The N is important, there are other authors named Rebecca Thompson! Look for the middle initial.)

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/rebecca.thompson.354831 📸 Instagram: @rebecca.n.thompson 🧵 Threads: @rebecca.n.thompson 💼 LinkedIn: Rebecca N. Thompson, MD

Connect with Your Host, Dr. Jennifer Reid

Dr. Jennifer Reid is a physician, the host of A Mind of Her Own, and the author of Guilt Free: Reclaiming Your Life from Unreasonable Expectations — available at major retailers.

🌐 Website: jenniferreidmd.com 📸 Instagram: @JenReidMD 🧵 Threads: @JenReidMD

Feeling inspired by this conversation? Start your own Guilt-Free Group at jenniferreidmd.com/guilt-free-groups or download a book club guide at jenniferreidmd.com/book-clubs.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow A Mind of Her Own and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts — it makes a huge difference in helping other people find the show! 🎙️

A Note for Educators & Helping Professionals

Dr. Thompson is actively expanding her work into medical and health professions training. She welcomes outreach from educators working with medical students, residents, nurses, doulas, midwives, social workers, and psychologists, or anyone who wants to help the next generation of caregivers better understand their patients’ full context. Virtual presentations are available. Reach out through the Connect page on her website.

Please remember: your hosts are physicians, but we are not your physicians. For any personal healthcare concerns, please reach out to your own provider. You can also contact the mental health helpline by dialing 988. All opinions are the host’s and guest’s alone.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amindofherown.substack.com