It’s Time to Talk about Miscarriage and the Workplace

Having a miscarriage can affect our bodies in ways that can make it difficult to return to “business as usual.” When Jennifer Maerz had a miscarriage, she experienced symptoms such as fatigue and difficulty making decisions. These symptoms influenced her ability to do her job, on top of her grief. Yet she didn’t know how to talk about her situation in the workplace.

In this article, Maerz provides expert guidance and advice for navigating the workplace after pregnancy loss. She speaks with Wendy N. Davis, president and CEO of Postpartum Support International, and Dr. Kiley Hanish, founder of Return to Zero: HOPE. Maerz also reflects on what she learned through her personal experience.

It’s important to take time to heal and recover after a pregnancy loss. Recognize that grief is ongoing and can last weeks or even years. Speaking up can take off some of the pressure in the workplace and set a precedent for others who may have similar experiences. There are scripts that can aid us in communicating the experience of pregnancy loss and how it reshapes our work life. Workplaces might offer leave, accommodations, and other rights and protections. Those who cannot afford to stay home might find assistance through practices of release. This can include changing the topic of conversation or playing soothing music.

We have a lot of unnecessary secrecy, shame, and stigma related to pregnancy not going perfectly, and we tend to second guess the bare minimum of what we need to recover... When people try to push through that recovery, they don’t recover as well, and problems tend to emerge later.

SOURCE: Romper • AUTHOR: Jennifer Maerz • LAST UPDATED: September 28, 2024