Breaking the Silence on Pregnancy Loss with Dr. Jessica Zucker

This week, Nikki sits down with Dr. Jessica Zucker, a Los Angeles-based psychologist specializing in reproductive and maternal mental health, and the creator of the viral #IHadaMiscarriage campaign. Jessica is the author of the award-winning books NORMALIZE IT: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women’s Lives and I HAD A MISCARRIAGE: A Memoir, a Movement. Together, they unpack the silence surrounding pregnancy loss, the cultural conditioning that keeps women quiet about grief, and how empathy, not platitudes, creates true healing. Jessica shares her own 16-week loss, how it reshaped her work, and why storytelling is the antidote to shame. Dr. Jessica shares: Her personal story of a 16-week loss and why it “changed the course” of her life The problem with comparison (“no trauma wars”) and why your loss matters because it’s yours How the 12-week rule fuels silence and what healthier sharing can look like What not to say (“at least…”) and the simplest, best opener: “How are you doing?” Practical support ideas and how to have empathy vs. sympathy The silence → stigma → shame cycle—and how storytelling breaks it Self-compassion after loss, releasing self-blame, and the urge to “find the reason” A preview of her new book on dismantling stigma across every stage of women’s lives Ways to Connect with Dr. Jessica: Instagram Purchase her latest book: 📘 Normalize It – Amazon 📗 Normalize It – Bookshop.org Or find it wherever books are sold.