Episode 7 Misbehaving Mums to Be

In the UK, 2,000 babies are born every day.

Is that nice?

Being pregnant is one of the most exciting times in a woman's life.

-She's got a little chin.

-Oh, my God!

You are rested and healthy, ready for the joys of parenthood, right?

Wrong. 20% of women smoke during pregnancy.

It's got nothing to do with anybody else what I do.

But everyone is entitled to their opinion.

35% continue to drink.

The only thing I need to meditate on is a Marlboro Light and a glass of Pinot.

Stick your meditation up your arse.

And one in five pregnant women are obese.

A portion of chips does it, fills a little hole until breakfast time.

Are these women putting their babies in danger before they've even been born?

This year we took 18 misbehaving mums-to-be

and paired them with a crack team of specialist midwives.

Get one up there and one up there.

Our expert midwives gave these wayward women a wake-up call they wouldn't forget.

Every single cigarette that you have is like squeezing the cord.

It will shorten your own life.

The mums-to-be attempted to embrace their new healthy lifestyles.

-What's a russet?

-That is an apple, they're nice. They are, like, proper, off a tree.

Squat.

I'm aware that you're not used to a gym.

Tonight, some of our girls look back on their pregnancy.

Midwife Lisa will see if they've stuck to their healthy habits now they are new mums.

It changed my health and my fitness.

Maisie is a bouncing, healthy little girl.

-Have you enjoyed it?

-I have enjoyed it, yeah.

I think it's been a very sobering experience!

We discover that motherhood has been tough for some.

It was very, very, very worrying. 50-50 that when she came out,

she wouldn't make it through the next 24 hours.

My job primarily is to save babies' lives.

The first girl Lisa is going to visit is new mum Ceri-Ann,

who was addicted to cigarettes.

With two months to her due date,

her baby bump wasn't big enough to get in the way of her addiction.

Morning. Can I have 10 Lambert, please?

That's 3.05, please. Thank you.

My favourite fag of the day is after I've eaten food. It is the best.

If someone gets up every single day and has a cup of coffee,

and can't function without it... that's what it's like for a smoker.

I can't get up, I can't function without my fag.

Ceri-Ann's fiance Ben was also a hardcore addict,

sparking up at least 20 times a day.

Within two seconds of getting in the park and she has a poo!

She successfully quit for the rest of her pregnancy.

12 weeks ago, Ceri-Ann gave birth to a baby girl.

70% of women who kick the habit while pregnant,

go back to smoking when the baby is born.

And Lisa's on a mission to find out if Ceri-Ann is still off the fags.

-Hello.

-Hello! How nice to see you! You are looking fab!

And this must be Maisie-Lee! How gorgeous are you?

-How old is she now?

-12 weeks today.

-12 weeks today.

Hello, nice to see you. She is laughing at me!

-And the labour bit, the delivery, how was that?

-Amazing.

-Really?

-No drugs.

-I've never, ever had anybody say it was amazing before.

-I loved it.

So, tell me, the big question which I'm dying to ask is...

how have you done with your smoking? Because you quit in pregnancy.

-Fine.

-You have still quit?

-Yeah.

Oh, my God! That is amazing!

-Oh, well done, you!

-I told you I could do it.

When I was in labour, I thought I wanted one.

I had a puff, and I was, like, "That is disgusting!" And I spat it at Ben.

I was, like, "Take it away, I don't like it!" Crying.

It is a relief that baby Maisie-Lee came into this world smoke free.

When Ceri-Ann first met Lisa, she was seven months pregnant and on 10 fags a day.

-Hiya!

-Come on in. Nice to see you.

Ceri-Ann had no idea that her high carbon monoxide levels,

caused by smoking, were starving her baby of oxygen.

The reality of it, that is the reality of smoking.

That is directly affecting your baby.

Her reading was almost two times above the safe level,

which put her at a greater risk of premature birth and placental abruption.

You'll have a few more cigarettes today...

-I'm not.

-You are not?

-I'm not.

I don't want another one now. That's really worried me.

I'm, like... Certain things worry me, and that's really worried me.

-You don't want more today?

-No.

What has that done that nothing else has ever managed to do?

I just feel I could put it in danger. Like, now, at this moment.

It has made me feel really guilty.

Ceri-Ann gave up smoking as promised.

Lisa prescribed her nicotine replacement patches,

and she looked for support from partner Ben.

-Promise to quit smoking if I do?

-I promise I'll quit smoking.

-If you quit for a month, I'll quit.

-Pinkie promise?

-Pinkie promise.

Her dad also gave her a financial incentive.

If you have this savings jar, to say you're putting money in this jar,

we need cigarettes, we'll put money in the jar,

I'll put a jar over at my house and I'll match it.

Ceri-Ann gave up even though it was tough.

If I'm unhappy and stressed, I'm going to want a fag even more.

I'd rather put a smile on my face and get on with it for my baby's sake.

And I love my baby more than anything in the world.

After a month she was still smoke free.

But Ben hadn't kept his promise.

Ceri-Ann hoped seeing the baby would be enough to convince him to give up too.

She is having nicotine withdrawal too!

See, she's sucking on the placenta like it's a cigarette.

That's going through my head, the first thing I want is a fag when I get out.

-Take care, bye-bye.

-Cheers.

I can't believe that didn't make you want to quit. It was so amazing.

Didn't even that make you want to stop, just seeing her?

Thinking that was yours, that's your baby, that.

-That's my baby. How is me smoking going to affect that baby?

-Passive smoking.

