Rainbow Baby Day: Information, Resources & Support
Today is Rainbow Baby Day. Celebrated every year on the 22nd August, it’s a day to celebrate the babies who come after pregnancy or infant loss and honor the journey you’ve been on as a family. We’re sharing information and resources to support you & celebrate Rainbow Baby Day.
What is a “Rainbow Baby”?
A “Rainbow Baby” is a baby lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. After the loss of a baby during pregnancy or infancy, the innocence of pregnancy is gone. Pregnancies that come next are often filled with worry and they’re a totally different experience. “Rainbow Baby” is used to communicate the news & capture the emotions that come along with having a baby after a loss.
“After every storm, there is a rainbow”
Not everyone uses the term Rainbow Baby to refer to their baby after loss, and that’s ok. It’s not right for everyone.
What is Rainbow Baby Day?
Nothing can replace the baby that was lost or take away the pain, but Rainbow Baby Day is a day to celebrate the babies who come next & celebrate where you are now.
The awareness day was founded by What the Fertility founder Alexis Delchiaro. Alexis and her husband struggled with infertility and pregnancy themselves, welcoming a son Grant via adoption & daughter Gianna via pregnancy just a few months later. Alexis founded Rainbow Baby Day on her daughter’s birthday in 2018 to honor and celebrate her family’s journey and her living children.
How is Rainbow Baby Day celebrated?
We’ve got some ways you might want to celebrate Rainbow Baby Day below, but remember that these might not be right for you — your journey is unique and personal to you, so do whatever you feel comfortable with.
Share your story on social media. If you feel comfortable, try sharing your story on social media to bring awareness to pregnancy loss & rainbow babies. Sharing stories can also help you and other people in the community feel like they’re not alone. Use #RainbowBabyDay!
Share your story with your Rainbow Baby (or babies!). Make it a tradition to sit down and talk about your journey each year on Rainbow Baby Day — it can be a real bonding experience to share where your babies came from! Here’s an amazing list of books you can read to your youngsters about pregnancy after loss.
Spend the day as a family. Have a celebration with your family and children - this could be a picnic in the back garden! But just take the day to appreciate where you are and take it all in — you deserve it, mama. Take some family photos whilst you’re all dressed up together!
Resources & support
Support with pregnancy after loss:
Pregnancy After Loss Support — PALS supports mamas through connection with peers, awareness in the community, education of providers, and advocacy around the world.
Tommy’s — A UK pregnancy charity working to make pregnancy and birth safer. They have this great article about coping with anxiety during a pregnancy after loss.
Miscarriage & baby loss support:
In the US:
Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support has over 75 chapters in 29 states supporting anyone impacted by a loss
Resources and services such as bed-side companions, phone support, training for caregivers, support groups, and more
Star Legacy Foundation is dedicated to reducing pregnancy loss and newborn death and improving support and care for loved ones
Offering a national telephone support line, peer support, support groups, recommended reads, and more
For more support groups specific to your experience, you can check out this page here.
In the UK:
Teddy’s Wish is a charity supporting parents and families affected by stillbirth, SIDS, or neonatal death
Receive free care packages and mental health counseling
Miscarriage Association offers support and information for anyone affected by miscarriage, molar pregnancy, or ectopic pregnancy
Offers a live chat, call helpline, email service, and online support
Find more UK support here.
Globally:
International Stillbirth Alliance, or ISA, is a combination of groups and organizations bringing awareness to stillbirth and advocating for research
Various support resources for parents and families, as well as information about current stillbirth research
Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support, or SANDS, is a UK-based charity with chapters around the world supporting anyone affected by stillbirth or newborn loss
Provides information on local support groups and advocacy