0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Midwives...- Hello!
0:00:04 > 0:00:06BABY CRIES
0:00:06 > 0:00:08They have to be there when they're needed.
0:00:08 > 0:00:09My baby!
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Being mother to the mothers...
0:00:11 > 0:00:14You're waters haven't gone, have they?
0:00:14 > 0:00:16..support to the fathers....
0:00:16 > 0:00:17Yeah, yeah, fine.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19..and trusted colleagues to each other.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21All dressed, ready to go.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25But, in this part of the world, their journey is never easy.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Oh, 'eck!
0:00:26 > 0:00:28It's full of great ups and difficult downs...
0:00:28 > 0:00:31It's through gates, over fences...
0:00:31 > 0:00:33..of twists and turns...
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Most bizarre places... Up a tree house, actually.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38..of never quite knowing what's round the corner.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41A total bag of emotions.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Welcome to the world of safe hands...
0:00:43 > 0:00:44You've got a lovely belly.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46My office is my car, you know.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48..all-seeing eyes...
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Absolutely perfect.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51..and big, big smiles.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Very au naturel.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56I think a lot of the women are quite strong characters.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Welcome to the real-life drama of The Country Midwives.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Carmarthenshire is one of Wales' most rural counties,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11whose expectant mums are looked after by the Hywel Dda
0:01:11 > 0:01:14University Health Board's midwives.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17To the north - in the Teifi Valley - is the village of Glangwili
0:01:17 > 0:01:20and its neighbouring farming communities.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22It's very beautiful in summer.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27Winter is something different, as community midwife Anwen Evans
0:01:27 > 0:01:28knows only too well.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32It's fun and games.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Because I live on a farm, Friday morning I got up at quarter past six
0:01:36 > 0:01:40to take my works car to the bottom of the lane so I wouldn't be stuck.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I'm on call tonight, so if I get called out,
0:01:43 > 0:01:47I'll have to get Sean out of bed to take me down to my car -
0:01:47 > 0:01:50in the 4x4. He'll be impressed.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Anwen tackles over a thousand miles a month of Carmarthenshire's
0:01:55 > 0:01:58maze of country roads and farm tracks.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02She's calling on farm wife Bethan, who's 30 weeks pregnant.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05It's her first time. And it's twins!
0:02:16 > 0:02:20For midwives, a first-time pregnancy means extra care.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23A first time and twins means extra, extra care.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29We do try to see Bethan once a week.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Whether it be us in the community or the ante-natal clinic.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35We check her blood pressure to make sure everything's OK.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39We check her urine to make sure there's no infections.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41We check the positions of the baby
0:02:41 > 0:02:44and we listen to the babies' heartbeats - both of them.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47WHOOSHING
0:02:47 > 0:02:48Perfect.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Both happy.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Husband Dylan is in the middle of lambing -
0:02:57 > 0:03:00a time for great care, as sheep and lambs carry
0:03:00 > 0:03:04a parasitic disease, dangerous for both mother and child.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10Be careful, don't go into the lambing shed because of the disease, toxoplasmosis,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14which could have an effect on your pregnancy, and Dylan needs to
0:03:14 > 0:03:19wash his own clothes and stuff, when he comes in from the farm.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Anwen learnt the dos and don'ts of being a farm wife
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and mum-to-be from her own, personal, experience.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Because I live on a farm, I couldn't go out to the lambing shed,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32and then in my clothes go and see a woman.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35I would have to be careful to get changed.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Or just avoid the lambing shed. It's a good excuse, really.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47In her garden, near Carmarthen, mother and midwife Sian Maynard
0:03:47 > 0:03:50is not only concerned with feeding the birds.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53As team leader to Anwen and colleagues, she has to ensure
0:03:53 > 0:03:56that all expectant mums are attended to, whatever the weather.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Hello, could you put me through to the community office, please?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Is it busy on the ward now?
0:04:03 > 0:04:05You got into work OK, then?
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Are you going to keep me till later this afternoon to come in?
0:04:08 > 0:04:11I've written up what I think should be in the report.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13OK, see you soon. Ta-ra.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15I'll recheck the annual leave today.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21Unfortunately, I only live two miles from the hospital so there's a little
0:04:21 > 0:04:26sort of handful of us that live within walking distance, so when the weather is like this,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29we are the ones that are on stand-by.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Because our area is so rural, there are pockets that are
0:04:32 > 0:04:36going to be really bad. If anybody does have problems,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40we get the ambulance out to them.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44We just come across that at the time.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Last resort, helicopter.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50A comfy hop in a handy helicopter
0:04:50 > 0:04:53would be very welcome for Sian herself this morning.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57The reality, unfortunately, is a bit different.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58Blinking 'eck, it's cold.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03I think my ears are going to drop off at any moment.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Hopefully, she needn't go further today than her Glangwili
0:05:07 > 0:05:10hospital base at nearby Carmarthen.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Carmarthenshire's eastern edge -
0:05:15 > 0:05:19particularly around Llandeilo - is also very rural.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23It's served by enough B and C roads to confuse the best sat-nav.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Area midwife Nan Duncan isn't fazed by the weather.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28But what of the hours?
