RAINBOW WELCOME
Hello, mothers! I hope you are all doing well and feeling the love of Jesus. Have you had a chance to read the previous post, "The Charity-Grace Story"? If not, I recommend going back and catching up. For those of you who are returning readers, thank you for coming back. Now, let's get started!
Do Not Be Afraid Of The Rainbow
A Rainbow Baby is a term used to describe a healthy baby that is born after the loss of a previous baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, or neonatal death. The term "rainbow" symbolizes hope and beauty after a storm or a dark time.
To be honest, I was not aware of the term "Rainbow Baby" until I had my own. Personally, I prefer the term "Promise Baby," and I will explain why in a following post. As a NICU parent, I met some parents who had Rainbow Babies, and others that were still hoping for one after the loss of their child. However, I was not one of the hopeful ones. After my beloved Charity-Grace departed from this world, I was too scared to get pregnant again.
My fear stemmed from various reasons, including not wanting to experience the trauma of losing another baby, not wanting another child to suffer the pain that Charity-Grace did, and having to go through the same ordeal again. The experience of unexpected preterm labor, an emergency C-section, becoming a NICU parent for the first time, not being able to bond with my child, watching her in pain, seeing her struggle to eat due to kidney failure, undergoing surgery, witnessing her go through multiple resuscitations, watching her body blown up, bruised, and literally ripping apart, was more than enough to make me not want to be pregnant again. I was allowing my fear to control me.
After taking time to heal, find peace, and step back into a state of grace, I received a Word from Heaven four months later. My Heavenly Father sent me a message that He would send me another seed. Hearing these words from God filled me with joy and hope. Just two weeks later, I discovered that I was pregnant! I am so grateful to God for delivering me from the fear that had prevented me from having another child before receiving His promise of sending me another one. It is a testament to the faithfulness of the God we serve.
If you have lost a child due to a miscarriage, infant loss, or neonatal death, it is important to take the time to grieve and process your emotions. Remember that your child, who is now in Heaven, has left a precious imprint on your heart that can never be erased. Use your experience to gain knowledge and wisdom, and take whatever steps you can to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.
Most importantly, continue to live as a mother or father. Your child may not be physically present, but they will always be a part of you. Cherish the memories that you have of them and find comfort in knowing that they are at peace. Know that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and take all the time you need to heal. With time, you will learn to carry the love and memories of your child with you always.
Before a rainbow can appear, there is often a storm or a difficult and unsettled time. During such times, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and tossed back and forth by the winds of change. However, it is important to find peace within the midst of the storm and hold on to hope for the best.
Even if things do not turn out as you had hoped, rest in the knowledge that this too shall pass, and a new day will come. Take one step at a time, and keep moving forward. Remember that storms do not last forever, and soon enough, you will see the rainbow on the horizon. Hold on to the hope and the promise of better days ahead.
Having a "Sunshine," "Angel," or "Rainbow" baby after experiencing the loss of a child can understandably be a fearful experience. However, it is important to shake off that fear and step into hope. Living in fear can dry up the bones but choosing to live in hope can bring forth a fresh breath of life,
If you are planning to become pregnant again, it is important to be in the best possible shape, both outwardly and inwardly. Take the time to prepare yourself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically for the journey ahead. Seek support from loved ones and professionals if needed, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Remember that you are not alone in this experience, and that many other parents have successfully gone on to have healthy pregnancies and babies after experiencing loss.
KNOW THIS: Take heart and step into hope, knowing that the journey may not be easy, but the end result can be a beautiful miracle. Hold on to the promise of new life, and believe that with God, brighter days are ahead.
