Leicester Honours Trailblazing Midwife Agnes Nisbett
Leicester’s first Black midwife, Agnes Nisbett, has been honoured for her groundbreaking work supporting families who experience the loss of a baby. Her compassion and innovation changed how hospitals care for parents after stillbirth.
In 1973, following the stillbirth of her own son, John, Nisbett founded the “Born Whilst Sleeping” program at Leicester Royal Infirmary. The initiative introduced new ways to help grieving families cope, offering dignity, emotional support, and lasting memories of their babies.
Her work turned personal tragedy into a legacy of healing that continues to guide maternity care today.
“Agnes Nisbett showed that care doesn’t end at birth,” one colleague said. “She gave parents the strength to grieve with love, not silence.”
The ‘Born Whilst Sleeping’ Program’s Impact on Maternity Care
Before Nisbett’s program, parents who lost babies often received little emotional support. Their experiences were treated as medical losses rather than profound family grief. Through “Born Whilst Sleeping,” Nisbett changed that narrative.
She introduced compassionate care practices that encouraged families to spend time with their stillborn babies, name them, and create keepsakes. These acts helped families acknowledge their loss and begin to heal.
Her approach inspired many hospitals across the UK to adopt similar bereavement programs, helping thousands of families find comfort in their most difficult moments.
“What Agnes started nearly 50 years ago still shapes how we care for families today,” said a spokesperson from Leicester Royal Infirmary.
A Legacy Rooted in Strength, Empathy, and Representation
As Leicester’s first Black midwife, Nisbett’s presence itself was powerful. She entered a field with few people of color at the time and worked tirelessly to make sure every family—no matter their background—felt seen and supported.
Her pioneering efforts opened doors for future generations of Black healthcare professionals in the UK. She showed that diversity and empathy could transform care and bring comfort where silence once existed.
“Agnes gave families what medicine alone could not—compassion, understanding, and hope,” a colleague reflected.
Decades later, her name continues to inspire both midwives and mothers across Britain. The “Born Whilst Sleeping” program remains a symbol of what can happen when personal loss is turned into collective healing.
