Sponsored By

My Plea:

I feel extremely honoured and privileged to have been shortlisted for a Butterfly Award.

I have now been a midwife for 12 years. Within my career as a midwife I have worked as a team midwife working within a midwife-led birth centre, and prior to this I was privileged to practice as a Caseload Midwife for several years providing care for vulnerable parents and families across East Lancashire. My caseload also included many parents who had suffered the loss of a baby at varying gestation’s and this is when I developed my interest in supporting bereavement care. Whilst caring for these families I have built many long standing relationships and supported many families through subsequent pregnancies.

“She was genuine. She wanted to hear about William and my twins. She looked at his photos and told me how beautiful he was. It wasn’t just a job to her……..She acknowledged him”
Lianne Tattersall,
Mummy to ‘William’ born sleeping in 2012

I was extremely privileged to be appointed the role of Bereavement Midwife for East Lancashire Hospitals, and have been supporting parents, families and staff for over three years.

I am extremely passionate about my role and the continued development of Bereavement Care within our service. The parents and families are always the focal point of our care for all our staff within East Lancashire which makes me feel quite humbled to have been nominated personally for this award.

I work very much as part of a team with many other professionals who also provide exceptional Bereavement Care, and whilst I have the honor of assuming the role of Bereavement Midwife, I truly believe that the care provided to parents by myself is purely representative of the care provided by all of our staff within East Lancashire.

My role enables me to influence change, and develop practice within Bereavement Care. I have established positive relationships with other services who we work alongside to ensure that Bereavement Care for parents and families is of a high standard. These services include mortuary staff, the chaplaincy, registrars, funeral directors and many local and national support organisations.

More importantly is the amazing collaboration with our parents who are pivotal in the ongoing development of our bereavement service, and whose input is highly valued when implementing new changes. Our service users fund raise tirelessly to support the bereavement service and provide beautiful handmade memory boxes and keepsakes which make such difference to families during a very difficult time.

Collaboration among specialists within bereavement care is fundamental, locally, regionally and nationally, and enables us to share ideas and practice so that bereaved parents across the United Kingdom will hopefully have access to similar levels of bereavement support following the loss of a baby. I am keen to ensure that bereaved parents and families are aware of, and receive information of how to access the wider charitable organisations which are available to offer support and advice such as Child Bereavement UK, SANDs, CRUSE and Winston’s Wish. Events such as the Butterfly Awards are also crucial in continuing to raise awareness and ensure the ongoing development of bereavement care throughout the wider community.

My role as a bereavement midwife enables me to spend quality time with parents and families, and support them through one the most traumatic events that they are ever likely to experience. Caring for the parents and families is pivotal and regardless of gestation each baby deserves some level of recognition. This care is individually tailored, and very dependent upon the parents’ wishes.

Ensuring that parents receive a high standard of bereavement care from a team of professionals who feel confident and compassionate is vital to ease some of the anxieties that parents endure during such challenging circumstances.
If I can lessen the burden, even slightly, at times when it feels unbearable this can make a huge impact on the emotional and psychological well-being for parents and families, and my colleagues.

What do parents say………

“Louise is a committed Bereavement Midwife that always strives to go that extra mile”.

“Louise is one of the most caring and compassionate people I know. She is most certainly the gel that holds everything together in bereavement care and beyond”
Joanne Edwards,
Mummy to ‘Luke’ born sleeping in 2013

“In what must be a very hard job to do, she always just knows what to say to help at the right time”
Andrew
Daddy to ‘Harry’ born sleeping in 2017

“She shows empathy and kindness in each conversation around baby loss and how I’m feeling”
Grace Banham,
Mummy to ‘Violet’ born sleeping in 2017

What do colleagues say…..

“It’s a pleasure to work with Louise and it’s an honour to be a member of the midwifery bereavement team. Thank you Louise for being such a fabulous leader and for your amazing work which has improved bereavement care in our trust”
Jenny Ferraby
Central Birth Suite Midwife – Bereavement Team

What Others Have Said

“Louise is amazing. She is one of the women who get me through this horrible path of babyloss. I can ring her any time on any day. Louise shows empathy and kindness in each conversation around baby loss and how I’m feeling. Louise is heartfelt and empathetic.  In the loss of a baby she is a family’s ‘rock’.  Louise ensures that particular provisions are in place for families.  She ensures they receive appropriate care, they receive memory boxes, still birth certificates, books, information and beyond.”