The Rainbow Clinic

The Rainbow Clinic is part of the Tommy’s Research Centre at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester. It provides specialist care for women who have suffered a previous stillbirth or neonatal death.

A Tommy's Rainbow Midwife sits at a desk smiling at the camera

The Rainbow Clinic is a specialist service for women and their families in a pregnancy following a stillbirth or neonatal death. Becoming pregnant after a stillbirth is an incredibly daunting prospect. Around half of all stillbirths are unexplained, leaving parents feeling powerless in a following pregnancy to stop it happening again.

The standard of care given to women who have suffered a stillbirth varies across the country, often with no continuity of care. Parents have to endure the distress of having to explain their previous loss to health professionals over and over again. 

That’s why, in 2013, the Rainbow Clinic was opened at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester. Here, women who have had stillbirths are given the best possible care, to help and support them through their following pregnancies. 

The Rainbow Clinic is led by Professor Alex Heazell, and the lead midwives Emilie and Emma.

Shema's story

 

“The clinic is amazing; everyone is so compassionate. They really understand how to look after families who have lost babies. Something as simple as asking our first son’s name, then referring to him by it. Professor Alex Heazell is one of the most compassionate doctors I’ve ever met both professionally and personally. He goes above and beyond for his patients; he really cares. The Tommy’s team at St Mary’s have given us the most amazing gift, we’ll never be able to thank them enough”

Shema and her husband Ian lost their firstborn son, Altair, at 21 weeks. After discovering she had a rare condition, she was supported to full term in her next pregnancy by Professor Alex Heazell and the Tommy’s team at St Mary’s in Manchester.

Read Shema's story here 

Referral information

Patients can be referred to the Rainbow Clinic by their midwife, GP or consultant.

Women are offered:

  • an ultrasound scan at 23 weeks and then at intervals throughout pregnancy
  • continuity of consultant-led care with midwifery support
  • discussion regarding timing/mode of delivery

Visit our referral information page for more information  

Clinic information

The clinic is located at:

5th Floor Tommy's Research Centre

Saint Mary's Hospital

Manchester

The clinic is held every Thursday

The secretary can be contacted on (0161) 701 7158, Monday - Friday, 8.30 am - 4.30pm

If you have any questions you can speak to one of our midwives, Emilie and Emma. They are available Monday to Friday, 9.00 am - 4.30 pm, on (0161) 701 6965. You can also email [email protected].