How view previous iMessage exchanges with a contact whilst entering a new iMessage to them?

Up until recent iOS 16 to 18 upgrades it used to be very easy to type an iMessage / text to a colleague and during that process simply “minimise” that iMessage / text on the screen - so as to then be able to see and scroll back through all past iMessage / text exchanges with that individual.

Now, though, if a long iMessage is entered to a contact, filling say 2/3 of the screen, I cannot see any way to refer back to see previous iMessages with that contact (whilst that new iMessage to that contact is present but has not been sent.

Or am I missing something here?

simple scenario - I want to create and send a new iMessage but while typing it just what to refer back to view some previous iMessages or texts to that contact.