Why you should read this article:

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To learn more about health visiting bereavement support

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To understand how continuity is important following the loss of a baby

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To recognise how health visiting can support parents expecting a rainbow baby

A ‘rainbow baby’ is the term used for a live child born after the parents have experienced a previous miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. In the community, health visitors are well placed to provide support to bereaved families after the death of a child. However, recent NHS budgetary constraints mean that health visitors are often unable to provide the additional support that families require at such a challenging time or when they subsequently find that they are expecting another child. This article details a service evaluation of a health visiting pilot, which sought to provide parents with targeted support after the birth of a rainbow baby. The pilot provided a named health visitor to monitor the parents’ general mental health and provide trauma-informed parenting support. The author describes the background, development and evaluation of the pilot. Five sets of parents were surveyed and all stated that they found the pilot supportive and beneficial.