Welcoming a rainbow baby into the world is a moment of profound joy and hope for many families. After experiencing the heartache of loss, the arrival of a new baby, symbolized as a “rainbow,” brings a renewed sense of happiness and healing. Crafting the perfect rainbow baby announcement allows parents to share their journey with loved ones, honoring the difficulty of losing a baby while celebrating the future.
In this article, we explore creative and heartfelt ways to announce the arrival of your rainbow baby, helping you to spread this special news in a way that feels authentic and meaningful to honor the mixed feelings that can come with pregnancy after loss.
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Types of Rainbow Baby Announcements
No matter what type of rainbow baby announcement you’re considering, you want to be sure you do it in a way that feels authentic to you! Here are several of our favorite types of announcements, including onesies, ultrasound photos, positive pregnancy tests (just typing that out makes me happy!), and more.
1. Rainbow Baby Onesies
Here at Undefining Motherhood, we have a whole article on our favorite rainbow baby onesies. That’s because that’s how I chose to announce my pregnancy after 4 losses.
You can choose from an array of options, but here are some of our favorites:
Handpicked for Earth Onesie
Things to Note
- Gerber brand 100% cotton fabric
- Comes in short or long sleeved style
- Tends to run small
This onesie reminds me of my own first rainbow baby’s announcement. I purchased a onesie from Etsy that said, “Hand picked for Earth by my siblings in Heaven,” a sentiment that I, to this day, believe was true.
Worth the Wait Onesie
Things to Note
- Gerber brand 100% cotton fabric
- Comes in short or long sleeved style
- Tends to run small
We love the sentiment behind this sweet onesie, which so directly nods to the struggle for this much longed for little one.
Personalized Rainbow Onesie
Things to Note
- Gerber brand interlocking knit cotton
- Kid-safe inks
- Hand-made in New York State
- Can be personalized with name
- Tends to run small
This precious onesie is simple but beautiful, and you can personalize it with your rainbow baby’s name if you choose to share it before the birth.
2. Ultrasound Photos
Ultrasound images of your new little one are a classic way to announce your pregnancy, providing a tangible glimpse of the rainbow baby you’re celebrating. These first photos not only capture the excitement and anticipation of the journey ahead but also serve as a beautiful keepsake for parents and family members.
Sharing ultrasound images in your announcement connects your loved ones to the early stages of your baby’s development, making the experience more intimate and real.
3. Positive Pregnancy Tests
The simplicity of a pregnancy test really hits home, especially with all the mixed emotions that come with having a rainbow baby. It’s such a straightforward way to share big news! Plus, by sharing that little stick, parents can instantly connect with their friends and family, bringing everyone in on the journey from the start. It’s all about sharing the joy and feeling the love from your support network.
4. Rainbow Mama Shirts
Not feeling ready to share a onesie? You (and your partner if they are into it!) might want to share a photo of you wearing a rainbow t-shirt to announce a rainbow pregnancy because it’s a fun, colorful way to symbolize hope and joy after loss.
The t-shirt makes the announcement vibrant and memorable, while also adding a personal touch by including YOURSELF (you are having the baby, after all!) in the moment. It’s a warm and heartfelt way to share happiness and excitement, making the news even more special for friends and family.
The Greater Your Storm Tee
Things to Note
- Unisex fit
- Solid colors are 100% cotton
- Heather colors are 52% cotton + 48% polyester
This shirt comes in a rainbow of fun colors (both solid and heather!), so pick your favorite. And if you’re feeling like letting friends and family know how important this moment is to you, we really like this option. The phrase” the greater your storm, the brighter your rainbow” really emphasizes the journey that it took to get you here.
Mama & Mini Shirts
Things to Note
- Pricing is for individual shirts, each need to be ordered separately
- Handmade
- Sizes on Etsy listing
We can see this adorable matching design working a few different ways. Maybe you want to take a pic of yourself holding the matching “mini” onesie. Or maybe your new baby has an older earth-side sibling who can wear an adorable tee with you. Either way, you can’t go wrong!
5. Macrame Rainbows
What I love about rainbow props is that you can use them in a photoshoot that makes you and the rest of your family more prominent. You can hold a rainbow in front of your baby bump, hold it with your partner, or get creative with your announcement in other ways (attach it to your dog’s collar, perhaps?).
Retro Colors Rainbow Wall Hanging
Things to Note
- Inner metal structure, yarn and cotton rope
- Attached loop on the back for easy wall hanging
- 9.3″ x 8.2″
Macrame rainbows are perfect for rainbow baby announcements, your rainbow nursery, rainbow baby showers, and more! I have one hanging in my office, and it provides the perfect touch of sentiment for my workday (and it reminds me why I do what I do!).
6. Rainbow Mobiles
Waiting to announce until you’ve already started a nursery? That’s okay, too!
The mobile represents the bright, colorful future we’re looking forward to, and it adds a touch of magic to the announcement. Plus, it’s a unique and creative way to share your sweet nursery!
Rainbow and Cloud Boho Crib Mobile
Things to Note
- Colors can be customized
- Felt rainbow, clouds, and stars
- Comes with music box with 35 songs and volume control
- 9.5″ diameter, 16″ height
This beautiful rainbow baby mobile is a stunning way to make an announcement that does double duty for decorating your nursery! We love the puffy, 3D look of it, and your sweet one will love gazing up at it in their nursery.
7. Letter Boards with Rainbow Baby Quotes
I’m not going to lie; letter boards can be really annoying to put together! That said, they’re super fun to have around for different photo opportunities, like baby’s monthly photos after they’re born!
