An "angel pregnancy" is not a medical term related to the physiological process of pregnancy itself. Instead, it refers to the emotional and social context of pregnancy when a family has previously experienced the loss of a baby. More specifically, an "angel baby" refers to a baby who has died, especially before, during, or shortly after birth. An "angel pregnancy" then, is the pregnancy that precedes the birth of an "angel baby." The term acknowledges the profound grief and emotional complexities associated with experiencing a loss before or around the time of childbirth.
It's important to distinguish this from medical terms like "ectopic pregnancy" or "chemical pregnancy," which describe specific complications during pregnancy. "Angel pregnancy" is purely a term of bereavement and remembrance.
This term is closely related to other terms used to describe babies born before or after a loss, such as:
-
Sunshine Baby: Sometimes used interchangeably with "angel baby" to refer to the baby that was lost.
-
Rainbow Baby: A baby born after the loss of a previous baby.
These terms help families acknowledge their loss while celebrating subsequent pregnancies.
