Marking National Rainbow Baby Day as we await our second little arrival

A year ago today I learned that August 22 was National Rainbow Baby Day, a day that recognises babies born after the loss of a child. It’s a term that speaks of hope and promise for the future.

As I wrote a blog post about it back then, before putting my little rainbow baby to bed, I didn’t for a moment imagine that a year later I’d be expecting a second rainbow baby.

Back then we were beginning to consider the idea of trying to give Charlotte a sibling to grow up with. But having faced the prolonged journey we faced to have her, we never imagined we would conceive so quickly once, let alone twice within five months.

When we thought about the prospect of giving Charlotte a sibling, we hoped she would be a loving, caring big sister. Seeing her now as she strokes my tiny bump and lovingly says “hiya baby” we have no doubt that that’s exactly the kind of sister she is destined to be, and we continue to pray that this little baby will continue to grow healthily so that in a few short months we can see the love and joy on Charlotte’s face as she actually holds her little brother or sister for the first time – our two beautiful rainbow babies.

A rainbow baby is never a replacement for a sibling who has gone before, and nor could it ever be. Each child, whether they’ve lived an earthly life or not, is precious in their own right. And a rainbow baby is never guaranteed.

But when they come along, they bring with them a fresh sense of hope and joy that gives a different perspective to the grief of losing their siblings.

Our intention is that Charlotte, and her brother or sister when the time comes, will always know about Lentil and Pip, the two siblings they will never get to meet on Earth. Our greater hope is that we will one day be reunited with all four of them in Heaven. Until then, we pray that all four of our babies, in their own way, will have no doubt about how loved and precious they are both to us and to God.