Rainbow Letter Board
Things to Note
- Made with felt and an oak frame
- 10″ x 10″
- Comes with 300 white letters/characters in included drawstring pouch
Our favorite letter boards are from Felt Like Sharing, and while they have boards in any color you could want, we can’t ignore the rainbow letterboard for rainbow baby announcements.
8. Rainbow Baby Announcement Quotes
Whether you’re using a letter board, a sign, having a card printed, or altering your photo graphically, lots of people want to use special rainbow baby quotes. Don’t miss our favorites here!
9. Rainbow Baby Booties
Booties are a common theme in pregnancy announcements. Why not turn it into something special for your rainbow baby by using an adorable photo (or two or three…heck, we’re not stopping you from posting a whole carousel!) of little rainbow booties?? Eee!
Unisex Rainbow Booties
Things to Note
- Handmade crochet
- Made with soft acrylic
- Sizes newborn – 9 mos
These precious handmade crochet booties are perfect for a rainbow baby announcement. Honestly, I’m not sure I could stop myself from buying just one pair to use for an announcement they are that cute! And who doesn’t love handmade crochet items?!
10. Rainbow Baby Sign
Another great option that doubles as a nursery decoration is a rainbow baby sign. You can find tons of handmade ones on Etsy, and many of them are customizable to fit in with your future nursery. We love these precious rainbow baby signs!
Rainbow Baby Nursery Decor
Things to Note
- Handmade wooden sign
- Can choose brown ombre, monochrome, rust/mustard, or brown/pink/gold
- May choose 6″ or 8″
Use it as a prop in your announcement, then display it in the nursery as a sweet reminder of the journey to your beloved babe. Or, you can be like me and prop it up in your office as a reminder of how far your family has come.
When to Announce A Pregnancy with Your Rainbow Baby
When to announce a pregnancy is a completely personal decision, though I’ve written extensively on my personal thoughts on it.
While I normally don’t adhere to the “12 week rule” unless you know you wouldn’t share if you experienced a loss, there are a few reasons I would consider waiting for a rainbow baby announcement.
First, pregnancy after loss anxiety is all too real, so the idea of announcing a pregnancy early might be upsetting for a rainbow mama. I told people who I would have shared a loss with from the beginning, but I didn’t actually announce publicly until I was 24 weeks pregnant.
Second, if you want to do a rainbow announcement, you likely want to feel confident that this baby will be your rainbow baby. And while the risk of back-to-back miscarriages is low, it can happen, which is why many loss moms choose to wait.
Ultimately, though, the choice is yours. When you feel like you want the world to know, then it’s time.
If the timing adds up, a super special touch could be to announce your pregnancy on Rainbow Baby Day on August 22!
Announcing a rainbow baby can be a giant bag of emotions. You’re excited and scared. You know people will celebrate, and you want to celebrate, but you may also have some lingering desire to temper your feelings.
Many people worry about how their rainbow baby announcements may potentially trigger other moms dealing with infertility or pregnancy loss.
Others want to use the rainbow baby announcement for advocacy, helping to normalize the experience of miscarriage. Some people want to honor the babies they lost in their announcements, while others want to focus on the positive and the future.
What I’m telling you is, there’s no right or wrong way to do this. There’s only your way. And your way is okay.
If you’re trying to figure out how to manage a rainbow baby announcement for your miracle baby, we’ll give you fun ideas no matter where you stand in this list of possibilities.
This is your pregnancy, mama; make of it what you want!
Why Do a Rainbow Baby Announcement?
Choosing to have a specific rainbow baby announcement is a very personal decision.
After all, by announcing your pregnancy with a rainbow announcement, you’re inherently connecting this pregnancy with your past loss(es).
For many parents, this is a way to honor the angel baby (or babies) they lost while celebrating the ones that are to come. It’s a way of recognizing that one child does not replace another, but the coming child was so longed for and brings much joy.
It can also be a way for parents to express their feelings about their current pregnancy.
Pregnancy after loss comes with such riddled emotions, so if you find yourself keeping some emotional distance between yourself and your baby and want others to understand, a rainbow baby announcement is one way to help discuss all you’re feeling publicly.
Personally, after 4 losses, I had extreme anxiety about ultrasounds. Whether I was having an ultrasound myself or seeing ultrasound photos appear on my feed, they often triggered my anxiety.
As a result, it was important to me not to use an ultrasound photo in my announcement; I didn’t want to upset anyone else the way I’d often been upset.
Because I knew that many people have similar emotional struggles by photos of positive pregnancy tests, I personally chose not to include those either.
But please hear me when I say this, mama. You’ve waited for this moment, and you deserve to do it the way you want to. So while I personally felt the most comfortable not using items that might be upsetting to women experiencing infertility or miscarriage, you do not have to feel the same way.
If your ultrasound brings you joy, or you’ve waited years for that positive pregnancy test, then use it if you want to!
People who are in a difficult place can always choose to temporarily mute you on social media while you go through your pregnancy however you feel the most comfortable.
How to Know if a Rainbow Baby Announcement is Right for You
If you’re considering a rainbow baby announcement but aren’t sure it’s the route you want to take, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I want to acknowledge my past fertility experiences in such a public way?
- Am I comfortable speaking openly about having experienced previous loss?
- Am I comfortable having people I haven’t spoken to in a while reach out to talk about their own losses?
- Do I have the desire to normalize pregnancy loss and advocate openly for the loss community?
If your answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then a rainbow baby announcement might be right for you!
Also, please know this. If your answers are “no,” to any or all of these questions, that’s okay. Loss parents are under no obligation to educate the public about miscarriage or to talk about their experiences.
This experience is uniquely your own, and we encourage you to handle it in whatever way feels best to you.
