Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
@larafreidenfelds.bsky.social
Historian of Reproduction, Health, and Parenting in America www.larafreidenfelds.com
Current research on history of complicated pregnancies
book: The Myth of the Perfect Pregnancy: A History of Miscarriage in America
Regular contributor @ Nursing Clio
Current research on history of complicated pregnancies
book: The Myth of the Perfect Pregnancy: A History of Miscarriage in America
Regular contributor @ Nursing Clio
It drives me nuts when reporters let Leah Libresco Sargeant call herself a feminist and don't question it. Would you call the Pope a feminist? No? Then neither is Sargeant.
November 9, 2025 at 1:01 PM
It drives me nuts when reporters let Leah Libresco Sargeant call herself a feminist and don't question it. Would you call the Pope a feminist? No? Then neither is Sargeant.
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
"Spears and Geruso persuasively argue that a big reduction in world population will not actually solve the problems many of us imagine they will solve... Too many commentators are hoping that a shrinking population will naturally put less pressure on the environment."
Why should conservatives "own" the arguments for bigger families and demographic stability? Here I review After the Spike: Progress, Population, and the Case for People: nursingclio.org/2025/10/08/a...
@mikegeruso.bsky.social
@mikegeruso.bsky.social
After the Spike: A Liberal Argument for More Babies
“The Spike” – that is what demographer-economists Dean Spears and Michael Geruso call the dramatic rise in the world population in the recent past, and the equally dramatic population decline proje…
nursingclio.org
October 14, 2025 at 7:44 PM
"Spears and Geruso persuasively argue that a big reduction in world population will not actually solve the problems many of us imagine they will solve... Too many commentators are hoping that a shrinking population will naturally put less pressure on the environment."
Why should conservatives "own" the arguments for bigger families and demographic stability? Here I review After the Spike: Progress, Population, and the Case for People: nursingclio.org/2025/10/08/a...
@mikegeruso.bsky.social
@mikegeruso.bsky.social
After the Spike: A Liberal Argument for More Babies
“The Spike” – that is what demographer-economists Dean Spears and Michael Geruso call the dramatic rise in the world population in the recent past, and the equally dramatic population decline proje…
nursingclio.org
October 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Why should conservatives "own" the arguments for bigger families and demographic stability? Here I review After the Spike: Progress, Population, and the Case for People: nursingclio.org/2025/10/08/a...
@mikegeruso.bsky.social
@mikegeruso.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
The free speech activist who built a list of professors he worked to get fired for their speech must be celebrated for his support of free speech, and anyone who quotes his speech accurately in context will be fired and/or face state punishment by the champions of free speech, do I have that right?
September 15, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The free speech activist who built a list of professors he worked to get fired for their speech must be celebrated for his support of free speech, and anyone who quotes his speech accurately in context will be fired and/or face state punishment by the champions of free speech, do I have that right?
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
If the right *truly* believed Charlie Kirk was a defender of free speech and someone who was fine with dissenting opinions, they wouldn't be engaged in a massive campaign to punish anyone who didn't "mourn him properly."
They clearly know all of that is bullshit. Only the media was conned.
They clearly know all of that is bullshit. Only the media was conned.
September 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
If the right *truly* believed Charlie Kirk was a defender of free speech and someone who was fine with dissenting opinions, they wouldn't be engaged in a massive campaign to punish anyone who didn't "mourn him properly."
They clearly know all of that is bullshit. Only the media was conned.
They clearly know all of that is bullshit. Only the media was conned.
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
Today's article pick from Damn History, a free monthly newsletter for readers/writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to writer @larafreidenfelds.bsky.social & @nursingclio.bsky.social!
Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe
nursingclio.org/2025/08/20/m...
Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe
nursingclio.org/2025/08/20/m...
Miscarriage is a Crime Again
In 1650, a young, single English servant named Anne Greene miscarried into the privy and did not tell anyone. We know her story because she was arrested for infanticide, convicted despite exonerati…
nursingclio.org
September 4, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Today's article pick from Damn History, a free monthly newsletter for readers/writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to writer @larafreidenfelds.bsky.social & @nursingclio.bsky.social!
Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe
nursingclio.org/2025/08/20/m...
Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe
nursingclio.org/2025/08/20/m...
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
This week @larafreidenfelds.bsky.social argues that in a post Roe vs Wade world “Women who lose pregnancies, even before viability, are targeted in ways that strongly resemble early modern infanticide investigations.” nursingclio.org/2025/08/20/m...
Miscarriage is a Crime Again
In 1650, a young, single English servant named Anne Greene miscarried into the privy and did not tell anyone. We know her story because she was arrested for infanticide, convicted despite exonerati…
nursingclio.org
August 22, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This week @larafreidenfelds.bsky.social argues that in a post Roe vs Wade world “Women who lose pregnancies, even before viability, are targeted in ways that strongly resemble early modern infanticide investigations.” nursingclio.org/2025/08/20/m...
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
We are so excited to have @larafreidenfelds.bsky.social back writing with us! Lara is one of our new writers-in-residence. She will be publishing a series of articles over the next year for NC.
August 22, 2025 at 1:17 AM
We are so excited to have @larafreidenfelds.bsky.social back writing with us! Lara is one of our new writers-in-residence. She will be publishing a series of articles over the next year for NC.
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
Such an important piece. Thank you, @larafreidenfelds.bsky.social.
August 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Such an important piece. Thank you, @larafreidenfelds.bsky.social.
Laws and rules about "bereavement" for miscarriages are problematic b/c people have a variety of emotional responses to pregnancy loss. Care for women, but don't force them to call it "bereavement." www.cnn.com/2021/04/07/o...
Opinion: The problem with ‘bereavement’ leave after pregnancy loss | CNN
New Zealand’s designation of paid leave following pregnancy loss is a welcome development for all who care about workers’ well-being and workplace equity, says historian Lara Freidenfelds. But such po...
www.cnn.com
June 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Laws and rules about "bereavement" for miscarriages are problematic b/c people have a variety of emotional responses to pregnancy loss. Care for women, but don't force them to call it "bereavement." www.cnn.com/2021/04/07/o...
The NIH just cancelled funding for research on how menopause affects the brain and can make it more vulnerable to Alzheimer's. Because Trump's people think it's unfair to study "women's health." Maybe we really do need to be talking about "menstruating people" and "pregnant people," since
June 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The NIH just cancelled funding for research on how menopause affects the brain and can make it more vulnerable to Alzheimer's. Because Trump's people think it's unfair to study "women's health." Maybe we really do need to be talking about "menstruating people" and "pregnant people," since
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
"You read books, eh?" A 1949 red scare Herblock cartoon about pressures on teachers that hits hard once again.
May 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
"You read books, eh?" A 1949 red scare Herblock cartoon about pressures on teachers that hits hard once again.
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
Working out of the Mobile Studio today. Got a new drummer. She’s young, but she’s solid 🥁😉
May 9, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Working out of the Mobile Studio today. Got a new drummer. She’s young, but she’s solid 🥁😉
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
I’m proud to join the great Cyndi Lauper in the fight for women’s rights & healthcare. Go to www.bonfire.com/girlswantrights2025 to get a shirt and learn more about the #GirlsJustWantToHaveFundamentalRights Fund. @tidescommunity.bsky.social
May 1, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I’m proud to join the great Cyndi Lauper in the fight for women’s rights & healthcare. Go to www.bonfire.com/girlswantrights2025 to get a shirt and learn more about the #GirlsJustWantToHaveFundamentalRights Fund. @tidescommunity.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
The final honor guard for Pope Francis included migrants, prisoners, transgender people, the homeless and others selected by the Vicariate of Rome as a symbol of the late pope’s mission of inclusion and outreach.
Read more from the funeral: wapo.st/3YdDGqM
Read more from the funeral: wapo.st/3YdDGqM
April 26, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The final honor guard for Pope Francis included migrants, prisoners, transgender people, the homeless and others selected by the Vicariate of Rome as a symbol of the late pope’s mission of inclusion and outreach.
