Name: Julie Sanderson
Organisation:
Award Category: Midwife Of The Year
Sponsored By:
Voting Is Now Closed
My Plea:
The Bereavement team at Whiston Hospital’s Maternity Unit offer bespoke and holistic care to families who suffer a baby loss. I developed the service in 2004, I have been fortunate enough to meet some amazing families who have helped me to grow into the midwife I am today. We care for families who have experienced the loss of a baby from 13 weeks of pregnancy; births as well as those who have died in the neonatal period.
We deliver care from initial diagnosis throughout the intrapartum period and postnatally aiming to meet every parent’s unique requirements. We support for as long as is required via frequent meetings, telephone calls and/or emails. This includes a consultant debrief with every family with a member of the team present we also offer pre-conceptual advice and support in subsequent pregnancies.
The team consists of myself and Katherine Hughes, Band 6 Midwife.
Our aim is to create as many memories as possible for our families encouraging them to spend as much time as they wish in our two designated bereavement suites and becoming involved with the care of their babies including dressing and bathing.
We offer blessing or naming services for our babies and work closely with the Chaplaincy Service at the Trust, this includes organising our annual Baby Remembrance Service, fundraising for items that NHS budgets stretch to but that we know are incredibly important for our families and most recently leading on the development of our baby memorial garden..
We take photographs of our babies with the families and have recently organised a bereavement photography course to share best practice as well as our personal advice with other member of the team. As a result of our charity work we offer ceramic and ink hand and footprints and supply memory boxes, clothing and baby blankets to all our families.
Both Katherine and I ensure that staff are kept up to date with changes to guidelines, policies and support junior staff to develop their confidence therefore enhancing care to parents. We liaise with other multi disciplines on behalf of the parents. Our bereavement team offers funerals for all babies born at and beyond 13 weeks and communicate directly with parents to ensure their wishes are met.
I am incredibly proud of the service we deliver and are constantly striving to further develop and improve to ensure we do all we can for the families we meet. I am truly touched and honoured to have been nominated for such a prestigious award and to highlight the importance of raising awareness of baby loss.
What others have said:
“I am nominating Julie Sanderson and the Maternity Bereavement Team for their outstanding care and compassion. They make such a difference to people’s lives when it is needed most, showing empathy and understanding. They also offer practical help to grieving families, which is often what is most needed, but not thought about.”
“My son was stillborn at 38 weeks. Julie was ready for me when it was time for me to deliver Bobby. Julie said that she was looking forward to meeting him. This took me by surprise as there weren’t many people who were looking forward to meeting Bobby. However, this has been a very precious thing to me. Over the next year, Julie provided endless support for me as I was in a very dark place. I went on to miscarry twice more. Luckily, just after Bobby’s first birthday, I found out that Thomas was on his way. Julie was the first person on the phone. She arranged fetal assessments and weekly scans for me. At 12 and 20 weeks, she knew I was frightened for my scans. She was waiting for me in the waiting rooms. Every hospital needs a Julie and this is why I want her to win.”
“This lovely lady looked after my cousin not once but twice with the loss of a child. Both at 25 weeks pregnant.”
“Julie provides inspirational leadership within Whiston Hospital’s delivery bereavement team. Over many years Julie and her team have supported bereaved parents and family members and they provide an invaluable service.”
“Absolutely the most compassionate, kind and thoughtful person I’ve ever met. To do a job like this day in and day out and be supportive of so many new mums and dads and see such sadness also and get them through it takes a very special person indeed and I am proud to know Julie and think she’s just amazing x.”
“This midwife who delivered our beautiful sleeping princess was incredible. Her calm and caring nature got us through such a difficult time. She explained everything, didn’t leave our sides and even stayed later than her shift until I had delivered our baby and stayed longer so she could dress our daughter and get some hand and footprint pictures made for us before she went home as she was on her final shift and was off for a few days after. She made sure she came back at the end of the shift to say goodbye to everyone, including myself, my partner all of my family and especially our daughter. She is such an inspiration and there should be more people like her in the world. Absolutely amazing!”
Good Luck, you truly deserve this!
Julie was there to support during my triplet pregnancy and I lost my identical boys due to Twin to twin transfusion. I carried them full term for their brother James to have fighting chance. He is now a happy, healthy 5 year old boy in Year 1. Thank you x
Julie you were fantastic when you helped to deliver my daughter, she’s now 3 years old. You are an amazing lady and got me through the final stage of labour when my daughter’s heart rate dropped dangerously low. You managed to keep me calm throughout with your amazing care. You really do deserve this award for all that you have done and will keep on doing for the women and families of this area.
Fantastic lady so caring
A friend received wonderful care and that’s why I’m voting.
Amazing lady x deserves this more than anyone xx
Best of luck x
At 40 weeks + 3 days me and my husband lost our first son, edward was still born. At the saddest time of our lives julie and leslie (the other midwife on hand) helped us get through it, the care and compassion that was shown was amazing, i would regulary get phone calls from julie to ask how we were doing and only a short while later i found out i was pregnant again, my first phone call was to julie and she sorted all my appointments out and handed me over to the amazing mrs pankaja. We had regular conversations and when our second son freddie was born julie couldnt wait to meet him.
Julie 100% deserves this award. She is an unltimate superstar xx
Good luck. Xx
Julie is by far the most dedicated inspirational midwife I have ever had the pleasure to work with! She deserves this so much.
