Honoring Loss and New Beginnings
For National Rainbow Baby Day, we spoke with Anastasia Shubareva-Epshtein—mum of one and founder of the Carea App—about her personal journey through loss, hope, and new beginnings. Anastasia opens up about the emotional complexities of pregnancy after loss, the importance of breaking the silence around miscarriage, and how her experiences inspired her to create a support-focused app for women navigating similar paths.
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August 22nd marks National Rainbow Baby Day, a day to honor the loss, the new beginning, and everything in between.
Having experienced a pregnancy after loss, I find it difficult to put into words how so many emotions can co-exist all at once. There was the absolute joy of being pregnant, especially after the grueling process of IVF. There was the all-consuming fear that I might miscarry again. And there was the guilt of feeling anxious, terrified, and elated in the same breath.
Holding Contradictions
National Rainbow Baby Day is also a reminder of how deeply human it is to hold these contradictions. Life is rarely simple. The heart-wrenching pain of loss and the overwhelming joy of a new pregnancy can sit side by side, sometimes only mere weeks or months apart.
Every day when I look at my beautiful rainbow baby today, I am also reminded of the baby we lost. People often say you should move on or get over it, but that never felt right. My angel baby is part of our story, and therefore always part of our family. To honor them, I wear a bracelet with the birthstone of the month they would have been due. That small ritual helps me feel a tangible connection to what could have been.
Breaking the Silence Around Miscarriage
1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage, yet it still remains such a taboo subject. Too often, people grieve in silence, worried about burdening others with something so heavy. But doesn’t the silence make it harder?
When I miscarried on Mother’s Day, of all days, the very first comfort I found was when my doctor quietly shared that she too had experienced two miscarriages. Knowing the statistics is certainly a start but it makes a world of a difference to actually hear the real and raw story from a woman sitting beside you, connecting through the pain we both have felt.
Why I Created Carea
It was this experience that led me to create Carea, a pregnancy and postpartum app designed to meet women exactly where they are emotionally. Our goal is to provide support that is trauma-informed, trigger-aware, and compassionate, especially for those navigating pregnancy after loss.
A Wish for Rainbow Baby Day
So on this Rainbow Baby Day, my wish is that more families feel able to speak about the babies they have lost. Sharing their stories honors those little lives and reminds anyone experiencing loss today that they are not to blame and they are not alone.
Both my angel baby and my rainbow baby certainly transformed me, and I carry them with me always.
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At Carea, we are currently looking to share real women’s stories about fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum to offer hope and inspiration to others walking similar paths. If you’d like to share your story (even anonymously), we’d be honored to feature it in our app and on our Instagram. Simply fill out our short questionnaire to take part.
When Families Fall Out: What the Beckham Headlines Can Teach Us About Repair and Mediation
When Families Fall Out explores what the recent Beckham headlines can teach us about family rupture, repair and the role mediation can play when relationships feel strained. With insight from JMW Solicitors’ family law team and child anxiety therapist Saskia Joss, it looks at why disconnection happens, how to name it, and what practical support can help families move forward with more understanding and kindness.
When Parents Split, Schools Feel It Too: The Hidden Impact on Children
Relationship expert Sally Land highlights the hidden toll that high-conflict separations can take on children — and how often schools end up caught in the crossfire. Citing research from The Parents Promise, she notes that teachers are regularly seeing the fallout in real time: slipping grades, increased absence, withdrawal, behavioural issues and worsening mental health.
Building a Brand as a Working Parent: The Bit Nobody Talks About (The Loneliness)
Building a brand as a working parent looks great on paper — flexible hours, doing something you love, creating a life that fits around family. But the reality is often messier. You’re juggling school runs and deadlines, client work and packed lunches, confidence wobbles and cash flow worries… and somehow you’re expected to show up online like you’ve got it all under control.
The Balance of Play
I hate admitting that because I value play so deeply, especially in those precious early years. It’s how our children learn, explore, imagine and build confidence. But as a mum trying to keep a household running and a business growing, it’s not always easy to appreciate those moments.
Part Time Working Mummy Interview: Rachaele Hambleton & Josh Marshall
Rachaele Hambleton, aka Part Time Working Mummy, is an inspirational mum of six. The incredible 43-year-old is a Sunday Times Bestselling Author—four times over—founder of The Patchwork House, a support and guidance service for vulnerable individuals and families, and she’s also a successful entrepreneur, which includes her own clothing brand REBL.
Introducing Amanda Marks
We’re thrilled to welcome our new columnist Amanda Marks. Amanda is a Renowned Breastfeeding, Food & Sleep Consultant
With over 40 years of experience supporting families, Amanda Marks is a highly respected breastfeeding, food, and sleep consultant. Based in prestigious locations including 10 Harley Street, London, and Alderley Edge, Cheshire, Amanda has worked with families from diverse backgrounds, including media personalities and royalty, maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality.
An Interview with English Professional Boxer Chris Billam-Smith
At BROOD, we’re always drawn to stories that celebrate not just professional triumphs, but the heart and humanity behind them. Someone who embodies this spirit perfectly is Chris Billam-Smith—a world-class athlete
whose grit in the ring is matched only by his devotion to his family.
Why Family Gardening Is Having a Quiet Comeback
There’s a noticeable shift happening in how families spend their time. It isn’t loud or trend-led, and it’s rarely documented with before-and-after shots. Instead, it’s quieter and slower, rooted in small routines and shared moments. Family gardening is part of that change.
From Parliament to the Premier League: Campaigning for survivors of domestic abuse during this #16DaysOfActivism
Our Head of Social Causes and Sub-Editor Teresa Parker was joined by BROOD Editor-in Chief Lolo Stubbs at an event in Parliament on the 2nd December 2025 to mark ten years of coercive control legislation. Teresa organised the event through her consultancy Teresa Parker Media, in partnership with Hawkins, Laxton & Co, which is run by her former colleagues Clare and Sian.
WHY PARENTS NEED A WILL (Even If You Don’t Think You Do)
A lot of people still think wills are only for the wealthy or the elderly. I hear this all the time. In reality, wills are about far more than dividing up money.
