Unexpected

A groundbreaking, sensitive community memoir to support and inspire all those who encounter surprises when planning their families.

Just as women turn to doctors and midwives to guide them through pregnancy, mothers turn to stories of shared experiences to create community in times of isolation, to find comfort in times of loss, and to support each other through the daily trials of parenthood. Unexpected offers what so many of them seek: connection, information, and the feeling of being seen.

Medical complications in pregnancy and fertility are the rule rather than the exception. Stories of others who’ve survived and thrived provide invaluable reassurance. About 12% of reproductive-aged couples in the US--including more than 7 million women--have trouble getting pregnant or staying pregnant. Each year, American families experience approximately 4 million births, 1 million miscarriages, 24,000 stillbirths, and 16,000 neonatal deaths. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that more than 90% of births involve complications, from the trivial to the life-threatening. And yet we try not to talk about our challenges for fear of seeming weak, triggering others, or failing to achieve the archetypal glowing mother stereotype. But the moment I mention this book to a female in my life, she opens up about her experiences and gushes about how much we need a resource like this book.

These tremendous stories prove that, different as our paths to parenthood might be, one thing we share is resilience, and we can always find hope and beauty along the path to parenthood.