When she's born and in front of me, I'll think, yeah,

this is more of a reason to quit smoking, because she's there.

Now that baby Maisie-Lee is here, let's hope Ben has kept to his word.

How do you feel about smoking now, now that you're a smoke-free mum?

I don't like it. It does my head in. I'm like, "Get over there, stop smoking."

-So Ben's still smoking?

-Yeah.

OK. That must be pretty tough then?

I won't let him smoke in the house. He goes out the back.

I wish he would quit, for her sake.

When I look at her, I just think, "You could do it for her."

-It is not fair. It is his choice.

-I can smell cigarette smoke.

-That is Ben.

-I can smell it.

It's coming into the room, isn't it?

That is really strong, yet you say he smokes outside.

-Yeah, the back door.

-It's coming back into the house.

-We'll have to have a chat with him, won't we?

-Yeah.

Ben promised Ceri-Ann during pregnancy he would try and give up smoking.

But he never managed it. I'm hoping now that Ceri-Ann has had the baby,

he will give up smoking for the sake of his new daughter.

Lisa may be having words with Ben about his cigarette addiction.

Our misbehaving mums were subjected to no-nonsense tactics

by a team of specialist midwives.

Looking at this, you are not giving your baby what it needs.

-A packet of crisps, well, that's... No, it's the salt.

-Yeah, I know.

-I feel really bad eating them, but...

-Don't buy them then.

Some accepted our advice.

Now I know it's the last fag though, it doesn't seem so great.

That is amazing.

While others weren't so keen.

I've never been brought up to eat fruit, so it's, like, why start now?

I enjoy it, so why should I give up something I enjoy?

It feels like she's out of control with the whole fitness thing.

And I'm just thinking, "No, you don't do that. You just push."

And one even tried to cheat the test.

-Have you had any cigarettes?

-No.

-You have not had any cigarettes since, what, nine days?

-Yeah.

Now, that's still not a non-smoking reading.

-What could account for that then?

-Beats me.

Another graduate from the midwife tough-love training programme is bar owner Juliet.

When we first met her, she had just found out she was pregnant

and was about to bring her baby into a world of stress.

This is one of my best friends.

I used to get through four or five bottles of this comfortably a day.

I'm hoping and praying the baby is not pickled in any way.

Even though there was a baby on the way, she had a thriving bar to run.

Good morning, the lounge.

You are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Juliet had cut out drinking and smoking

but without wine and cigarettes, her stress levels were off the scale.

My heart's going boom, boom, boom. Somebody give me a Marlboro Light, or I'll smash your face in.

-Oh, come on, you

-BLEEP

-penis!

Mum, you're really stressing me out now, I've got to be honest. Let me just get on with this, please.

In the past, when I'm really stressed,

it would literally be quite a vicious attack on the wine.

So where's my crux now? What do I do?

It's now six months later.

Juliet is just days away from giving birth

and her life has changed.

To have a big, successful business, bar,

working till four, five, six in the morning,

drinking and smoking with your mates is all good fun, but...

would I change it? No, no. You can keep that. That's done.

I may be boring now but I like the new, boring me!

It's much nicer keeping healthy and keeping a nice house

and something to look forward to.

This is Juliet's first baby so Lisa is on her way to check

how the mum-to-be is getting on in the run-up to the birth.

Hello, Juliet, Hi. How lovely to meet you!

-I've been so looking forward to seeing you.

-Good. You too, come in.

-Thank you.

So, how have you found the pregnancy? Have you enjoyed it?

I have enjoyed it, yeah. It's been a very sobering experience!

-Very cleansing experience.

-Detoxifying.

-Detoxifying, yeah,

that's a very good word for it. But also...

I've... I've put on a lot of weight.

-Well...

-But I've enjoyed my food which I haven't done for many,

many years and I do eat healthily.

I don't just shove Haribos and cookies down my face.

But I have enjoyed it, it's been difficult.

We've had ups and downs during the way,

-obviously the detox in the beginning was difficult.

-Mmm.

Juliet today is like a new person.

-Come on, Juliet.

-Thank you very much.

-Take a seat.

Back in October, she went to see experienced midwife Alison

who wanted her to make some changes.

And what is the state of your drinking?

Once a week on a Sunday I'll have a glass of red wine.

You actually should stop. You really shouldn't be drinking within the first trimester.

There are mixed messages about whether to keep alcohol to a minimum or avoid it altogether.

Alison's view is no booze is best in the first trimester.

Because that is the time most of the baby's vital organs and brain

are formed, so it's absolutely vital.

Juliet cut out alcohol altogether

but rejected Alison's other suggestion - to slow down.

If I'm honest, I haven't done anything.

Not been able to go to meditation,

The only thing I need to meditate on right now is a Marlboro Light and a glass of Pinot.

SHE LAUGHS

All right?

You can stick your meditation up your arse.

And even her sister couldn't get her to listen.

The drinking always concerned me.

Do you really reckon that you're going to be able to go the whole nine months?

I'm not saying completely without alcohol, you can have

the odd one or two drinks but do you think you'll do it?

-I won't go out on the lash, if that's what you mean.

-No.

She did eventually give yoga a try.

Hi, I'm here for the yoga at 12.30.

I'm afraid you're five minutes late

and she doesn't like to interrupt a class once it's started.

That was a bit off, wasn't it?

I mean, it was only a couple of seconds.

But her hectic work life got in the way again.

The thought of on my down time, my resting time

to go and do some yoga or something isn't in the picture.

