National award for midwife who was ‘a rock’ of support

Nominated by grateful mum Louise Morris, 28, also from Bathgate, Ms McInally said she was taken by surprise.

“It was amazing. I was so sure that I wouldn’t have got this far, I felt a bit overwhelmed,” she said.

Ms McInally helped Ms Morris both before and after the birth of her first son, Grayson, who is now eight months old.

Ms Morris, who works as an assistant compliance manager for Lloyds Banking Group, said the midwife had been her “rock” throughout a difficult pregnancy.

She said: “Diane was my community midwife, so not the midwife who delivered Grayson, but she gave me all my pre and post-care, and she was just my rock when I was carrying Grayson – I don’t know what I would have done without her.

“I had really bad morning sickness and a few complications with the pregnancy and Diane was there throughout the whole thing. She did more than I ever expected.

“She would pop to the house whenever I needed her and she would text or phone outside her working hours.

“Because I was so sick I wasn’t able to go to ante-natal classes, so she did them from home for me. If ever there was a day I was really struggling, she would pop in or give me a call.”

Ms Mclnally, who has been a midwife for 27 years, was presented with the Johnson’s sponsored award by newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky at a ceremony in London.

She said: “When Louise said she wanted to nominate me I was very pleased and honoured, but concerned that I would let her down.

“I think that as a midwife you do give a standard of care that hopefully looks at each mum involved and responds to her individual needs. If there are any issues in a pregnancy, you mould your care to suit the needs of the person.

“The fact the Royal College of Midwives were involved made me feel very proud and I was certainly very proud to be representing Scotland. It was lovely to be put forward, but I hope I’m a face for the standard of midwifery care across the Lothians.”

Ms Morris added: “I was delighted when I heard she’d won. You can always get your midwife a nice card and a bottle of wine, but there’s no way of telling her how much it really meant.

“It was great to know that she was recognised by her own industry and her superiors would know about it.”

Ms Mclnally also won praise from NHS Lothian chief midwife Maria Wilson, who said: “This recognition is particularly well received as Diane was nominated by one of the mums she cared for.”