Women and reproductive loss: client-worker dialogues designed to break the silence

An estimated one in four women experiences a pregnancy loss during her lifetime. Despite the pervasiveness of fetal mortality reflected by these numbers, social workers rarely initiate dialogues regarding reproductive loss history. Reproductive loss experiences are interwoven with typical themes emerging in everyday social work practice, including mental health, self-conceptualization, social roles, and future parenting. To advance the knowledge of professional social workers regarding reproductive loss in women's lives, this article begins by synthesizing theory and empirical research related to reproductive loss and subsequent parenting. Then, four worker-initiated dialogues emerge as recommendations for integration into routine social work practice, expanding discussion of reproductive loss beyond a subset of specialized providers and into the multitude of practice settings.