Pregnancy service for bereaved mothers relaunched

The relaunch coincides with Baby Loss Awareness Week, which will also see Noble’s Hospital illuminated blue and pink

A service providing additional support for pregnant women who have previously lost a baby has been reinstated, Manx Care has confirmed.

Run by the Jane Crookall Maternity Unit, the Rainbow Care Service was originally started in 2021 but was paused due to a shortage of staff to deal with the referrals.

The relaunch of the service, which coincides with Baby Loss Awareness Week, will see midwives join expectant mothers at antenatal appointments.

Lead midwife for bereavement Dianne Rubery said losing a child was "extremely difficult" and it was "natural for those who have fallen pregnant again to be apprehensive".

Ms Rubery, who will head the service alongside up to four midwives, said the appointments were designed to cover "anything people are worried about in their current pregnancy".

That included "monitoring the baby’s movement, discussing tests, scans and answering any questions parents may have", she added.

Extra time

The title of the service is taken from the term "rainbow baby", which is used to describe a baby born to parents who have previously lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death.

The health care provider said the aim of the services was to give those affected "extra time and support throughout their pregnancy" and a "named contact for them to connect with".

There were "now enough staff to facilitate" the service and it had been "recognised that expectant mothers need support", it added.

To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, which runs until 15 October, the entrance to Noble’s Hospital will be illuminated blue and pink and bereavement information for those affected by baby loss will be available in the foyer.