11 Uplifting Rainbow Baby Quotes for Grieving or Expectant Parents

heart shape drawing

The loss of a pregnancy or child brings with it unprecedented anguish that can seem incomparable to anything else.

Whether a parent has suffered a miscarriage or experienced stillbirth, this gut-wrenching experience can be one of the most devastating events of their lives.

It’s no wonder so many hopeful parents find themselves searching for comforting words of wisdom in the form of miscarriage and rainbow baby quotes. These quotes can bring a sense of peace and encouragement as parents struggle with grief.

From thoughts about nursery decor to gentle reassurances, we’re bringing you 10 inspiring miscarriage quotes and rainbow baby quotes to help you during this complicated journey.

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What is a Rainbow Baby?

As we explain our article on the definition of a rainbow baby, “A rainbow baby, in fertility terms, refers to a baby born after miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss.”

But a rainbow baby doesn’t simply mean parents are joyful and happy, having forgotten their previous trauma.

An article featured on Swell Forever poignantly explains that a “rainbow baby is the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm.”

Rainbow babies offer hope and comfort to many families after the “ravages of the storm.”

One child does not replace another

Picture a severe thunderstorm for a moment.

Consider the darkness from the clouds, the shaking from the thunder, and the noise from rain beating against your window.

When a storm hits, its effects can be all-encompassing.

Your senses are overwhelmed by the loudness, the darkness, and even the ominous feeling that comes from severe weather.

Even within the safety of your home, it can be difficult to concentrate on anything else until the storm has passed.

Suddenly, however, the clouds will part, and a rainbow may grace the sky, bringing a sense of joy and light back into your day.

But your yard is still cluttered with debris from the storm. Branches have been thrown from trees, trees may have fallen, and a general appearance of disarray surrounds you.

It’s no wonder that children born after miscarriage or loss are referred to as rainbow babies. Storms are a perfect metaphor for life after pregnancy loss.

As with the ill-effects of bad weather, the side effects of miscarriage and stillbirth can overwhelm our minds and make it seem impossible to move forward. Life is no longer as it was before, disarray and heartbreak apparent at all times.

The complicated emotions of having a rainbow baby

When you suddenly find yourself pregnant again after suffering such pain and heartbreak, your new-found joy can instill a refreshed sense of hope and optimism into your life. But it doesn’t “negate the ravages of a storm.” 

That’s why pregnancy after miscarriage anxiety is common, raw, and complicated.

Your new baby is your rainbow after the storm – your rainbow baby. It doesn’t replace what you’ve lost, but it does bring with it a form or beauty that would look different had the storm never occurred.

The emotions attached to this complicated relationship can be various and intense. They’re all okay. Feel them as you need to, and know that whatever you feel, you’re not alone.

How Can Quotes About Rainbow Babies be Helpful?

Whether you’re hoping for a rainbow baby or are currently expecting one, miscarriage quotes and quotes about rainbow babies can be a helpful addition to your toolbox for coping with miscarriage grief and managing pregnancy anxiety after miscarriage.

They can serve you in a variety of different ways, such as:

  • Helping you better express your grief
  • Providing a sense of optimism when you’re feeling frustrated
  • Describing your joy after you discover you’re pregnant again
  • Illustrating gratitude for the good things in your life

There is a wide selection of rainbow baby quotes depending on what you need. There are quotes to keep you going, quotes to help you celebrate, and quotes to help bring peace to your day-to-day life.

Inspiring Rainbow Baby Quotes During Your Journey to Conceive

When you’re trying to get pregnant again after previous pregnancy loss(es), you might be carrying a heavy load of emotional baggage.

For example, there’s the thrill of possible motherhood, the anxiety of trying to conceive, and the pain of mourning the child you never got the chance to hold or raise. The weight of these feelings can be exhausting.

Encouraging Rainbow Baby Quotes

1. “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”

pink background with deep green text that says patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet by aristotle

This quote from the historical philosopher, Aristotle, is a gentle reminder of the positive changes that may be lying in wait. 

It is not always easy to be patient. In fact, in my experience, patience can often feel excruciating. In the grand scheme of things, however, it’s easy to see that the final results we longed for were well worth the wait.

