Q&A: New clinic is dedicated to reducing stillbirths — first of its kind in US

In a partnership with PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, the Mount Sinai Health System will establish a multidisciplinary clinic called the Rainbow Clinic, for reducing stillbirths.

According to the CDC, about 24,000 babies are stillborn every year in the United States, close to the number of babies who die within the first year of being born.

Risk factors for stillbirths include being further along in pregnancy, sociodemographic status, age and previous pregnancy loss.

The clinic gets its name from rainbow babies — healthy babies born following a pregnancy loss — who can symbolize hope to families dealing with the difficulties of stillbirths, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

Healio spoke with Joanne L. Stone, MD, MSHCDL, Ellen and Howard C. Katz Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai Health System, who will lead the Mount Sinai — Rainbow Clinic, to learn more about stillbirth and the importance of this clinic.

Healio: Why is the Rainbow Clinic being founded?

Stone: The Mount Sinai — Rainbow Clinic supports families who have suffered a stillbirth in a prior pregnancy. It is modeled after the Rainbow Clinic founded in the United Kingdom, which grew from one clinic to now 20 clinics due to their incredible success. We will be collaborating on research and seeing if we can replicate the same outcomes seen in the U.K. Stillbirth affects about 1 out of 160 births in the United States and it is one of the most devastating issues occurring in pregnancy.

Healio: Why is it important to address the issue of stillbirths?

Stone: It is so important to address the issue of stillbirths for a variety of reasons. Pregnant individuals who have a history of a stillbirth have a twofold increased risk of stillbirth in a future pregnancy. It is important to try to understand the cause of stillbirths to take preventive measures. But even for those cases in which a cause cannot be identified, which is common, measures can be taken to try to prevent a recurrent stillbirth in the future.

Healio: What is the psychological impact of stillbirth? Does it affect subsequent pregnancies?

Stone: Patients who have suffered a stillbirth are impacted psychologically to a great degree. They often feel guilty, even though it is not their fault. They understandably are nervous, scared and anxious about a pregnancy moving forward. The Mount Sinai — Rainbow Clinic has a dedicated social worker to support their needs, and staff have been trained on the best ways to support these patients.

Healio: How will the Rainbow Clinic work?

Stone: The services provided include preconception consultation to look carefully at the pregnancy that resulted in a stillbirth and make a plan moving forward. Patients can come to the Mount Sinai — Rainbow Clinic just for a consult and plan, have a full follow-up while they stay with their own OB provider or have the full gamut of care provided by our maternal-fetal medicine team. They have social work support, nutritional consultation and a staff well-trained to handle all of their special needs.

Healio: Who can use services at the Rainbow Clinic?

Stone: Any patient who has suffered a stillbirth.

References:

• Mount Sinai collaborates with PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy to launch nation’s first Rainbow Clinic dedicated to reducing stillbirths. https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2022/mount-sinai-collaborates-with-push-for-empowered-pregnancy-to-launch-nations-first-rainbow-clinic-dedicated-to-reducing-stillbirths. Published March 22, 2022. Accessed March 29, 2022.
• Mount Sinai – Rainbow Clinic. https://www.mountsinai.org/care/obgyn/services/high-risk-pregnancy-fetal-medicine/rainbow-clinic. Accessed March 29, 2022.
• American Pregnancy Association: What is a rainbow baby? https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/pregnancy-loss/what-is-a-rainbow-baby/. Accessed March 30, 2022.
• CDC: What is stillbirth? https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/stillbirth/facts.html. Updated Nov. 16, 2020. Accessed March 29, 2022.