Bridgwater midwife shortlisted for national award (From This is The West Country)

Bridgwater midwife shortlisted for national award

1:00pm Saturday 6th March 2010 in News By Laura Nesbitt

BRIDGWATER midwife Monique Korrs is in the running for a national prize. PHOTO: Submitted.

A BRIDGWATER midwife has been shortlisted for a national prize for helping a mother bond with her newborn baby.

Monique Korrs was nominated for The Infacol Baby Bonding Award by Esther Loh, who felt inadequate as a mother after an emergency caesarean last September.

After an exhausting labour, Esther struggled to breastfeed baby Jemima and was told that her milk supply was low.

The new mum felt overwhelmed and worried about bonding with her daughter - until she was helped by Monique.

Esther said: “Monique was a great support and she taught me ways of breastfeeding, giving me advice on how to increase milk supply and recommended that I drink fennel tea.

“At one point I was constantly in tears as I felt so inadequate, but she reassured me that this was normal and that 'what is best for mother is best for baby.' Monique helped me develop that strong bond with Jemima, whose smile reminds me how blessed I am.”

More than 150 health professionals across the country were nominated for the award and Monique is down to the last ten.

She said: “It gives me a good feeling to be appreciated, more so when the expectations for birth and breastfeeding have been different than the outcome.

“In those circumstances it is a challenge for a woman to be open to suggestions and for a midwife to continue to keep on providing different ones to improve the situation.”

The winner will be announced later this month.