I think you need to give it all a chance because

I'm convinced that once you start, you will see the effect.

I know that but the bar does come first because it has to be.

You really have to have a new priority now

and it's no longer the bar.

And it was only when Alison suggested a way to combine

motherhood with work that things started to change.

Here's another one, can I give you that, my lovely?

-This is AJ.

-Hi, AJ. How are you?

See those babies?

Want one. Ooh, having one!

SHE LAUGHS

Since then, Juliet's life has continued to wind down

and today, things are very different.

She's taking a back seat for the sake of her unborn baby.

-Weebles wobble...

-Feet up on there, excellent.

Lisa wants to give the baby a few final checks.

So I'm going to measure your abdomen now

which should measure by rights about 39.

It is 42, that's a really good size.

So absolutely brilliant growth size, and we want a good-sized baby.

Good-sized babies do a lot better.

Less chance of infection, it's the low-birth-weight babies

that don't do very well.

So the fact that this is a good-sized baby

and a healthy size is a good thing.

ULTRASOUND RUMBLES

There we go. That's baby.

Hello!

-How does that make you feel?

-Little darling!

Can you believe that that baby in there is going

to be in your arms in a few days' time?

-With a face.

-With a face.

Healthy baby. That sounds brilliant.

-Cool.

-Well, I've looked after her!

That is wonderful. Absolutely brilliant.

Another mischievous mum-to-be was Zara,

who, at seven months pregnant, was a junk-food addict...

I don't have a chicken burger every day. But when I can have it, I will have it.

..and a chocoholic.

I like chocolate. I like cheese.

-I love chicken.

-Cakes.

Cakes and stuff.

You should have a bit of fat in your diet.

But what Zara was eating was also going straight into her baby.

She's going to be on my milk for the first couple of months of her life.

She's not really going to come out and be, like, "I want a burger."

It's now four months later and Zara has given birth to baby Niamh.

What do you want, Za?

A prawn mayonnaise and salad baguette?

It's healthy.

That's all good then! That's good.

Junk food is out and healthy, nutritious meals are in.

Although unrelated to Zara's unhealthy diet,

Niamh was born with a hole in her heart

and has already undergone life-saving surgery.

She was born and then they took her straight up to intensive care

and then they came and got her at 1.00

and they said they'd ring us when she'd come out

and she come out about half eight in the evening.

She had loads of tubes and wires and stuff all over her.

They had to close a hole in her heart,

they had to open her chest and open her ribs.

And then push her ribs back together.

Hello. They look like dents.

But that's where they had to put the chest rings in so...

It was very, very, very worrying and very, very upsetting.

50-50 that when she come out,

that she wouldn't make it through the next 24 hours.

And we were all waiting and worrying about...

whether she was going to be OK or not.

She was back in intensive care on the bed

and they'd sorted everything out.

But, yeah. I'm just so happy.

They said, "No, she's fine."

Come down and see her.

Aw, she's doing a poo.

Oh, I know she is. Aw!

Zara and her mum are happy now, but just a few months ago, it was a different story.

Alongside the hole in her heart, Zara was also told the baby could

have DiGeorge syndrome which could mean long-term medical problems.

There we are, there's the heartbeat.

-Come on, baby.

-Work it!

Giving it a good jiggle.

Oh, look at that, Zara.

One of the signs of DiGeorge syndrome is a cleft palate.

This 4D scan was going to reveal

the baby's face in detail for the first time.

Nice.

-Oh, wow!

-Behold, you've got a little chin, there's the chin.

The lips.

-Oh, my God.

-Aw!

-I was going to say, the lips look OK there.

-She looks...

-Yeah.

Learning that the baby didn't have a cleft palate came as a huge relief

-as it's one of the signs of DiGeorge syndrome.

-Baby!

-They're happy tears for once, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Happy tears.

Baby Niamh has been given the all-clear on DiGeorge syndrome

and it's been seven weeks since her heart surgery.

Today I'm off to see Zara and her new baby Niamh.

Zara was only 16 when she found herself pregnant

and it can be a real shock finding yourself a parent

at such a young age and there'll be lots of issues

facing Zara so I can't wait to see how she's getting on with that.

-Hello?

-Hi, it's Lisa, the midwife. Can you let me in?

-You've got to come in cos Lisa's coming in.

-No.

-Yes, you have.

Oh, stop being so silly.

-Hiya.

-Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Lisa.

Nice to meet you.

-Hello, little one.

-Say hello, Niamh.

-Hello to you, you're beautiful.

Yes, you are. She's got a look of Mum, hasn't she?

-Do you think she looks like Zara? I do.

-Yeah, yeah.

I can definitely see Zara in her.

Baby and Granny seem fine, but there's no sign of Zara yet.

She's still being a little bit of a lazy bones, but...

..It's all learning curves, isn't it?

It is, and having a new baby is really difficult for anybody.

Your mum loves you very much, she's just a bit tired this morning.

The new mum has finally made an appearance.

I've never met you personally. It's lovely to see you.

And your gorgeous baby... Congratulations!

It's been a rough time for this teenager

so Lisa wants to have a little one-to-one.

What's been the main difficulties for you? What's been the hardest thing?

I don't know. Just, like, not being able to do what I used to do.

I just used to go out all the time and now I've got to stay in cos I've got to look after the baby.

I'm not complaining.

At the end of the day, Zara, you are only very young

so, of course, it's normal to want to feel that way.

What would you have normally done? If Eve hadn't been here?

-Stay in bed.

-Till when?

To, like, one o'clock.

