A “special” Tayside midwife has been honoured for helping a local mother through both the darkest and happiest times of her life.
Michelle Carter first met Julie Davidson from Montrose 10 years ago and has been there to support her through tragic baby loss, a Down Syndrome diagnosis, miscarriages and a further two anxious pregnancies.
She has now been named Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2018 for Scotland after being nominated by Julie for being by her side throughout her journey.
The prestigious award is one of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards and Michelle will receive her trophy in London in March.
Michelle, who lives in Forfar, met Julie for the first time when she was there to support her through the heartache of losing her twin girls, Cerys and Isla, after going into premature labour at 22 weeks.
Although devastated and traumatised, Julie said it was Michelle’s support that helped her and her partner through it.
Two years later Julie’s son Finn was born and he was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome at birth.
During this emotional time Michelle was present again and offered her a friendly face and words of encouragement during their hospital stay.
In 2011 Julie, a former Dundee University student, returned to Ninewells Hospital to have her second son Luka.
Michelle was working and requested to look after her and she delivered Luka two minutes before her shift ended.
Following two miscarriages Julie fell pregnant in 2016 with her much longed for third child.
With Michelle now part of the community midwife team, Julie requested her as her named midwife.
Julie said she was extremely anxious throughout the pregnancy so to have Michelle’s support was very reassuring and her daughter, Carys, was born in June.
“Throughout my whole pregnancy Michelle was only a call or a text away, even getting in touch with me on her days off to make sure I was ok, or see how my hospital appointments went,” said Julie.
“My anxiety was heightened throughout my pregnancy. Michelle totally got that and was there to chat about my worries and put my mind at rest.
“She even got special permission to come with me to the hospital to induce me.
“Our gorgeous daughter Carys was born in June, making our family finally complete.
“I can’t even put into words how special it’s been, having Michelle by my side throughout our journey to becoming a family of five.
“She is an amazing midwife, and now a lovely friend.”
Michelle Carter, who works for NHS Tayside’s Angus community midwifery team, said she was overwhelmed to have won the award.
“I really don’t feel worthy of an award to be honest as I feel I just do my job as best I can and working with the families on my caseload is an honour in itself,” she said.
“It has been a pleasure to care for Julie and Gavin throughout their difficult pregnancy and birth journeys.
“I feel very humbled that they took the time and effort to nominate me with the hectic lifestyle a newborn baby adds.”
Emma’s Diary received a record 751 nominations from mums across the UK, which were judged by representatives from both Emma’s Diary and the RCM, culminating in seven regional winners.
