A student midwife from Redditch has won an award for her work researching and promoting the benefits of breastfeeding with new mums in the region's maternity services.
Marie Rivett, 39, who studies at the University of Worcester, scooped the prestigious 2018 Mama Academy Breastfeeding Champion of the Year award.
Speaking after the glittering national Mama Academy awards ceremony in Glasgow, Marie said: "I feel very honoured and grateful to all those who have supported me. Both of my children are ecstatic and overjoyed which makes my endless hours of hard work worthwhile.
"If I am honest, whilst I am absolutely over the moon, I totally did not expect to win the award as I was up against some very significant people."
"I went up to Glasgow with my mum and it was lovely to spend that time together," Marie added. "I even got to go up on stage to collect my award. It took me a while to get there because I was still in total disbelief that I had won. The experience was amazing, and I was particularly touched by the encouraging compliments of other nominees.
"Since returning home I have had congratulatory messages, cards and gifts in abundance. I really am overwhelmed. Many of the mothers I have supported have also been in touch with me to tell me that the award is well deserved. That means so much."
Speaking about her initial nomination for the award back in March, the former flight attendant said: "Ultimately I think it's a culture change that we need. Do we, as healthcare professionals, assign enough value to human milk? I'd like to see a change so that we see human milk not as nutrition, but as a personalised form of medicine for your baby. If we have more info and support out there, then women will be in a better position to make an informed choice."