Rainbow Clinic offers extra support to parents who have suffered a loss

Two new Rainbow Clinics at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Gwynedd Hospital, Wales, aim to reduce the anxiety experienced by parents-to-be who have had a late miscarriage, stillbirth or early neonatal death in a previous pregnancy. Bereaved parents can now access extra support when embarking on their ‘rainbow pregnancy’ following a previous loss.

Wrexham’s Rainbow Clinic is led by Dr Ruth Roberts, Consultant Obstetrician, and Lucy Dobbins, Bereavement Specialist Midwife. Lucy says: “Nothing can change the heart-breaking experience of losing a baby, but as a team we recognise that providing parents with a safe environment in which they will receive increased antenatal checks, continuity of care, consistent advice from one healthcare professional and open access to maternity services, can help to reduce anxiety and improve their overall mental wellbeing throughout this pregnancy.

“When parents go on to have another child after a loss, it is a highly stressful time and they’re full of anxiety, so a consistent high level of care and that extra specialised support can reduce their anxiety levels and improve their overall health and wellbeing.”

Parents can be referred to the clinic by their community midwife. In addition, anyone in the area who has had a stillbirth, a miscarriage in their second trimester or an early neonatal death in a previous pregnancy can contact the clinic directly.

Sarah Griffiths, Bereavement Specialist Midwife for Gwynedd Hospital, says: “We offer easy access to the Rainbow Clinics, so parents don’t have to wait to see their community midwife by their set appointment, if they feel anxious or concerned about any element, or just need some reassurance they can contact the clinic to come in for an antenatal check and a scan."

A third Rainbow Clinic will open at Glan Clwyd Hospital next year.