According to March of Dimes, between 10 and 15 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage [1] and the CDC notes that 24,000 babies are born stillborn [2] every year in the US. After navigating this type of indescribable grief, the process of trying to conceive again can be especially arduous and emotional. For parents who do become pregnant again, the experience can feel bittersweet. The term "rainbow baby" has been used to symbolize the light after a storm, the joy of welcoming a baby after the pain of losing a pregnancy or a child.
Some celebrity moms have opened up about their rainbow baby journeys on social media in hopes of supporting parents who are struggling with infertility and loss. Scroll ahead to read their touching posts.
Shawn Johnson
After experiencing a devastating miscarriage in 2017, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson waited 16 weeks to announce she was pregnant with her daughter, Hazel, in 2019.
She opened up about the experience in an emotional Instagram post [4] at the time, writing: "2 years ago today our world was turned upside down when we lost our first pregnancy... 2 years later we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our rainbow baby. Baby East, we can't wait to meet you and pray for your safe delivery and arrival into our arms. @andrewdeast thank you for being my rock through it all. You're going to be the greatest daddy ever."
Beverley Mitchell
7th Heaven alum Beverley Mitchell opened up about pregnancy loss via Instagram [5] in March 2020.
"We finally got our gold at the end of the rainbow!!!! We are pregnant with our rainbow baby!" she captioned the post. "The road hasn't always been easy but it is so worth it! It has been far but scarier this time around but just got a great checkup so we are feeling lucky!"
In July, she welcomed her third child, Mayzel Josephine [6], with open arms. "She has captured our hearts and we couldn't love her more!" she captioned the birth announcement. "We are over the moon and soaking up so the cuddles and showering her with kisses!"
Jamie Otis
On Oct. 8, 2020, Jamie shared two touching throwback photos from when she and her husband, Doug, found out she was pregnant with their son [7], Hendrix.
"I'll never forget this day bc we had been trying for our rainbow baby for what seemed like a lifetime when we finally gave up trying on our own & made the appointment with a fertility specialist," she wrote.
"I kinda knew going in bc I had taken a couple tests and there were faint lines ... but I was in absolute denial & wanted to hear it from a doctor," continued Jamie. "WE WERE SHOCKED IT WAS REAL! WE WERE DEFINITELY PREGNANT!👶🏼🌈"
Jana Kramer
After experiencing three miscarriages and two chemical pregnancies [8], country singer Jana Kramer finally learned that she was pregnant with her son, Jace, in 2018.
"Surprise! We have a rainbow baby on the way [9] & couldn't be more excited!" she wrote in an Instagram post in 2018 alongside a photo of her daughter, Jolie, and husband, Mike Caussin. "Jolie is going to be a big sister & we're becoming a family of 4!"
