Rainbow baby

{{Short description|Child born after previous miscarriage}}

{{use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}

A rainbow baby is a child born to a family that has previously lost one or more children due to stillbirth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, termination for medical reasons, or death during infancy.{{Cite web |title=Stillbirth |url=https://medlineplus.gov/stillbirth.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909061027/https://medlineplus.gov/stillbirth.html |archive-date=2024-09-09 |access-date=2020-10-29 |website=medlineplus.gov}} These subsequent pregnancies can bring "strong feelings of anxiety, guilt, and even fear" but also "immense joy, reflection, healing, and mixed emotions". The term "rainbow" is symbolic of the hope brought by the child after the emotional storm of the previous loss.{{Cite news |last=Kasprzak |first=Emma |date=23 February 2017 |title=Rainbow babies: The children bringing hope after loss |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38602473 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909060913/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-38602473 |archive-date=9 September 2024 |access-date=15 September 2019 |publisher=BBC News}}{{Cite web |title=Pregnancy after miscarriage: What you need to know - Mayo Clinic |url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/pregnancy-after-miscarriage/art-20044134?p=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909061028/https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/pregnancy-after-miscarriage/art-20044134?p=1 |archive-date=2024-09-09 |access-date=2020-10-29 |website=www.mayoclinic.org}}

Research conducted at the University of Michigan establishes that "parental relationships have a higher risk of dissolving after a miscarriage or stillbirth, compared with a live birth", and that the risk is highest for those couples who have experienced a stillbirth.{{Cite journal |last=Gold |first=Katherine J |last2=Sen |first2=Ananda |last3=Hayward |first3=Rodney A. |date=May 2010 |title=Marriage and Cohabitation Outcomes After Pregnancy Loss |journal=Pediatrics |volume=125 |issue=5 |pages=e1202–e1207 |doi=10.1542/peds.2009-3081 |pmc=2883880 |pmid=20368319}}

In the 21st century, such parents seeking to have another child often turn to online support groups for information and encouragement.{{Cite news |title='Rainbow Baby' Photo Captures Grieving Michigan Mom's Emotional Journey Following Miscarriage: 'Knowing I Wasn't Alone Helped' |url=https://people.com/celebrity/heartbreaking-rainbow-baby-photo-captures-joy-after-loss/amp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011170952/https://people.com/celebrity/heartbreaking-rainbow-baby-photo-captures-joy-after-loss/amp/ |archive-date=October 11, 2019 |access-date=September 14, 2019 |work=People}}

According to physician Jennifer Kulp-Makarov, "It is an extremely emotional and devastating experience to lose a pregnancy or baby. To create a life or bring a baby into the world after such a loss is amazing like a miracle for these parents."{{Cite news |last=Willets |first=Melissa |title=What It Means to Be a 'Rainbow Baby' and Why Rainbow Babies Are Beautiful: Parents and experts explain why rainbow babies, born after a stillbirth, or neonatal death, are something beautiful after a scary and dark experience. |url=https://www.parents.com/baby/what-it-means-to-be-a-rainbow-baby-and-why-rainbow-babies-are-beautiful |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909060912/https://www.parents.com/baby/what-it-means-to-be-a-rainbow-baby-and-why-rainbow-babies-are-beautiful/ |archive-date=September 9, 2024 |access-date=September 14, 2019 |work=Parents}}

Those interested in supporting such families have designated August 22 each year as "National Rainbow Baby Day".{{Cite news |last= |date=August 22, 2019 |title=Thursday is National Rainbow Baby Day |url=https://www.nbc15.com/content/news/Thursday-is-National-Rainbow-Baby-Day-557882681.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909060913/https://www.wmtv15news.com/content/news/Thursday-is-National-Rainbow-Baby-Day-557882681.html |archive-date=September 9, 2024 |access-date=September 14, 2019 |work=WMTV |location=Madison, Wisconsin}} Some professional photographers volunteer to take free photos of these babies.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Cierra |date=August 26, 2019 |title=Columbus photographer takes photos of rainbow babies free of charge |url=https://www.10tv.com/article/columbus-photographer-takes-photos-rainbow-babies-free-charge-2019-aug |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913203450/https://www.10tv.com/article/columbus-photographer-takes-photos-rainbow-babies-free-charge-2019-aug |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=September 14, 2019 |publisher=WBNS-TV |location=Columbus, Ohio}} In some cases, these are group photographs.{{Cite news |last=Kalsi |first=Dal |date=August 22, 2019 |title=Upstate mothers gather to celebrate Rainbow Baby Day with special photo |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/upstate-mothers-gather-to-celebrate-rainbow-baby-day-with-special/article_0eec08a0-c529-11e9-8967-9fb1ca4705c1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909060912/https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/ |archive-date=2024-09-09 |access-date=September 14, 2019 |publisher=WHNS}}{{Cite news |last=Ritschel |first=Chelsea |date=8 August 2019 |title=Mothers pose with their rainbow babies in emotional photo shoot |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rainbow-baby-photo-miscarriage-shoot-mother-pregnancy-a9047481.html |access-date=15 September 2019 |work=The Independent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809144413/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rainbow-baby-photo-miscarriage-shoot-mother-pregnancy-a9047481.html |archive-date=2019-08-09}}