When Fertility Becomes a Mindset: The Lauryn Bosstick Controversy — 13
Why "just think positively" is the last kind of fertility advice any of us needs.
There’s a growing trend in the wellness world: treating fertility like a mindset.
That if you believe hard enough, align your energy just right, or stay really positive, your body will follow suit. That pregnancy is a reward for those who manifest it.
And last week, Lauryn Bosstick—the influencer and podcast host behind The Skinny Confidential—doubled down on that idea.
In a now-viral clip from her show, Lauryn shared that she got pregnant on the first try with all three of her children. Then, she went further: saying she believes “people are scared” to talk about positive fertility experiences because the world is too focused on “fearful” stories. She positioned her own story as empowering, suggesting that others need to stop letting “negative energy” dominate the narrative around conception and birth.
We included this story in last week’s newsletter—but we’re not done talking about it. Because in the days since, the reaction from our community has only grown louder. And more frustrated. And more hurt.
To some, it may have sounded harmless. Even uplifting. But to those of us in the fertility and loss community, it landed like a slap.
Because here’s the truth:
When you imply that mindset is the reason some people get pregnant and others don’t, you’re not just being optimistic. You’re erasing reality. You’re suggesting that the problem is how we think—not the fact that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss, or that millions of people need medical intervention to conceive, or that racism, ableism, and economic inequality are baked into the reproductive system.
You're not empowering us—you’re blaming us.
And more often than not, the people making these statements aren’t facing the same stakes. They’re not navigating miscarriage after miscarriage. They’re not mortgaging their future for another round of IVF. They’re not being told by a doctor that they “waited too long.” They’re not being criminalized for a pregnancy that ended in heartbreak.
They’re speaking from a position of extreme privilege—and packaging it as empowerment.
At Miscarriage Movement, we believe there’s space for every story.
The ones that end in healthy babies. The ones that don’t. The ones still being written.
But that space has to be built on truth, not toxic positivity. It has to make room for pain, for science, for complexity—and for those who are still in it, month after month, test after test, trying not to fall apart.
This Week’s Top News Stories:
Texas Hospital Found in Violation Over Denied Pregnancy Care
A federal investigation has concluded that Ascension Seton Williamson hospital in Round Rock, Texas, violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) by discharging a woman with a life-threatening, nonviable pregnancy without providing appropriate care. The woman, Kyleigh Thurman, suffered severe health consequences, including the loss of part of her reproductive system, after being sent home multiple times despite bleeding and pain. This case highlights the ongoing challenges and legal complexities surrounding reproductive healthcare access in the post-Roe era. (Read more)
West Virginia's Miscarriage Law Raises Legal Concerns
Legal experts are raising alarms over West Virginia's Unborn Child Protection Act, enacted in 2022, which could lead to the prosecution of women who miscarry, depending on how they handle fetal remains. The law's broad language and lack of clear guidelines have created uncertainty, potentially deterring individuals from seeking necessary medical care during pregnancy complications. This development underscores the complex implications of restrictive abortion legislation on women's health and legal standing. (Read more)
Weight-Loss Drugs Like Ozempic May Impact Fertility
GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, widely used for weight loss, may have complex effects on fertility in both men and women. Registered dietitian Ayla Barmmer reports that approximately 15% of her patients on GLP-1s have experienced fertility challenges, including disrupted menstrual cycles, delayed ovulation, and reduced sperm quality, often linked to rapid weight loss and nutrient deficiencies. Conversely, some women, particularly those with conditions like PCOS, have seen improved fertility due to enhanced insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation. Barmmer emphasizes the importance of working with a fertility-focused dietitian, monitoring nutrient levels, and considering tapering off GLP-1s at least eight weeks before attempting conception. (Read more)
Mild COVID-19 Infections May Affect Male Fertility
A recent study from China Medical University raises concerns about the impact of mild Omicron COVID-19 infections on male fertility. The research, involving over 600 men undergoing fertility treatment, found that those infected with the Omicron variant exhibited significantly lower sperm quality within a month after recovery. Specifically, 58% had reduced sperm count, 69% experienced poorer sperm motility, and 71% showed a decline in high-quality sperm. Additionally, 75% demonstrated sperm DNA damage, which could influence pregnancy outcomes and increase miscarriage risks. These findings suggest that even mild COVID-19 infections may have temporary effects on male reproductive health. (Read more)
Elizabeth Day Reflects on 12-Year Fertility Journey
British author and podcast host Elizabeth Day has opened up about her 12-year struggle with infertility, which included multiple fertility treatments and miscarriages. Diagnosed with "unexplained infertility" and a bicornuate uterus, Day ultimately did not have biological children. Over time, she reframed her experience, finding fulfillment in other forms of caregiving, including being a stepmother and godmother. Her journey highlights the importance of self-compassion and redefining traditional notions of motherhood. (Read more)
Must-Read Story of the Week
Dr. Jessica Zucker on Shame, Storytelling & the Power of Speaking the Unspeakable
Before miscarriage was a trending topic on social media, Dr. Jessica Zucker was already naming the pain—and challenging the silence. A clinical psychologist specializing in reproductive and maternal mental health, Zucker turned her own second-trimester loss into a cultural movement. Her viral 2014 essay in The New York Times birthed #IHadaMiscarriage, a global rallying cry for parents grieving in the shadows.
In this conversation, Zucker reflects on her latest book, Normalize It, which explores shame, silence, and the cultural scripts that teach women to mute their grief. From reframing the language we use (“miscarriage” still carries blame) to dismantling the well-meaning phrases that wound (“at least you know you can get pregnant”), Zucker brings compassion, clarity, and clinical expertise to the messy terrain of loss.
Whether you’re deep in grief, trying to find your voice, or simply exhausted by the pressure to move on, her words are both a balm and a battle cry. Because when we speak the unspeakable, we don’t just heal individually—we begin to shift the culture.
If this week’s newsletter brought up frustration, anger, or even that old familiar ache of being misunderstood—you’re not overreacting. You’re responding to a world that still doesn’t know how to hold space for grief. That tells us to “just think positive” when what we really need is truth, care, and context.
Your pain is not negative energy.
Your story is not too heavy.
Your experience is not inconvenient.
It’s real. It’s worthy. And it belongs here.
We’re not here to police how anyone shares their story—but we are here to protect the ones that so often get left out of the narrative. Because every time you speak up—or simply survive another day—you’re doing something radical.
We see you. We’re with you. And we’ll keep telling the truth alongside you.
—Miscarriage Movement