Rainbow Clinic: Creating a welcoming and comfortable space for families expecting their rainbow baby
Navigating a new pregnancy following a baby loss (also known as a rainbow pregnancy) can be an extremely difficult time for families. During a rainbow pregnancy, mums and their babies require careful monitoring as there can be an increased risk of complications, including repeat stillbirth, the baby being born prematurely, or having a low birth-weight.
However, Rainbow Clinics, delivered jointly by specialist midwives and obstetricians, have been shown to improve outcomes for parents and their babies.
Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital is a world-renowned maternity, women’s and neonatal care hospital with strong research links. As one of only two maternity hospitals in England rated outstanding , it has a midwife-led birth centre and specialist services for complex pregnancies, foetal and neonatal care. And this year, it introduced its new Rainbow Clinic.
With your help, we want to enhance the Hospital’s new Rainbow Clinic by creating a welcoming space for families where this vital service can take place in privacy and comfort.
Launching our Rainbow Clinic
Until this year, families expecting their rainbow baby at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital had to attend appointments with different teams on different days, meaning they had to go to and from hospital multiple times. We know this can cause more stress for families at an already difficult time.
These appointments took place in the antenatal and fetal medicine clinic, where families may have previously experienced baby loss. They also had to wait with other expectant mothers, meaning some may relive distressing memories.
This year, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital launched its new, dedicated Rainbow Clinic. This weekly service brings together different healthcare professionals in one consultation, removing the need for separate appointments.
Initial consultations involve an early pregnancy ultrasound scan, and planning care for the pregnancy with specialist midwives and foetal medicine consultants. Specialists such as genetic counsellors, preterm birth specialists and obstetric medicine physicians are also on-hand for individual consultations and personalised birth planning.
This new Rainbow Clinic will make a huge difference for parents, improving the continuity of their care and giving them access to a holistic service that will support them with their ongoing needs throughout their rainbow pregnancy.
Donate nowTo support families navigating pregnancy after baby loss, we want to create a welcoming and comfortable space for this dedicated new clinic. This new weekly clinic will be situated away from the general antenatal clinic so that parents of rainbow babies have more privacy at a sensitive time.
- A state-of-the-art ultrasound scanning device and medical probes.
- Enhancements to the clinic room with artwork and new furniture.
- A new display with relevant and up-to-date health information for families.
We would be hugely grateful if you would consider supporting our Rainbow Clinic room, so that we can be there for parents navigating pregnancy after baby loss.
Our goal is to raise £48,000 for the new Rainbow Clinic – and we cannot achieve this without your generous support. Please consider giving what you can to make a difference to growing families.
Donate to our Rainbow Clinic Appeal now.
Above: Aminta, pregnant with her rainbow baby and the first mother to use the new Rainbow Clinic services at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital.
Thank you
We are incredibly grateful for your previous support of our Poppy’s Fund.
Should you be interested in meeting with any of the staff at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital so that you can hear more about the impact that your support could make, please let us know.
Thank you for your support.
Donate nowIf you would like to discuss our appeal or making your donation you can contact our Fundraising team via: [email protected] or call us on 020 3640 7766.