So how does it feel having Mum around to help?

So much better.

Is it? Are you glad that she's here to help?

Yeah.

Are there any times when you wish that it was just you and the baby?

Yeah, loads of times.

Loads of times? What things do you find difficult to do?

When she cries, I don't know whether she wants this or she wants that.

I try her with everything and she just doesn't stop.

So then my mum has her and then she stops straight away.

How does that make you feel?

Like he doesn't know me.

Like the baby doesn't know you?

You know when during the pregnancy, they thought the baby had got DiGeorge syndrome

and they thought there were going to be a lot more problems and they did offer you a termination.

At that time, that must have been absolutely terrible, to have been faced with that dilemma.

I can't imagine how at 16 you coped with all of that.

Oh, darling.

I think Zara's got some real bonding issues with that baby. It could be for a number of reasons.

The fact she's so young, she's had a troubled pregnancy

and she's had a very ill baby to contend with, a baby that wasn't with her in the very beginning

and we know that where mums aren't with their babies from birth, they can have bonding problems.

'I want to wrap her in cotton wool and take her and the baby away somewhere to connect'

but she needs the right environment.

For all our mischievous mums-to-be, coping with the changes that pregnancy brings was never easy.

Giving up ciggies, curries and hectic lifestyles proved tough.

It looks like sick.

-But it's actually really nice.

-But it looks like sick!

In my head, being 18 and to be putting two babies before myself,

I've never put anyone before me, ever, so it's a big step for me.

Basically, I've been to see my midwife today

and I have got to cut out all the crap.

Can you still eat bacon and stuff like that?

To be fair, I could. Just cut the fat off it.

Since when do I ever listen to anyone saying things to me, do you know what I mean?

Unless it's useful information, I don't listen.

My mum and dad worry about me, and have done for a long time, how much I work.

It's a big thing to change when you've always been a certain way.

You're asking me to change a big part of my personality in a way.

Tears and tantrums were quick to follow.

-I'm not playing.

-You are.

I don't like moaning. You're making me want to smoke a fag right now.

I'm getting hacked off now. I'm tired and I'm ratty and I just...

-Why not let me do it?

-Cos you don't know what you're doing.

-How much longer are you going to be?

-Just talk to me!

Stop stressing me out cos I'm going to punch you in a minute.

It's killing me. Feel how sweaty my palms are.

It's so hard.

I makes me sick and I don't want one.

I feel so stressed.

After giving up her boozy, stressful lifestyle,

Juliet is back at her bar in Cardiff.

So you look huge.

Yes.

But this time she's not working.

Pregnancy has brought her closer together with boyfriend Marik,

who's now running the bar and restaurant.

So, I don't work any more, even though I'm here,

I'm just... I can have overlook and point, but I'm not really working at all.

Formerly a stresshead, Juliet now takes time to relax with friends.

Aren't they lovely!

And even puts her feet up.

Make yourself comfy.

Thank you, my dear.

But it's not always been that way.

-It's not going to happen.

-You have got to stop the excuses.

When we first met Juliet, midwife Alison was worried that she hadn't dealt with her divorce properly,

causing stress do her and her unborn baby.

If I offered you some counselling, if you think that would be beneficial...

After much persuasion, Juliet agreed to book a counselling session.

A bit of therapy, it is a big thing and I think it would probably be quite an emotional thing

cos I've not been able to talk to anybody about it, so...

-I'm emotional now.

-BLEEP

Sorry.

That's why I want to get it put to bed cos I should be over it now.

But unfortunately, I'm not.

I will cos that's why I want to get it out the way

cos it's a horrible, negative thing that happened

and it's still in my head and this is a positive thing and I don't want it to conflict.

When Juliet's marriage broke down, she threw herself into work at the bar

leaving no time to deal with her feelings.

I think the whole fags, booze and self-destruct was cos I was so bloody unhappy.

I just want to get rid of it so that that negative energy is not put into this baby.

Petrified of opening that big can of worms again and letting those feelings...

cos I defy anyone to still be breathing after the way I felt,

after what I think I've been through.

But it wasn't all bad.

Juliet had previously been told she couldn't have children

so when she found out she was pregnant by her new boyfriend,

she felt she had been given a new lease of life.

Seven months on and back at the bar, Juliet's family are busy trying to predict the sex of her new baby.

If it goes round in a circle, it's a girl. Left or right, it's a boy.

Mum is chuffed that Juliet's given up the booze.

She's done excellent, absolutely amazing.

She hasn't drunk one spot of alcohol, she has not smoked a cigarette,

and I think it's totally commendable.

She's more passive, happier, contented,

everything you should be when you're pregnant.

And sceptical sister Shelley has eaten her words.

The wine went, the cigarettes went, obviously she didn't find that very easy,

but I don't think everyone realised how serious she was at one point.

I thought she was a bit of a lost cause. I really was concerned.

So it's just been amazing. It's wonderful.

It's hard not to feel emotional, especially when you love your sister so much.

I'm just proud of her.

Since giving up her stressful lifestyle, Juliet has had a lot of time to reflect.

I wasn't quite sure what I'd find today because I knew that you were really busy,

you really loved that lifestyle actually, all that stress.

-I did.

-You did! You enjoyed it, you got a buzz out of it.

The reasons why I was drinking... I was drinking because I was unhappy

and part of that unhappiness was the knowledge that I couldn't have children,

so of course, when you find out, actually, you're pregnant, it's like...

Oh, my God!

What is really wonderful for me is to see you here,

in this place that you are now, in this really calm, happy place

because it's just written all over your face that you're just where you want to be.

