Devon midwife awarded Best Healthcare Provider

News Desk
Authored by News Desk
Posted Sunday, July 9, 2017 - 9:51pm

Weleda, famous for its organic babycare range, was delighted to sponsor the Gentle Parenting Award for Best Healthcare Provider to recognise a health professional who had gone that extra mile to support a patient or client during pregnancy, birth or the early stages of motherhood.

The Award was open to nominations from parents for any midwife, health visitor, obstetrician, paediatrician, GP, lactation consultant or other baby health professional.

Weleda have been making baby products since 1959 and today their range is one of the top-selling natural baby skincare ranges in the world - a comprehensive collection of 20 maternity and baby products.

The name ‘Weleda’ originates from the title of distinction the ancient Celts gave their wise women who advised the tribe about family and community matters, rather like ‘village elders’. They were both counsellors and healers, offering physical and spiritual support to their communities, with a great knowledge of plants and natural remedies rather like an early apothecary or herbalist.

We couldn’t think of a more perfect ‘Weleda’ than midwife Liz Gunn, who has this year been given the accolade of Best Healthcare Provider!

Liz was nominated by mum-of-two Kayleigh, who lives in Devon where Liz works: “Around 10 years ago now Liz helped to create the first breastfeeding support group in Tiverton which is still active now. The countless breastfeeding peer support workers she has trained in those years is a result of her passion to enable every woman from any background to seek and receive support.

"Liz has committed herself to helping women succeed with breastfeeding. She has spent years training a team to help others. Not only is she a midwife/lactation consultant at Musgrove Hospital, she also founded Healthy Babies UK, a not-for-profit organisation.

"Expectant mums can receive antenatal care including complementary therapies and pregnancy yoga, as well as postnatal services such as breastfeeding support and tongue-tie consultation. They now have a working donor milk bank so premature babies in Devon and Cornwall can have breast milk as a choice.

"With three children of her own as well, Liz is a determined, kind, loving and caring woman, who never loses hope and is forever pushing for women's rights and giving parents a chance to care for their babies naturally. She truly deserves to be recognised for her hard work and dedication.”

Midwife Liz was thrilled by the news of her award: "I am thrilled to have been named Best Healthcare Provider by the panel and hugely appreciate the nomination. Over the years, as I have continued my training in areas such as craniosacral therapy, tongue tie and counselling, it has come from a desire to treat the mother and baby dyad (and whole family) in a holistic way. So to be recognised for a 'nurturing' award is really special. My own journey into motherhood had a rocky start and as I found 'my village' through peer supporters and regular groups, they have become friends and work colleagues who I couldn't have done any of this without."

Liz wins a prize from Weleda that includes a pampering overnight stay in a Derbyshire hotel, a behind-the-scenes visit to Weleda’s 13 acre organic herb gardens where they grow over 200 species for use in their natural medicines and body care products, and a place in Weleda’s baby workshop for the day. Finally Liz was treated to a fabulously fragrant goody bag of Weleda bodycare products as a personal pat on the back.

The Gentle Parenting Awards is a fresh, modern and ethical new awards scheme. The winner of this award was decided by Gentle Parenting’s judging panel of baby health experts.

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