Johnson’s Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2012

Midwife Debbie Oram from Aylesbury has been awarded the prestigious midwifery award presented by BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky. 

A midwife based in Bucks has been awarded JOHNSON’S^® Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2012 Award by the Royal College of Midwives at its annual awards ceremony. Debbie Oram was nominated by grateful mum, Olwen Mayes, for her “knowledge, time, dedication and kindness” before and after the birth of her baby boy Huw.

Olwen Mayes said, “Debbie guided me through both my pregnancies, the first being a wonderfully calm waterbirth at home, however my second pregnancy was a very different matter. I was in hospital with placenta previa where I stayed until my baby was delivered by C-section at 38 weeks. Debbie arranged it so she could be in theatre with me and ‘deliver’ my second child. As something of an ‘earth mother’ I hadn’t wanted a C-section, Debbie knew how I felt and did everything to make sure things were as natural as possible despite the clinical surroundings. Thanks to her I was able to have endless skin-to-skin contact and establish breastfeeding within the hour following the delivery with some desperate moments for both myself and my baby. Due to Debbie’s skills and professionalism I knew nothing of the dangers that we faced, and overcame, until we were safe after the event. I am eternally grateful to Debbie for her knowledge, time, dedication and kindness.”

The JOHNSON’S^® Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year Award, now in its third year, is the only award which allows mums to nominate midwives who they feel have gone beyond the call of duty. JOHNSON’S^® Baby sponsors two awards at the RCM Annual Midwifery Awards which recognise the excellence, innovation and impact of midwifery practice in the UK.

For the second year running, the JOHNSON’S^® Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year Award, was presented by newsreader and mum-of-two, Natasha Kaplinsky, who also hosted the event. Natasha comments “I’m delighted to be involved again in this year’s awards ceremony, it’s wonderful that there is a way for mums to nominate their midwives and say thank you for all the excellent work done by midwives across the UK.”

JOHNSON’S Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2012 winner Debbie Oram said “I feel very honoured and humble to win this award, for showing support, care and empathy for women and their families. I have been a midwife for 22 years and caring for women during childbirth is a privilege at such a special and precious time.”

Hundreds of midwives were nominated across the UK by mothers whose lives they have helped, or had an impact on. Entries were judged by a panel of midwives who considered, amongst other things, to what extent the midwife demonstrated best clinical practice, support for mum’s emotional care and support for strengthening the bond between mum and baby.

Audrey Warren, the Head of Midwifery at Stoke Mandeville – Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust where Debbie works said, “We are delighted that Debbie has won this award for herself and for the entire maternity unit and for the women we care for. We are dedicated to delivering a high quality of care to the women who access our maternity services.

“At Buckinghamshire maternity unit the underpinning philosophy is to strive to empower the midwives to deliver a service which meets the needs of the local population and Debbie as a co-ordinator on the labour ward plays an important part in this agenda.”

The national winner and five regional finalists were announced at the RCM Annual Midwifery Awards ceremony, held at The Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London on 25^th January 2012.