The rainbow T-shirt that helped two women connect through their miscarriage experiences

Losing a child is devastating, but it's a small yet strong comfort to be able to connect with other mothers who have gone through it as well. So when two women were able to identify each other as having suffered miscarriages, all because of a rainbow T-shirt, it was a beautiful moment for the both of them.

Courtney Mixon from North Little Rock in Arkansas was shopping in an arts and craft shop when she saw Autumn, who was visibly pregnant in a T-shirt that had a rainbow printed across her bump.

'I automatically knew what it meant,' wrote Courtney. 'She had suffered a miscarriage and now she was carrying a beautiful rainbow baby.'

'As she passed me I had to speak up. I said 'I love your shirt!' She replied that her husband was hesitant for her to wear it (because people wouldn't know what it meant) I then told her it's so taboo to talk about miscarriages and I was proud of her for wearing it.'

A rainbow baby is a child conceived after their mother has lost a child.

'I told her my story and she told me hers. We hugged and said we would keep each other in our prayers! Me for her baby's continuing good health and her for me to conceive.'

Courtney then wrote about the wonderful effect that meeting Autumn had on her and her husband.

'A complete stranger....Thank you Autumn for making me and my husband's day! Please share this so maybe she can see how much she touched our hearts...'

The post on Love What Matters' Facebook page has since reached over 34,000 likes, and over 3,000 shares, with hundreds of people commenting about their own miscarriage and child loss stories.

https://www.facebook.com/lovewhatreallymatters/photos/a.710462625642805.1073741828.691679627521105/1243731952315867/?type=3&theater

'Love this! My rainbow baby turns 1 today. Experiencing my loss and then this little rainbow opened so many doors to relationships and other women's stories and encouragement. What an amazing world this could be if we could encourage one another by being open like this,' wrote one user.

'I lost my first child more then a lifetime ago..at least it seems that way..and I still have trouble speaking about it...I am glad that all of you young moms are changing that,' wrote another.

'34 weeks pregnant with my little rainbow. I lost my first baby almost a year ago now. September 26th. This little girl is due November 1st, and we cannot wait to meet her finally. It has been a long hard road, but we are almost there,' wrote another mum, posting a picture of her bump.