2. “When we lose one blessing, another is most often unexpectedly given in its place.”

In this quote, C.S. Lewis provides an eloquent spin on the classic adage: “When one door closes, another one opens.” 

With the loss of one child, the potential for another is still present. For some, imagining a future pregnancy is simply too traumatic. But for others, holding on to the idea that your family will grow in the future can alleviate some of the pain caused by pregnancy loss.

3. “Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.” – Yip Harburg

In the world of rainbow quotes, this might be one of the most easily recognized.

While moving forward and coping after pregnancy loss may not feel like any sort of whimsical “yellow brick road,” the general idea behind this quote can be applied just the same. 

Losing a baby due to miscarriage or stillbirth is not something you will ever forget, but it can be helpful to look toward the future and hope for a time when the grief has subsided and your family has found its own little rainbow.

Just don’t force these feelings. Let them come when you’re ready. And know that they’ll come in waves. 

Feeling hopeful about the future one day, followed by a day of darkness, is not a setback. It’s simply grief. 

4. “Rainbows remind us that even after the darkest clouds, and the fiercest winds, there is still beauty.” – Katrina Mayer

This is perhaps one of my favorite rainbow quotes because it’s a reminder of how we move forward after storms & grief. 

green graphic with rainbow with a rainbow baby quote by katrina mayer that says Rainbows remind us that even after the darkest clouds, and the fiercest winds, there is still beauty

Even when the world feels dark and grief is at our life’s very core, there is still beauty to be found. We may not always be ready to see it, but it’s there, and the symbolic reminder of the rainbow gives us hope in these times. 

5. “You are the rainbow that adds colors to my gray skies.” – Avijeet Das

We especially love this quote for rainbow babies as it reminds of the of sacred love a baby brings. It also allows for a mixture of emotions to continue to flow.

When a rainbow baby is born, many parents experience a mixture of emotions, while friends and family expect sheer joy. In the hard days of parenting, especially following the hard days of loss, it’s essential to remember that a rainbow adds color to the gray skies, but it does not remove the gray. 

The two can exist together at once, and in the case of a rainbow baby, they will. 

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Joyful Rainbow Baby Quotes

The moment has come.

You’ve stepped into the bathroom, peed on a stick, and discovered the beautiful truth about what’s happening inside your body – you’re having a rainbow baby. 

Whether you’re searching for quotes about rainbow babies to use in a pregnancy announcement, delivery announcement, or even nursery decor, the following options are ideal for expressing the joyfulness and excitement of your news.

And remember, you won’t always feel joyful, and that’s okay. But when you do, these quotes are for you!

6. “Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”

orange wall art print that reads "Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud" a quote by Maya Angelou
Rainbow Nursery Art by Minimal Design by Katie

These sweet words from Maya Angelou are a simple and beautiful way to describe the extraordinary happiness a little one can bring after an individual or couple has struggled through pregnancy loss.

They’re also a reminder for people providing miscarriage support. You don’t want to mention a possible rainbow baby in the future, but you can provide glimpses of sunshine and color by your presence and love. 

Leave it to the brilliant Dr. Angelou to encompass so many elements of love and compassion in a few short words. 

7. “The greater your storm, the brighter your rainbow.”

While there are elements of this quote that we warn you to be careful with, there are other parts of it that have so much value. 

Women with a history of trauma are more prone to postpartum mental health struggles, as Katy explains when she talks about dealing with postpartum anxiety

But alongside these increased risk factors comes the increased capacity for joy. There will be moments–maybe frequent, maybe few–where you appreciate your rainbow baby to an extent many others simply cannot understand.

Don’t let yourself succumb to parenting guilt when you don’t feel this joy, because the troubled emotions are also normal and valid. But relish the moments when they come, for your capacity to enjoy the rainbow is strong. 

8. “You can’t have a rainbow without a little rain”

This rainbow quote is simplicity at its best. 

rainbow wall art that looks like painted flowers in the shape and colors of a rainbow with a quote beneath it
Rainbow Art Print by Ink and Ivy Prints

Just as a rainbow in nature can only come after a storm, the beauty of a rainbow baby can only be appreciated after a person has weathered the hardships of pregnancy loss.

