National Rainbow Baby Day is celebrated every year on August 22. A rainbow baby is a term used for a child whose family has previously suffered through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, still birth, or other neonatal death. The day is about both honoring those lost and celebrating their angel siblings.
Importance of the Day
Pregnancies post miscarriage, especially, can cause intense feelings of guilt, anxiety and even dread. Problems with pregnancies are by no means new. However, National Rainbow Baby Day has only been a holiday since 2018. Fittingly, the holiday was established by the What The Fertility charity, founded by former television personality and anchor, Alexis DelChiaro.
In 2008, the term “rainbow baby” appeared in author Christie Brooks’ collection Our Heartbreaking Choices. The work is a collection of forty-six stories of women whose much-wanted pregnancies are interrupted. Further, the publishing of these stories aided in destigmatizing miscarriages in popular culture. Then, in 2015, a picture book, A Rainbow Baby Story, offered care and advice to rainbow baby families. Rainbow Baby Day became a national holiday to help parents feel less alone. Rainbow babies symbolize love, hope, and new beginnings. Moreover, they represent a gift that some parents never believed that they could get.
Celebrating National Rainbow Baby Day
Everyone has their own private ways of celebrating such an important day. Still, here are just a few ideas:
-Share the story of your personal journey
-Use “#NationalRainbowBabyDay” to find stories from other families
-Take some time to remember those we have lost. Whether it be through a miscarriage memorial or simply some quiet reflection time.
-Contribute to a pregnancy loss charity. This helps to remind those who struggle with infertility and miscarriage that they are not alone.
-Help spread awareness and continue to destigmatize these issues.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Sources: National Today; There is a Day for That; Undefining Motherhood
Image: AdobeStock
