Rainbow Baby On the Way

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rainbow image

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.”

This is one of my favorite quotes. Dolly Parton said this after enduring many hardships throughout her life. I’ve been thinking about it a lot since we found out that we have a “rainbow baby” on the way!

In case you’re not familiar with that term, a rainbow baby is a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or infant loss. We are nearly halfway through our rainbow pregnancy, and we are thrilled!

I had a miscarriage in the spring of 2016. It was heart-breaking, as all losses are.

My doctor gave me the go-ahead to try for another baby again as soon as I wanted, but we waited a little while. I had recovered physically, but I still needed more time to recover emotionally.

In November, I read the “positive” result on a pregnancy test we had been hoping for… on what would have been the other baby’s due date. What are the odds?

It was a bittersweet moment, but mostly sweet. While I will always mourn the loss of my second pregnancy, I will now focus my energy on being the best mommy I can be for my three-year-old and what will soon be a new baby boy or girl to join our family.

bump picI really like the term rainbow baby. I think it’s a good way to remember the lost, but also to celebrate the miracle that is life.

Expecting a rainbow baby is truly exciting. But, it can also be stressful.

I’m not sure I have ever been more anxious in all my life than I was during the first eight weeks of this pregnancy. My doctor and my friends had warned me of this, and they were right. Every time my daughter would jump up on me or I would drink even the faintest amount of caffeine (which I didn’t do much of in my first trimester), I was worried that this baby would go away, too. Hearing the heartbeat and seeing the healthy baby at the first appointment brought a wave of relief!

I still get nervous from time to time, but we’ve seen more snapshots of our little one and my belly has popped out in a BIG way. So, I’m just enjoying this like I did with my first successful pregnancy… and I’m enjoying a lot of carbs now that I no longer feel like throwing up constantly. Win! 

big sisterMy daughter has determined this baby is a girl, and she has named her “Poppy” like the character in the movie Trolls. She’s already planning slumber parties and picnics.

We feel incredibly blessed to be awaiting the arrival of our new bundle of joy. We’re all looking forward to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

Thanks for letting me share my story. Do you have any rainbows in your family?

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