Does that make the experience of hardship worth it? No. But it does allow you to relish the beauty of what you finally have a little bit more. 

9. She is the gold at the end of our rainbow.”

A rainbow baby is a sweet treasure waiting to be found at the end of a complicated journey. Having a little boy? Change this quote up to say, “He is the gold at the end of our rainbow.” Or use the gender-neutral “they.” 

The point remains the same–for some (though not all), a rainbow baby can feel like striking gold. If it feels that way to you, enjoy it! Your child is gold, indeed. 

Religious Rainbow Baby Quotes

Religious quotes aren’t for everyone, and that’s totally fine. You do you!

And don’t push religious quotes or ideas onto anyone who’s grieving unless they bring it up. (Learn why in our discussion of what not to say to someone who had a miscarriage.)

But for some grieving parents, having strong faith in God’s plan is a saving grace. 

If you’re one of those people, holding onto your beliefs and the hope that better things are yet to come can be a beacon of strength during difficult times. 

Whether you’ve become pregnant with a rainbow baby already, or you’re hoping to conceive in the future, these spiritual quotes about rainbow babies can bring a sense of peace to your journey.

10. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

In a quote from Corinthians 13: 7-8, love is at the forefront. 

Whether it’s love for the baby that you lost, love for your partner, or love for the rainbow baby your future will bring, this feeling brings us the strength to carry on.

11. “For this child we have prayed.”

blanket with cursive texts that reads "For this child, we have prayed."
For This Child We Have Prayed Blanket by Blue Elephant Prints

When it comes to perfect religious rainbow baby quotes, this verse from Samuel 1:27-28 is at the top of the list.

Through prayer, parents not only can find the strength to move forward after a loss, but they can also incite hope for the future.

It’s no wonder you can find this quote inscribed in a ton of nursery decor.

What are the best ways to use miscarriage quotes & quotes about rainbow babies?

Whether you’re trying to make sense of the path you are walking, or you’re doing something as simple as decorating a nursery, rainbow baby quotes can be beneficial to your process.

There are many different ways of using quotes about rainbow babies and miscarriage quotes, including:

  • Nursery & home decor (many parents love the idea of using canvas artwork or printables with these quotes as wall decor!)
  • Positive affirmations to start your day
  • Baby announcements
  • Journaling
  • Self-help techniques to maintain hope (Using rainbow baby quotes in meditation practices or as a personal mantra, for example, can be helpful.)

Finding the Rainbow After the Storm

There is no uplifting collection of quotes that will completely negate the loss you feel after miscarriage or stillbirth, no matter how powerful those words may seem.

At the same time, however, rainbow baby quotes can help instill a bit of optimism into your day.

You will never forget the pain you’ve experienced or stop wondering about what your life could have been like had it not been for pregnancy loss. But that does not mean there’s no hope for happiness in the future.

We may or may not move on, but we do move forward.

Do you have any favorite quotes about rainbow babies?

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Other Rainbow Baby Articles

Articles About Miscarriage

Articles About Pregnancy

Articles for Postpartum Moms

Articles About Parenting

2 thoughts on “11 Uplifting Rainbow Baby Quotes for Grieving or Expectant Parents

  1. I think I like this quote the best “You can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.” I am currently expecting my rainbow baby, but terrified of something happening to cause another miscarriage. It is something that I never thought would happen to my husband and I and I wouldn’t wish a miscarriage on anyone and hope that all that experience are able to find comfort in quotes like these and with family and friends.

    1. Let me do some research into this and see if I can point you to an expert to weigh in. While there are definitely neurological benefits for the child who has skin time early on, and that benefits cognitive development, I hate for a mom to feel she’s to blame for a child’s emotional struggles because she didn’t do that, especially when there are so many reasons that children struggle with emotions. I will do more research to provide a better answer, but my reply to that mom would be that she can’t control how she mothered in the past, but she can control how she mothers her child now, whether she seeks interventions for that child’s struggles (assuming that’s a socioeconomic possibility,) etc. The fact that she’s concerned shows that she cares; I hope she can move past feeling guilt.

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