Amazing woman
I hope you get this award Julie. After the loss of my 4-year-old daughter Violet-Grace Youens, Julie has been so supportive and gone above and beyond her call of duty yet again. I hope I am blessed with a rainbow baby one day, and I know the support Julie will give will be immeasurable. Julie is the beat midwife I have ever encountered ?
Helped us so much when we lost our son Jacob In may 2018..thank you ❤️
You deserve this was there for me when my son was born sleeping at 37 weeks and have still been there throughout my last and this new pregnancy love you like a mother such an amazing woman good luck lovely lady xxx
Dedicated to her role as bereavement midwife. Julie is fantastic at what she does when caring for bereaved mothers and their families. Such a beautiful person
We first met Julie on 13th June 2012 the day our angel was born. She was an angel sent to help us through that day, she offered support, lovely words and a shoulder to cry on. She treated Charlie with dignity and gave us the opportunity to create beautiful memories of him. When I had Noah she came on shift and took over my care and again was an a true angel. Please vote for her to win ?
Julie your one in a million and so dedicated to your role. Outstanding person both professional and personal. Good luck xx
Julie looked after my daughter when she lost her son Harry Joseph at 32 weeks such a devastating time her support was immense not just while she was in the hospital but when she came home to always just on the other end of the phone when needed. A remarkable woman.
Good luck Julie
I have had the pleasure of knowing this lovely lady for a very long time Julie is an amazing person and shows so much dedication in what she does shes truely an angel in disguise
Julie inspires greatness in those who have the pleasure of working along side her. As you can imagine, the work she does must takes its toll on her emotionally too but she is so dedicated and professional that she never let’s this show to the families she cares for. She also supports the staff she works with as part of her role and she does so selflessly and graciously.
Julie you were fantastic when you helped to deliver my daughter, she’s now 3 years old. You are an amazing lady and got me through the final stage of labour when my daughter’s heart rate dropped dangerously low. You managed to keep me calm throughout with your amazing care. You really do deserve this award for all that you have done and will keep on doing for the women and families of this area.
Good luck Julie!
Most amazing midwife I was going though the loss of my baby and I couldn’t of asked for a better midwife to look after me so compassionate and thoughtful best of Luck Julie u deserve it xxx
Truly amazing midwife. Helped me in 1 of my darkest times .cant praise her enough
Julie delivered my 1st born 11years ago and she is amazing at what she does..
I went in toward the end of her shift.. and laboured all night, soon as she came back on shift the following morning she noticed my name still on the board 12+ hrs later and came streight in to me.. an then eventually delivered my baby girl.
After delivery, she explained to me how my placenta was abnormal (Velamentous cord insertation) and only effects 1 in so many pregnancies.
And if i rememeber rightly.. that was the 1st time she had come across it herself, In all the years she had been a midwife at Whiston! .. she gave me so much support and told me how lucky both me an my daughter was!
She deffinatly gets my vote.. she’s the BEST! X
Thank you all for your lovely words xx
Julie sanderson delivered my first born baby boy almost 13 years ago 08.10.2006 sadly he didnt come home but julie was amazing and i will never forget the help she gave me that day shes a brilliant midwife she deserves this so much
Julie is a lovely lady . Helped us when we lost our little girl 24 october 2016 .Julie deserves to have recognition for all she does xxx
As someone who has lost a child suddenly and also had a number of miscarriages i know how much you need someone there to support you at the worst time in your life and you have done just that for so many people ❤. I hope you win x
When we lost our baby Savanna in 2015. Leaving hospital without a baby is the worst feeling something you never get over.
Julie kept in touch she even came when we received the results to see how we lost our baby girl.
When we had our rainbow baby Theo in 2016 Julie came to see him.
Julie goes above and beyond looking after people on the best day of their lives but also the worst. Thank you Julie I’m sure that award already has your name on.
Julie Sanderson we was so lucky to have you as a midwife 28 years ago I will never forget your encouraging words and support. a lady that has had great pleasure and heart ache along her career as a midwife you truly are a star and I was so lucky to have you as my midwife and we was blessed with a beautiful daughter xx
Good luck lovely
You deserve it xxxx
Julie truly deserves this award! She always gives 100% and is so kind and compassionate in her role.
Julie is truly a beautiful lady, inside and out. . Always kind, caring and passionate as an advocate for Women and their families at a very vulnerable time in their lives. . You are inspirational ♡♡♡
Julie supported me and my husband before, during and after we gave birth to our twins Alice who is now 6 and our special sleeping angel baby Leo at 36 weeks. Julie was amazing we couldn’t have managed without her. We was on such a rollercoaster of emotions happy and sad all rolled into one. Julie is a friend for life and will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Reading all these very very truthful comments makes it seem like it was yesterday when we lost our baby girl Jessica at 34 weeks pregnant 10 years ago. Julie just gives what you need, I don’t know how she knows what you need she just does and it all goes a long way and means so much in such awful times. She makes your memories and makes you feel like just because your baby was still…….. born…… you should still celebrate and remember that little life. I feel truly honoured to say that Julie touched my life and will always hold a special place in all of our families hearts and that is thoroughly deserved.
Julie supported me and skippy when we gave birth to Leo who was born sleeping at 36 weeks. what Julie and her team do is so so amazing you helped us create special Memories with our angels in the short time we had which we get to hold onto forever. You guided us when we seen know way forward. You will always hold a special place in my heart. X Julie Sanderson
You have helped so many families over the years and two of them are my friends. A big thanks from them and me for all our support.
Good luck xxx