Babies that are born after a miscarriage are often called miracle babies or rainbow babies. These babies come after a period of sadness and pain for the mother. They symbolise hope and happiness after a dark and stormy time. Something that only women who have gone through a pregnancy loss know about. Losing a child can take a physical and emotional toll on the mother. The journey it takes to be brave enough to try for another baby can be an uphill climb. Just like their rainbow babies, rainbow mums are just as aptly named. Because just like a rainbow, they represent hope for all the other mums out there who have suffered a pregnancy loss. Your dream of becoming a mother is not over. Here are some reasons why you should honour the rainbow mums in your lives.
The Physical Side Effects of Pregnancy Loss
There are so many reasons why a woman can miscarry; diet, age, stress and even abnormal uterine anatomy. But regardless of the cause, a miscarriage can take a physical toll on a woman’s body; even if the baby hasn’t fully formed yet. If the pregnancy is less than 10 weeks, there may be less pain and downtime. But if its longer than that, then there may be a higher risk of a missed or incomplete miscarriage. This will usually require a surgical procedure (D&C) to remove the dead foetal tissue to prevent infections and bleeding.
Even before the removal, a miscarriage will result in several unpleasant side effects like bleeding, cramps, fever, back pain, weight loss and weakness. These are all signs that the pregnancy was unsuccessful. While a first trimester miscarriage can be difficulty, a second or third trimester miscarriage can be much, much more devastating.
The baby will usually already be fully formed at this stage, with distinct features and functioning organs. If the foetus does not survive, the mum will still have to go through childbirth and deliver the baby as a stillborn. This can leave a deeper emotional scar on the mother.
Such are the trials and tribulations that a rainbow mum has to go through before having another baby.
The Emotional Pains of Losing a Baby
Some women bounce back instantly after a miscarriage, others go through a devastating bout of depression. Moreover, due to certain irreversible health reasons some mothers who miscarry may be unable to get pregnant again. Even those who have healed and are viable for second pregnancy may not necessarily want to get pregnant again so soon or at all. They may still be processing the trauma of getting pregnant again as well as dealing with negative feelings of self-blame, guilt, and even resentment.
Miscarriages can also affect relationships; they can either make or break a marriage. Some couples come out the other side stronger than ever, ready to try again. Unfortunately, many also will call it quits from the mental and emotional strain of dealing with a pregnancy loss. This is especially true if a woman experiences recurring miscarriages as a result of a medical or health condition.
If you know someone who has recently miscarried, offer your emotional support. It is important that they recover not only physically but mentally as well.
Sunshine After the Storm
Many women are able to get pregnant again after a miscarriage. So, there are actually more rainbow mums and babies than you may think. However, getting a second baby after a devastating miscarriage may have more meaning and significance to some women more than others. A traumatic late miscarriage can leave a woman wounded for months and years. So getting a second chance at motherhood can be the single happiest occasion in a woman’s life. A rainbow baby is just as their name suggests, they bring hope and promise after a stormy, rainy day. But a rainbow mum is equally as special. They show us that a woman’s body is a miracle in itself, how resilient and strong it is. How it is able to heal and to continue creating life even after being put through so much. And that is something that is worth celebrating.
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