The brain (and tired human) behind What a Conception.

I’m a mom of three boys, including a set of identical twins, which means my life is loud, chaotic, and fueled by snacks, coffee, and a questionable amount of patience. If you’ve ever wondered how two genetically identical humans can behave like complete opposites, welcome — you’re among friends.

Professionally, I have a Master’s degree in Epidemiology (earned almost 10 years ago), and I’ve spent my career working in healthcare, public health, and social work. Translation: I’m deeply comfortable with data, research studies, and asking annoying-but-important questions like “Where did this information come from?” and “Does this actually apply to real people?”

That skill became especially useful during my pregnancies — particularly when I found out I was carrying identical twins. What followed was not the serene, glowing pregnancy of internet lore. I was sick. I was bedridden. I had IVs. I spent weeks in the hospital on bedrest. When your physical world shrinks to a hospital room, your brain tends to look for something to do — and mine chose chaos in the form of absorbing all available reproductive health information.

Studies. Guidelines. Medical jargon. Forums. Conflicting advice. I read everything. Constantly. Mostly because I needed answers, and partly because once you give an epidemiologist a question and time, there is no stopping the spiral.

What I learned was this: the information exists, but it’s scattered, overwhelming, and often explained in a way that makes you feel like you need a second degree just to understand your own body. That felt especially unfair during a time when stress was already high — and it’s something I couldn’t stop thinking about long after the IVs came out.

I grew up in New England but landed in the Midwest for grad school, and now I’m navigating life (with varying levels of grace) armed with a hoard of reproductive and maternal health knowledge, lived experience, and an almost compulsive ability to spot patterns. I understand the data, I understand the systems, and I understand what it feels like to be on the receiving end of too much information and not enough clarity.

What a Conception exists because I believe learning about your cycle, hormones, pregnancy, safe sleep, and even twins shouldn’t feel scary, judgmental, or impossible to decode. It should feel grounded, evidence-based, and human, with room for curiosity, nuance, and yes, a little humor.

I won’t diagnose you. I won’t promise miracles. But I will help you understand the forest, the trees, and why your body might be doing what it’s doing — because knowledge doesn’t solve everything, but it sure makes the journey easier to navigate.

And if we can’t make it easier, we can at least make it make sense.