Mom Says Announcing Her Rainbow Pregnancy Was “Terrifying,” but Sharing Her Loss Was “Worth It”

Chelsea Rae Photography
Chelsea Rae Photography

Chelsea Karr was apprehensive about sharing her third pregnancy with the world despite being 33 weeks along, because two weeks after announcing her second pregnancy, she and her partner lost their baby girl, Chloe. However, after fighting through the anxiety that came with sharing her rainbow baby news, Chelsea says telling her story has been completely worth it, as she's been contacted by women who have been through loss themselves and feel seen by the mom's vulnerability.

"A rainbow is a promise of sunshine after rain, of calm after storms, of joy after sadness, of peace after heartbreak, of love after loss," Chelsea wrote on Facebook, alongside a stunning maternity photo she originally shared with Love What Matters (shown above). "Surprise! Looks like I swallowed the watermelon seed! I've been anxiously debating this announcement for obvious reasons. This is going to be my THIRD child, not my second. No child will EVER replace my daughter, no child will ever replace my love for her, but my heart will grow more to love another child the way I love her and her big brother."

Despite the poise that comes across through her post, Chelsea says that sharing the news of her high-risk pregnancy was actually terrifying.

"Sharing what it's like to be pregnant after a loss has been so amazing."

"I'm still very anxious about it even though it's been three weeks since announcing. But the love and support I have received from putting it out there and sharing what it's like to be pregnant after a loss has been so amazing," she told POPSUGAR. "And it makes me feel so good that people want to hear Chloe's story and that it's touched so many people around the world. I have been reached out to by so many amazingly strong women who have been through a loss and I'll sit there crying reading their stories about how me speaking out about my loss has helped them feel so much less alone. That in itself makes my decision to announce even though I'm still so stressed and anxious worth it."

See the gorgeous maternity photos Chelsea took herself ahead, including a few beautiful snaps with her son and partner.