This baby has saved my life.

I'm creating it and giving it a life but it's saved mine,

otherwise, I don't think that... It's not a nice thing to say,

but I don't think I'd be here for much longer.

You came through such a rough time.

It's been heaven-sent. An angel has sent his baby to me...

Sorry!

Don't, you'll have me in tears.

It's wonderful, you've been given a gift.

You've been given a gift, a true gift,

and that is just the best thing that could happen to anybody, isn't it?

Lucky is not my middle name, but this has been...

yeah, it really is...

It really is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I can see it, it's written all over your face.

It's been a journey, it's been a journey.

You've come through the other side smiling and happy, haven't you?

Oh, yeah. I'm over the moon. Totally blessed.

She's gone from being a very stressed, business orientated person,

to looking like a mum-to-be.

She's finally focused on what is important.

She's about to bring a new life into the world

and I think that is clear to see, that she is overjoyed by that.

Three weeks later, Juliet gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

Having this amazing angel in my arms is a dream that I never thought was ever going to come true.

# Some kind of magic

# When I woke the world was new

# I never had to ask

# It's a brand new day... #

I still can't believe it's happened to me.

It's been the best thing that's happened to me in my whole life.

16-year-old Zara is struggling as a new mum.

Her baby underwent life-saving heart surgery shortly after birth

and Lisa's worried that it may have affected mum and baby's bond.

Zara's mum seems to be taking on more than her fair share of baby duties,

so Lisa wants to try and get Granny to take a step back.

What she would like would be for you to just help her get to know Niamh a bit better

by allowing her to do that little bit more.

With your support and help she feels that she could achieve that.

We wondered how you felt about that.

-I think that's amazing.

-Do you?

-Yeah, I do.

I said she's be pleased!

I don't want to be doing it for you, Zara. You're her mum.

I will support you 100%. You know that.

I want you to tell your mum what you want her to do for you and Niamh.

-Tell her.

-Think I'm taking over?

And you don't like it.

Why do you think I'm taking over?

Feels like you are.

Well, I don't want to.

I get the feeling that had she not had the surgery and health problems

things might be a bit different.

She's so small and fragile and she's been through so much.

You're so scared of doing something that might not be right

you'd rather not do anything at all.

What other things d'you feel you'd benefit from? Spending some quality time with Niamh? Yeah?

You could do with a bit of TLC as well.

A bit of pampering.

Lisa's found the perfect solution to help Zara and her baby get closer.

Hello, Zara. Lovely to meet you.

A baby massage class.

-So you've not done any infant massage before?

-No.

What we're going to do, this is my baby. Do a bit of shoulder rolling.

Which feels really strange, I know.

Oil up and put it on your hands.

Would you like a massage?

All the way up. Up to the ankle and back down to the side.

Toe roll.

We're going to do leg rolling - rolling the leg

all the way from the side up to the ankle. Perfect.

I'd definitely do it again.

It just feels like you bond with the baby more.

She could feel that I was touching her and I could feel that she knew I was touching her.

She was lacking in confidence, self-esteem and belief in herself that she could be a good mum

and this afternoon I think what we've seen has been brilliant.

They bonded.

I think there were moments where she truly thought, "This is my child."

BABY CRIES

Ceri-Anne has been smoke free for five months,

but despite many promises, her boyfriend Ben still hasn't quit.

Why don't we go in and have a look over there...?

Before Lisa tackles the issue with Ben,

she's taken Ceri-Anne for a quick shopping trip to spend some of the money she saved.

Oh, yeah, that's lovely. See, that's only four days' cigarettes as well.

How does it feel to know you're smoke free and you've done it?

Overwhelmed. Like, so glad I done it. I knew I could do it.

Hi. We'd like those, please. Thank you.

Ceri-Anne has done amazingly well, but is she getting the support she needs from boyfriend Ben?

Lisa wants to let Ben know just what he's putting into his body

and what his second-hand smoke is doing to his baby.

-Do you know how many chemicals are in cigarettes?

-Thousands.

-Thousands. But here's some common ones.

Weedkiller, OK?

There are chemicals in there that are actually banned in this country.

-Did you know that you're inhaling that with every cigarette?

-No.

OK, we have toilet cleaner,

and in toilet cleaner there is a chemical called formaldehyde.

Do you know what formaldehyde is? De you know what it's used for?

-Cleaning the toilet!

-Yeah, but it's also commonly used to preserve dead bodies.

-Oh!

It's an embalming fluid.

Eurgh!

And last but not least we have ammonia.

Now you put it like that, it does seem a bit different.

Would you, I wonder, smoke a cigarette if I took some of these

and put them into a cigarette and then I said, "Smoke that now?"

-Would you do it?

-No, I'd tell you to jog on.

-Really?

-I would.

But that's already in there, that's what you're doing.

That's only four of 4,200 chemicals that you're putting in your body

every single day with every single cigarette.

If you carry on smoking, and Maisie grows up seeing you as a smoker,

by the time she is about 14 years old,

she's far more likely to have tried smoking herself,

so she could well come home one day smelling of cigarettes and say,

"Dad, you're doing it. I've seen you smoke for the last 14 years."

How would you feel if she came home and you knew that she was putting these chemicals in her body?

I'd hit the roof. I would hit the roof massively.

-But I... She's not smoking.

-You can't stop her, though, can you?

-Why don't you want her to start?

-Cos I don't want her to damage herself.

-So why are you doing it to yourself?

