Midwife Vivienne Cutler has been recognised nationally for her unfailing support and devotion to mothers.

Mrs Cutler, who has helped bring newborns into the world for the past three years at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, was named Johnson’s Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year for the South and Midlands.

The 48-year-old from Calne was nominated by Maggie Powick, whom she cared for through a difficult labour and, sadly, the stillbirth of her daughter.

Although delighted to be chosen out of scores of other professionals, Mrs Cutler admitted her unexpected win still felt slightly surreal.

“It seems like a dream,” she said. “Although it was incredibly sad, I’m glad I was able to be there to help Maggie and her husband Bob through their difficult experience, giving them time with their daughter.

“I supported Maggie and Bob during the delivery of their baby right up to the time that they went home.”

Mr and Mrs Powick’s daughter was stillborn on January 16, 2013, at GWH’s delivery suite.

Their distress and grief was somewhat eased by Mrs Cutler’s compassion and encouragements.

Mrs Powick, 44, from Hungerford, said: “Having to go through a long labour after the loss of a baby will never leave you as a mother.

“The midwives in the delivery suite were fantastic, but Vivienne was just simply the best.

“Vivienne was with me throughout my labour and was assigned to me every day of my stay and ensured my husband was looked after too – nothing was too much of a bother.

“Any questions we had, she was able to answer and, if not, ensured someone would. She made our distressing situation as positive as she could have done in the circumstances. We would have no-one else but Vivienne to deliver our next child.”

Mrs Cutler will receive her trophy at The Royal College of Midwives Annual Midwifery Awards on January 22, during which a national winner will be announced.