Mum wins care award

Myscha-Dene Bates from Abergavenny is a final year student on the degree in midwifery at the University of South Wales.

Prior to her career change from a photographer to a midwifery student, Miss Bates’ first daughter Bobi was stillborn 36 weeks into her pregnancy.

The care she was given by midwives both then and when she gave birth to her now five-year-old daughter Phoenix inspired her to pursue a career as a midwife.

She said: “Having been through two very different life-changing experiences when becoming a mother, I have an appreciation of the diverse and challenging, yet rewarding, role of a midwife.”

As the eldest of six children she says she always had an interest in pregnancy and birth “I loved caring for people from when I was a child. I am the eldest of six children. I was always interested in pregnancy and birth as my mother went through it.”

After securing a place on her course Miss Bates has continued to fundraise locally in order to support bereavement services within maternity care. The funds raised helped to maintain a bereavement suite, and an infants’ memorial garden.

She also more recently organized and funded training workshops for local health boards to provide training on bereavement support for midwives, doctors and maternity staff.

Miss Bates said: “The grief experienced when losing a child is undoubtedly unique. The most important thing I feel when supporting families is showing empathy, compassion, and appreciation that every family is different.

Care should be individualised, as we do for any other patient in any other aspect of midwifery. What one patient may find comforting will not necessarily be the same for the next patient, despite similarities in their circumstances.”

At today’s National Infant Loss Conference, Miss Bates will be presented with Student Midwife of the Year award, which honours a student midwife that has demonstrated a commitment to raising levels of bereavement care within maternity services.