I don't want to smoke, I want to quit smoking.

-So stopping is something that you really feel you'd like to give it another try now?

-Yeah.

Why don't we get that down on paper, then? So, your pledge, OK?

"I promise..."

OK, that's for you to keep now.

-Just got to stick to it now, haven't you?

-I think it's brilliant.

I think, you know, he's done this for you and for Maisie-Lee,

-and I don't think we could ask any more of him.

-No.

-I think he deserves a kiss.

Ben's tried giving up smoking lots of times before, and hasn't managed it.

I'm hoping this new baby will give him the inspiration he needs,

and I hope he gives it his best shot because I believe deep down

that he really does want to be smoke-free.

I don't feel like smoking now. I really don't feel like smoking.

-Well, if you have a go, then you've had a go, haven't you, at least.

-I'll give it a go.

-OK.

As Benn promises to kick the fags, his new family mark the beginning of a smoke-free future.

Don't cry, come on.

Meeting Lisa really changed my whole thoughts on smoking.

'It's really changed my life, it's helped me a lot.'

It's changed my view on smoking completely.

It obviously helped me to quit, and it changed my health and my fitness,

and obviously Maisie's a bouncing, happy little girl.

Not all the mischievous mums-to-be found it easy to give up their unhealthy lifestyles,

and the next mum Lisa's going to visit did struggle.

When we first met Amy, she was four months pregnant

and puffing on 15 cigarettes a day.

When I had my scan and saw the baby moving, really energetic,

I thought, well, it's not doing no damage to the baby and just carried on as normal, really,

just like every day, cigarette after cigarette.

With Lisa's help, Amy quit the fags during pregnancy.

It's now been six months since we last saw her,

and Lisa's on her way to meet Amy and her new baby.

-Hello! You OK?

-Hello, you! Are you all right?

-I'm OK, thank you.

It's lovely to see you.

Oh, my goodness, she is so gorgeous!

-Thank you.

-Oh, hello, little one!

-How old is she now?

-Five weeks. Well, five weeks, two days.

-Oh, she's fantastic. Oh, congratulations.

-Thank you.

-You found the birth OK?

-Yeah.

-That's good news,

-and I'm really glad you didn't end up with a Caesarean.

-I know. I know, so am I.

Cos that was one of the risks of smoking in pregnancy,

you're more likely to have a more complicated delivery,

so it's good news that you had a good time.

So, time to find out if baby Ava is sleeping in a smoke-free environment.

-So, this is your bedroom?

-Yeah.

-I can see the little Moses basket in the corner.

-So this is Ava's room?

-Yes.

-What a lovely, bright, sunny room.

-That's great. But the whole house is smoke-free?

-Yeah.

Cos as I'm walking round I can tell there's no smoke anywhere,

so you've kept it smoke-free right from pregnancy, which is brilliant.

Amy's house is fag-free now.

But when she first saw Lisa, it was a different story.

She was four months pregnant and addicted to nicotine.

-Hi, Amy, come on in. Have a seat, sit down.

-Cheers.

I would like to be able to tell you what some of the risks are

-so that you can understand why giving up smoking in pregnancy is so important.

-Yeah.

First and foremost,

carbon monoxide is given off from the smoke of a cigarette.

It's a poisonous gas and takes up the place of where oxygen should be,

so for every single cigarette that you have,

it's almost like me squeezing the cord and stopping the oxygen getting through,

and if that comes away, what do you think would happen to the baby?

The baby'll die.

-I can see that has really, really upset you.

-Thanks.

-Why has that bit upset you so much? Is that because you think it could happen?

-Yeah.

-Is that something you were thinking about before?

-Yeah, a lot.

It was upsetting for Amy, but she needed to know the facts.

And it worked. After meeting Lisa, she slapped on a patch,

combed the house for ashtrays...

Ta-da!

And went off to work armed with an arsenal of nicotine replacement therapy

ready to kick her 15-a-day habit.

A few days later, she was still smoke free,

using exercise to distract her, as well as some little treats along the way.

Thank you, I love them.

A few weeks later, it was time to find out if the baby was finally out of danger.

Last time, you blew a 12, the baby was in red,

high level of carbon monoxide.

-This time we are wanting four and below.

-OK.

Until you can't blow any more. Brilliant, let's have a look.

Look at that! It's a green two! From 12!

And that is your proof that all your hard work has paid off.

-That demonstrates how beneficial that is to baby.

-Oh, I'm so happy.

Really happy, emotional.

What are you doing?

Amy stayed smoke-free throughout her pregnancy,

so the big question is, is she still off the fags?

-So how did you get on?

-After I'd given birth...

..it was about four days, three or four days,

and because I was just so, not stressed, but so, like...

I really wanted a cig, and then I had some and it kind of went on from there again.

-But I'm not smoking as much as I used to.

-OK.

You're going outside for the cigarette and you're having that time out there.

While you're having that cigarette, what are you thinking about?

-The baby.

-The baby.

-Definitely.

-So how does that make you feel, then, about your smoking?

I feel guilty, I don't like smoking, I just think...

I don't see why I've started again, really. It's just...

I don't know.

It's a real shame that Amy's gone back to smoking after all that hard work in pregnancy,

but we know that some ladies do relapse postnatally.

What we need to make sure is that Amy understands the dangers of continuing to smoke around that baby.

The last girl Lisa's going to catch up with is Kayley. When we first met

this 22-year-old arcade worker, she was three months pregnant,

5 foot 1, and tipping the scales at over 16 stone,

making her a staggering seven stone overweight.

