What Is A Rainbow Baby?

A rainbow baby is a name given to a healthy baby born to parents who experienced a previous loss due to miscarriage, infant loss, stillbirth, or neonatal death. The term “rainbow baby” is derived from the idea of a rainbow appearing in the sky after a storm. In recent years, the name has gained popularity on blogs and social media and symbolises hope and healing.

Rainbow babies are also known as “miracle” babies due to the powerful impact they can have on helping parents heal after a pregnancy loss. However, rainbow pregnancies might also bring with them strong feelings of anxiety, guilt, and fear. Plus, grieving a loss while celebrating new life often accompany a rainbow birth. Read on to know more.

Pregnancy With A Rainbow Baby

When you are expecting a rainbow baby, there can be tides of ups and downs over those nine months:

1. Emotions during pregnancy: When pregnant with a rainbow baby, you might expect to feel a range of different emotions. It is common to feel hope, joy, and excitement at a certain moment and then anxiety, nervousness, and fear.

This contradictory experience can be because you might still be grieving your loss.

Research suggests that some parents also struggle with feelings of guilt during their rainbow pregnancy and worry at the same time as they feel that they aren’t honouring their lost child.

Some also experience intense feelings of worry or anxiety because they fear another miscarriage or stillbirth.

2. How to find support: It will be helpful if you can choose a doctor or midwife who knows your medical history as they might be able to understand your fears and triggers better.

You can also ask for an ultrasound during your checkups so that you can have a glimpse of your developing baby.

Try to surround yourself with your family members as they will try their best to comfort you. It is advisable to avoid conversations related to your previous pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage.

Joining a mum’s group like BabyChakra can also be a good idea.

Besides sharing positive posts, these groups will give you additional tips on pregnancy and parenting.

Managing Anxiety During Pregnancy With A Rainbow Baby

Here are some tips to manage anxiety during pregnancy with a rainbow baby:

• You should remember that this pregnancy isn’t the same as your last one. Just because you lost your baby in your previous pregnancy, it doesn’t mean that you’ll lose this one, too.
• Try to avoid stress in your life during this crucial time. You can speak with your partner and family members to help you manage the situation better.
• You can also talk to a therapist or a counsellor about your fears who can help you manage fears and anxiety by eliminating “what-if” scenarios.
• Yoga can be the best option as it is calming and will let you focus on the present without judgment. Research suggests that yoga improves depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Practice gratitude and try to think about what you’re grateful for. Such a practice will make you happier. Recognising all the good in your life, even outside of this new pregnancy, might lead to more satisfaction and help you get rid of anxiety and fear.

A rainbow baby is always special as the infant brings immense joy to parents after a difficult time. Even after safely delivering your rainbow baby, you can find ways to remember the baby you lost by eventually sharing your story with your little one as he/ she gets older. This will also let the child know how special he/ she is to you.