Publish date: 12 October 2023
North East hospital launches clinic to support families with rainbow babies
Northum
A rainbow baby is a baby born after miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth, or neonatal death. For many parents, a rainbow symbolises hope and light after a dark time.
Unfortunately, a substantial number of women accessing maternity care will have previously experienced this.
Inspirational parents, Dawn and Keith Tait have designed a logo for the clinic, incorporating the rainbow, to bring light to the future pregnancy journeys of other rainbow baby families.
Based at North Tyneside General Hospital, appointments will be offered biweekly from 23 weeks and will be attended by a bereavement lead consultant obstetrician, a bereavement midwife, and a sonographer, to provide specialist support and put together an individualised care plan.
Care via a dedicated rainbow clinic has been shown to improve the emotional and psychological wellbeing of families and reduce the need for extra hospital admissions.
Katy Lissaman, head of midwifery at Northumbria Healthcare said: “We are delighted to be able to offer extra support through our Northumbria Rainbow Clinic to parents whose previous babies have been stillborn or died shortly after birth.
“Pregnancy after loss can naturally be daunting. The Rainbow Clinic can help us to improve and personalise the care that women and birthing people receive during pregnancy and the early neonatal period.”
Jenny Gregory, a bereavement specialist midwife, said “The Rainbow Clinic will provide parents with specialist antenatal care and continuity of support during an emotional subsequent pregnancy.
“We want to support parents through the difficult and complex processes following a loss, such as investigation findings and funeral arrangements. We want to provide this in a setting that’s more appropriate for the needs of grieving parents.”
Jenny, alongside Nira Flanighan, have been in post as the trust’s bereavement specialist midwives since April 2023.
They support, care for, and guide bereaved families who come through the maternity services while ensuring the National Bereavement Care Pathway is embedded into the trust, so all families are receiving the same high standard of care.
This care begins at diagnosis and carries through until families return for subsequent pregnancies.
If you, or someone you know, needs support, contact our bereavement midwives at BereavementMidwives@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk.