Although estimates suggest that miscarriage, the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation, is incredibly common, many people find it difficult to talk about pregnancy loss because of taboos surrounding communication about fertility, sexual behavior, reproduction, and death.

Although patient-provider interactions about pregnancy loss are common (because miscarriage is a common experience), research suggests that women are often unsatisfied with these interactions, which can amplify the negative psychosocial effects of miscarriage.

Food allergies are managed almost entirely through communication, yet this context remains virtually untouched by health communication scholars. I have explored how parents use talk to construct a safe environment for their children with food allergies and work to legitimize food allergies as a serious health condition.

The grief experienced in the midst of perinatal loss and fertility struggles is disenfranchised and largely ignored by the medical system. I am working with a team of scholars to improve screening for prolonged grief in the reproductive context.