Can I have two portions of chips?

'I've always been a big person, ever since I was a teenager.'

Cos I've always been that way, I've not really been that bothered by it.

As she was working such long hours, boyfriend Michael had taken over the kitchen.

I don't know how to cook. Just put something on a tray in the oven.

Here you go.

'Chips and gravy is my favourite meal. I just can't get enough of it.'

I'll have this maybe two or three times a week. It's what I'm craving, so I'll eat it.

Today, it's a different story, and Kayley and her boyfriend are enjoying a healthy diet.

They're also the proud parents of a two-month-old baby boy.

Come on, smile!

Before we met Carol, Michael was putting things like chicken and chips in the oven

and that was it. And now he's really making an effort.

He'll make chicken fajitas, so he'll do the chicken from scratch,

do all of the vegetables, and we'll have salad with it.

It's a massive change to what we'd eat before,

so the fact that we're now eating a hell of a lot more vegetables on a single plate.

-It's easier than eating what we used to, isn't it? It's nicer.

-Mmm.

But eight months ago it was a different story.

Kayley came to see midwife Carol, who was less than impressed with her unhealthy eating habits.

I've kept the wrappers of what I've been eating for the last week.

Let's have a look at a few of them, then.

There's lots of convenience foods. Your cottage pie, fat is 30%.

Basically, whatever you're eating is sort of going into your body,

and it will compound in towards your baby.

Carol wanted to show Kayley just what her diet was doing to her body.

Fat is excessive. People that are obese are more inclined to have

high blood pressure, which is hypertension.

You're also at risk of developing gestational diabetes.

If you carry on at the rate you're going, it will shorten your own life.

-Yeah.

-I'm sure you're quite shocked by it.

-Yeah.

At work, Kayley was spending most of her time sitting down.

I do a nine-hour shift most days, so it is being here a long time

and not really doing a lot while I'm here.

So Carol decided to pay her a visit to get her off her bottom

and doing some exercise to prepare for her labour.

How you? Nice to see you again.

This place is lively, and that is just amazing.

It actually makes me feel...

Especially when you hear the music. I feel I could jig around here now.

So you have to sort of...

Carol advised her to do some squatting to help the baby move into the birthing canal.

And then up again.

And getting down on all fours is a good position for giving birth.

It allows the weight of the baby to come forward.

And you might even start to do a bit of this when you're labouring.

I've not gone red cos it's a strain, it's cos I'm embarrassed.

I'm in a public place and I'm squatting on all fours.

When you're labouring, you won't care if all of Margate comes in and watches you,

as long as you can get that baby out quickly.

Most women will deliver probably like this.

So your pelvis is like that.

-Yeah.

-But when we want you to deliver we want your legs like that.

-Yeah.

And you have to hold your own legs up.

Honest to God.

-And you have to be able to pull forward and push the baby through.

-Yeah.

Today, Lisa is on her way to meet Kayley to find out if those exercises have paid off.

Hello, Kayley, I'm Lisa. Lovely to meet you.

-You, too. Do you want to come in?

-Thank you.

-So this is Ryan?

-Yep.

-Oh, how gorgeous is he? How old is he now?

-He's eight weeks.

Oh, he's lovely.

-I bet you're over the moon.

-Yeah.

-Did you have a nice labour?

Yeah, I was in labour for about 18 hours.

I was active for as much of it as I could be.

I got to about six centimetres standing,

well, kneeling at the end of the bed on all fours, being upright.

So, for the last bit, I was on the bed.

-Well done!

-I know. I'm very proud of myself. I can remember bits of it.

Do you think that would have happened had you not made those changes?

Definitely not.

-Not at all.

-Really?

-It wouldn't have because I wouldn't have thought to do it.

I wouldn't have had the easy labour that I had. It could have been so much worse.

Since giving birth, Kayley's a stone and a half lighter.

Lisa wants her to keep up the good work

so she's arranged a meeting with a local fitness instructor

to show her some new exercises which, this time, include baby.

Hello. How nice to meet you. I'm Lisa.

-Hi, Lisa.

-And this is Kayley.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

I'm here to show you that you can exercise while you've got the baby,

make it fun for you both. And as the babies get older

they get more interactive, so it gets even better.

Lean forward. That's it. And then come back up again.

-And as you come up, squeeze your bottom.

-OK.

You're going, "Mum, what are you doing?"

Incorporating the baby into exercise is the perfect opportunity

for mum to strengthen muscles

which may have become weakened during pregnancy.

Kayley is a real success, isn't she?

She made those changes through her pregnancy, she's carried them on now she's got the baby,

which is fantastic.

And then the other way.

I think what surprises me more is that she wants more.

She's said, "I wish I could do more. I've got plans.

"I can't do them just yet, but I would like to be more active."

So she is a real inspiration.

-So, well done, you.

-Thank you very much.

Lovely to meet you. You too, Kayley. And bye-bye, Ryan.

Bless him. We won't disturb him, he's asleep. Take care.

-You too. Thank you very much.

-Bye.

-Bye.

I think they're in my bag.

Back in Manchester, Amy is now the proud mum of two-month-old baby Eva.

With Lisa's help, she gave up smoking during pregnancy.

Her house is now smoke-free, but sadly we can't say the same for her lungs.

New father Andy's addiction isn't helping either.

I didn't start smoking until about three days after she was born.

I think it was the stress. And Andy's going out. I thought, "Bugger it, I'm going out for one."

When she's asleep, we'll come out together and have a cig when she's asleep.