Read more from the funeral: wapo.st/3YdDGqM
Read more from the funeral: wapo.st/3YdDGqM
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
New song. Godspeed? Angels In The Ashes? Feeling a little rusty, but wanted to share.🤘🏻💙
April 22, 2025 at 11:42 AM
New song. Godspeed? Angels In The Ashes? Feeling a little rusty, but wanted to share.🤘🏻💙
"The historian Lara Freidenfelds made a similar argument in her excellent book, The Myth of the Perfect Pregnancy... The process of creating new life is fragile, and reversible; it can be heartbreaking to attach so much meaning and hope to something so tenuous." www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Erin Maglaque · Frog-Free: Conception Stories
I can take a home pregnancy test only eight days after ovulation and discover that I have conceived, the wondering...
www.lrb.co.uk
April 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
"The historian Lara Freidenfelds made a similar argument in her excellent book, The Myth of the Perfect Pregnancy... The process of creating new life is fragile, and reversible; it can be heartbreaking to attach so much meaning and hope to something so tenuous." www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
My NEH grant was terminated in service of a new focus on “patriotic programming,” but as an American and an Americanist, I know that resisting this dangerous decision and the broader movement of which it is a part is my patriotic duty.
Wrote abt it @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Wrote abt it @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/1936...
April 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM
My NEH grant was terminated in service of a new focus on “patriotic programming,” but as an American and an Americanist, I know that resisting this dangerous decision and the broader movement of which it is a part is my patriotic duty.
Wrote abt it @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Wrote abt it @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
You know who’s a really effective messenger? Somebody who’s cleaned up their partner’s miscarriage before. Tell THOSE stories. Bring it home.
I definitely have had the “y’all men need to talk to each other” talk with the BF about *waves arms* a lot of this
April 3, 2025 at 12:23 AM
You know who’s a really effective messenger? Somebody who’s cleaned up their partner’s miscarriage before. Tell THOSE stories. Bring it home.
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
Yeah? Which parts would you like to hear about?
Mopping up the blood that I found her unconscious in, with our bath towels?
Or cleaning up the other bodily fluids after she fell off the toilet & almost bled to death? 💔
Mopping up the blood that I found her unconscious in, with our bath towels?
Or cleaning up the other bodily fluids after she fell off the toilet & almost bled to death? 💔
You know who’s a really effective messenger? Somebody who’s cleaned up their partner’s miscarriage before. Tell THOSE stories. Bring it home.
I definitely have had the “y’all men need to talk to each other” talk with the BF about *waves arms* a lot of this
April 3, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Yeah? Which parts would you like to hear about?
Mopping up the blood that I found her unconscious in, with our bath towels?
Or cleaning up the other bodily fluids after she fell off the toilet & almost bled to death? 💔
Mopping up the blood that I found her unconscious in, with our bath towels?
Or cleaning up the other bodily fluids after she fell off the toilet & almost bled to death? 💔
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
Thrilled to announced that @dsc250.bsky.social & my latest, "From Medical Exceptions to Reproductive Freedom" was just accepted by Michigan Law Review!! papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Thread on the paper below:
Thread on the paper below:
From Medical Exceptions to Reproductive Freedom
The intense focus on pregnancy complications since the Supreme Court overruled <i>Roe v. Wade </i>has created some risks. Highlighting sympathetic abortion stor
papers.ssrn.com
February 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Thrilled to announced that @dsc250.bsky.social & my latest, "From Medical Exceptions to Reproductive Freedom" was just accepted by Michigan Law Review!! papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Thread on the paper below:
Thread on the paper below:
Reposted by Dr. Lara Freidenfelds
Check out the podcast below from my friend, @ryanhamilton.bsky.social, where we talk about how abortion bans are unconscionably vague, leading to significant harms on all aspects of reproductive healthcare, including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, etc.
April 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Check out the podcast below from my friend, @ryanhamilton.bsky.social, where we talk about how abortion bans are unconscionably vague, leading to significant harms on all aspects of reproductive healthcare, including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, etc.