Rainbow Care at Bedfordshire Hospitals
We know that if you have previously lost a baby, becoming pregnant again can be a very worrying time for you, your partner, and your family. This leaflet aims to answer your queries and reduce any worries you may have. It also explains the concept of Rainbow Care and how the team looking after you will support you through your pregnancy and delivery.
My Rainbow Baby
A ‘rainbow pregnancy’ is a term used to describe pregnancy after the loss of a baby through late miscarriage, stillbirth, or an early neonatal death. A rainbow is considered a symbol of beauty and tranquillity after a stormy and turbulent time. For many families, pregnancy following loss can be a time of happiness, hope and joy mixed with extreme anxiety and fear.
The Rainbow Clinic at Bedfordshire Hospitals is comprised of a Lead Consultant Obstetrician and Rainbow Specialist Midwife. Working in partnership with families, the bespoke clinic provides tailored care based on a sound understanding of enhanced medical, emotional and psychosocial need.
What happens next?
When attending the booking appointment with your Community Midwife, they will discuss the Rainbow Clinic with you and ask if you would like the additional support. A sticker will be offered to you to place on your maternity notes – this will ensure that when you see your midwife or attend the hospital, all staff can see that you have a Rainbow pregnancy.
The first appointment in Rainbow Clinic will usually be between 22-23 weeks gestation. This appointment is to meet together and discuss a plan of care for your pregnancy. Prior to this appointment, telephone support will be available by the Rainbow Specialist Midwife. All following appointments will be made according to your clinical and emotional need. We recognise that it may be very difficult to walk back into a maternity environment following the loss of a baby. We can support you with this prior to your appointments and can provide a walk around the labour ward if you feel this would help you.
Contact us
We fully understand that you may not feel ready to engage with this service at this moment in time, but we want you to know that it is available to you throughout your pregnancy and you can change your mind at any point.
Bedford Hospital
Please contact our Bereavement Midwife by mobile
07775221293 or telephone 01234 795703.
Available 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
For urgent queries, concerns about your pregnancy or your baby’s movements please call triage on 01234 792060.
Luton and Dunstable University Hospital
Please contact our Bereavement Midwife by mobile 07790564626.
Available 8am to 6:30pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8am to 4pm on Tuesday.
For urgent queries, concerns about your pregnancy, or your baby’s movements please call triage on 01582 329574.
Further information
Tommy’s is the largest UK pregnancy and baby loss charity. They have a specially designed leaflet on fetal movements: Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well.
Please scan the QR code below to access the leaflet or visit: www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/health-professionals/free-pregnancy-resources/leaflet-and-banner-feeling-your-baby-move-sign-they-are-well
