Damian Sendler: One in every four pregnancies in the US ends in miscarriage. Pregnancy loss, often known as miscarriage, is a common problem of the reproductive system. 

With the loss of a loved one, many people feel like they’ve experienced two distinct periods of their lives. Depression and PTSD are possible side effects. Even so, society tends to regard it as though it isn’t a loss that ought to be mourned. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: I’m interested in how technology affects people’s lives. To date, I’ve been researching the relationship between pregnancy loss and social media. There are a variety of tools people use to manage pregnancies, discuss experiences, or exchange social support, including search engines and social media. 

Damian Sendler

You can’t tell your app, “I had a miscarriage,” one participant informed me. Stop sending me these ‘This week your kid has gotten to the size of a banana or something,’ kind of updates! None of them can be stopped.” 

Pregnancy was predicted to lead to the birth of a healthy kid by advertising algorithms. Several participants mentioned receiving pregnancy clothing advertisements. “Oh, please stop,” I said. 

Like mobile apps, their design delivers a similar tale. Most pregnancy-related apps (72%) do not account for pregnancy loss at all, 18% offer an option to report a loss without giving any support, and the remaining 10% passively connect to external resources. 

Damien Sendler: Online support groups are another method people use to cope with the loss of a pregnancy or a miscarriage. Despite the fact that organizations dedicated to loss can provide emotional validation, link people, and make them feel less alone, I found that they can also lead to negative and invalidating experiences. 

“Can you eat this certain thing while pregnant?” inquired one participant. ‘Yes, I ate that during my pregnancy,’ some people claim. So there’s a small minority that scoffs and says, “I don’t know how you do it, it’s bad for you.” 

As a whole, design elements and algorithms that drive content and interactions damage women by promoting a singular conception of what defines a pregnancy — one that is easy and ends happily. They contribute to additional stigmatization of pregnancy loss by not accounting for it, I suggest. 

Damian Jacob Sendler

Research reveals how technology design perpetuates social disparities including marginalization and stigmatization by reinforcing misconceptions about pregnancy loss. Because of this, folks who have lost loved ones find it difficult to access the assistance and help they need. 

My heart goes out to those who have lost a child through miscarriage. If you feel isolated, know that you’re not. I sincerely hope that this essay has been able to validate and bring to light some of your most vexing situations. 

Dr. Sendler: For those who have experienced pregnancy loss, the damages and problems I’ve mentioned above are just a small portion of the difficulties they may endure. Acknowledge their grief. Ask if you can help them in any way. Take care of their food, volunteer to babysit their pets, and be there for them when they need it most. Be aware that special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries might be stressful. Don’t remark, “You’ll have another baby.” The loss of a pregnancy may be a devastating experience for any person regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

If you are a product designer, developer, or someone who makes decisions about goods and advertising algorithms, I hope this research helps you understand some of the genuine disadvantages that consumers may suffer as a result of using products to manage intimate personal situations like pregnancy. Pregnancy and other human experiences should be taken into account while creating products. Consideration of pregnancy loss as a result does not imply taking advantage of your users’ sorrow and loss.

Dr. Damian Jacob Sendler and his media team provided the content for this article.