And, depending how long she's asleep for, we might have a couple.

But I'm not that bad.

So Lisa's returning to try and help Amy quit again.

But she needs to tackle her bad influences as well. And that means Andy.

It's really important the whole family give up smoking

in order to protect that baby.

People often don't realise the risks of second-hand smoke.

She's here now, OK?

So the pregnancy is gone and there are new risks now from your cigarette smoking.

-What sort of risks are there?

-Cot death.

Respiratory illness, asthma, glue ear, things like that.

And what you said is one of probably the biggest fears of all parents - cot death.

And that is a real risk.

You're doing lots of things to keep her safe.

You're sterilising her bottles.

You do not want to put anything in her that is wrong, toxic,

harmful, will make her poorly.

So you're doing all of that

and then you're breathing out those toxic fumes on her.

Yeah.

How does that make you feel?

-Yeah...

-Like the other stuff's pointless, really.

-Yeah.

It seems like you're making all this effort and then,

by doing one thing that you've done for years,

you're doing the worst thing.

I've seen you two with her the last couple of hours,

and you're absolutely besotted by her.

She is the centre of your universe. She is the centre of your world.

-You can't imagine one minute of your day without Eva.

-No.

What would the next stage be for you?

I'd like to quit again. I really would.

What about you, Andy?

Yeah, I mean, it's like, it's easier if two of you quit.

We need to look at the smoking situation.

So what you're saying then, Amy,

is that you're prepared to give it another go?

-Yeah, definitely.

-OK. And Andy,

-you're prepared to give it a go quitting.

-Yeah, I am.

She wants to chip in, and she wants to say,

"Mum, Dad, I want you to be totally smoke-free for ever."

Yeah. That's what you're trying to say, isn't it?

Smoke-free for ever.

I mean, Amy has gone back to her smoking.

That didn't absolutely surprise me.

This time, fantastic, we've got Andy on board.

Andy continued to smoke through Amy's pregnancy, was working away.

I don't think he could see that it was a problem.

But now he's got his gorgeous little girl there,

he's really determined to support Amy, do the best that he can for Eva.

And the fact that they're doing it together is fantastic.

And I think they stand a much better chance of success

because they're doing it together.

Should be fine, really.

I guess we have to be determined to do it and then, if we do that, we'll conquer it.

I am more determined after what she said today, Lisa.

A bit scary, isn't it?

Yeah.

A few days later, and their new quit day has arrived.

-Morning.

-Morning.

The patches alone aren't enough for hardened smoker, Amy,

and by 9.30am she's already on the inhaler.

I think it's the actual action of doing it as well.

I don't think I could just use the chewing gums.

I definitely need this. It's a lot better.

Amy decides to get out of the house for some well-needed distraction.

-See you later.

-See you later. Bye.

How are you doing?

And a pep-talk from anti-smoking sister-in-law Clare.

-Have you had any this morning, then? Have you bought any?

-No.

-Just checking.

-Through the ashtray out this morning.

-Do you think you can do it again?

-Yeah.

-Having Eva will keep you more distracted.

-She does.

It's time for baby Eva's introduction to the world of art.

-Oh, dear!

-She's pinching my hand.

There we go.

You can be proud when people ask for a light

-and you say, "I don't smoke."

-I know.

But you should say that you've got Eva rules - no smoking in this house.

-Yeah, and put up a no smoking sign.

-I'll start making everyone no smoking.

So, in case they forget, here's a reminder of the new house rules.

No smoking in Eva's house.

Amy's doing well, but she's worried that Andy may have caved in.

-Hello.

-Hello. You all right?

-Yeah.

-Have you had a good day?

-Mm.

-You haven't been smoking?

-No. Have you?

-No, not at all.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-I've had three chewing gums and a patch.

-Yeah?

I think Andy's done really well, actually.

I know it would be harder for you because you smoked a lot more.

Quit the day has been a big success for Andy and Amy.

-PHONE RINGS

-Hello.

Hi, Amy. I'm ringing to see how you're doing today.

We've got on fine.

We've both not had one all day.

That is absolutely fantastic. Well done, you!

Changing your routines, changing your patterns is always a good thing to do.

And you've already found some very effective ways of dealing with that, so you've done absolutely brilliant.

That's brilliant. Thanks so much for your help, Lisa.

You, too. Bye.

I mean, they've done all this for the baby. And that was my main concern, of course.

It'll improve their health, but this was about Eva.

They've done it for her, so she is going to be a much healthier girl at the end of all of this.

After quitting their unhealthy habits, our mums-to-be went on to enjoy the rest of their pregnancies.

And the result of giving up their unhealthy lifestyles?

Beautiful, bouncing babies.

This experience has been life-changing. I'll never forget it.

Having a baby, quitting smoking -

it's been a crazy year, but it's been a good one.

Knowing that I quit when I was pregnant

for her health, for her safety, really,

it was one of the best experiences of my life, definitely.

Ryan's going to have a fabulous childhood. And he's not going to be an obese child,

he's going to have a good life, and knowing that the path I've started on now is going to

help him get that way is a really nice feeling.

People are very shocked.

They're like, "She'll be back. She'll be back on it." No.

That chapter in my life is finished, thank you.

Me and Mum, there won't be as much arguments

and we'll try to get on more for the baby,

and not going out all the time and leaving her with the baby.

I've actually quit.

Lisa's been... Wow! She's an amazing woman.

She's really great proper a help. I'm so grateful.

Words can't even describe it.

I don't think I would have done it without her.

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