0:05:28 > 0:05:3417 hours yesterday, so I was in bed about 2:30ish and eventually
0:05:34 > 0:05:38went to sleep and woke up at eight o'clock this morning.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Got up and at it, so I'm here.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47This is a knitted breast. We show people how to express breast milk.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49So would you like a demonstration?
0:05:53 > 0:05:55You pull back and you squeeze -
0:05:55 > 0:05:57that's how you get some milk.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Excellent, actually, it works.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Hiya, how you doing?
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Helping at the time of birth is only a small part of a midwife's work.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Their responsibility starts at around the tenth week of pregnancy
0:06:12 > 0:06:15and will continue until at least ten days after birth.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19- Famous question - have you pooed? - We saved you a nappy.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21SHE LAUGHS
0:06:21 > 0:06:22I like it, I like it.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24- Can I have a look at it?- Yeah.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Aw. Isn't that the best?!
0:06:27 > 0:06:31Hang on, hang on. You've got to see this.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37This is best breastfeeding poo.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42I'm so proud. Yeah. So proud.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45It takes time to get breastfeeding going,
0:06:45 > 0:06:50but when you get lots of poo-y and wee-y nappies, it's just champion.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54When they are born they've got brown fat which keeps them going
0:06:54 > 0:06:57while the breastfeeding gets initiated.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01So there's a natural fall-off of weight.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Then as the breastfeeding gets established, there is
0:07:05 > 0:07:08a gain in weight, so Helen has worked really hard
0:07:08 > 0:07:11because it is tiring, to say the least.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Becoming a parent is awful, it's hard work.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16So I'm really chuffed -
0:07:16 > 0:07:21- are you chuffed?- Yeah, getting there. Just tired.- You've got to be tired.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Yes, indeed, as Zac's mum and dad are finding out,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28becoming a parent is a tiring business.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33With the snow - for the time being, anyway - melting away,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Sian Maynard has hit the road.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39But the way it's hitting back is not all that good
0:07:39 > 0:07:41for her blood pressure.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43God. There's a dip there, hold on.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47Oh!
0:07:49 > 0:07:51This is the bit that people don't see,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55my stress now is 10 out of 10.
0:07:55 > 0:07:56Give me a baby to deliver any day.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01This is her first get-to-know visit to farming wife Mari Phillips.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04But even at this early stage,
0:08:04 > 0:08:08there's one problem which she must draw attention to - toxoplasmosis.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12It's usually an infection which is carried with stillborn lambs or
0:08:12 > 0:08:15contact with placentas. But it is general hygiene.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20He wears overalls, they all come off, he washes and changes them
0:08:20 > 0:08:22before he comes anywhere near me.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25- That's it.- He does his own washing. Yeah.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- That's even better.- He does really good washing, actually.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30We've invented this, actually, it's not really true!
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Oh, gosh!
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Sian and her team are happy for Mari -
0:08:40 > 0:08:43because of her age and good health - to have a homebirth.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46But it's the challenge of getting there that's on her mind at the moment.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51We just need to be mindful that we record that it takes 15 minutes
0:08:51 > 0:08:56if you're coming in the middle of the night and it's a midwife from
0:08:56 > 0:09:00another team, just so they have some idea in their head how long the track is.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05From the remoteness of Mari's farm near Cynwil Elfed, Sian's next
0:09:05 > 0:09:09call takes her to the metropolis of Newcastle Emlyn, a town which is
0:09:09 > 0:09:13a good 35 minutes from the maternity unit at Glangwili, Carmarthen.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Hello, Kelly, how are you?
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Like Mari, 29 weeks pregnant Kelly Walters
0:09:18 > 0:09:22and husband Darren also want a homebirth.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24As this will be Kelly's fourth child,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Sian doesn't expect complications.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Even so, things might not go as planned.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33We view each pregnancy as being full-term from
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- when you are 37 weeks pregnant onwards.- Right.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41So if you happen to go into labour before that,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45then we would advise that you go into hospital to have the baby.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- Just because the baby will be premature.- Yep.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- The pregnancy so far has been perfectly normal.- Yes.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55So unless anything dramatic happens
0:09:55 > 0:09:58or changes, then we are aiming for a homebirth.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03One baby in every 25 in Carmarthenshire is born at home,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06a figure well above the Welsh average.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07In the 1970s and 1980s
0:10:07 > 0:10:11the Health Service tended to discourage homebirths.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14But attitudes have changed and they're now on the rise again.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Darren is a songwriter.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22His latest number is a celebration of the baby-to-be.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26HE SINGS
0:10:26 > 0:10:30I'm actually hoping to sing it for my wife when she is in labour.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Cheer her up a bit and see how it goes.
0:10:32 > 0:10:37I'm writing it for my baby, so it makes sense, really.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41SINGING CONTINUES
0:10:41 > 0:10:43It's very sweet, quite flattering,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46it will be nice to listen to him singing.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49The new baby is due in the heart of winter.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52So there's just one thing troubling Darren.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54If it snows and you can't get here?
0:10:54 > 0:10:57First of all, ring us,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00but you must make sure you've got lots of warm towels.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04If your waters go and you think Baby is coming,
0:11:04 > 0:11:06as the head is being delivered,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10really, just be hands off, baby will actually turn.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14It'll go perhaps from looking at the floor
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- to turning to the left or right. - Yeah.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Gently put your hands by the side of the baby's head
0:11:19 > 0:11:24and just pull down gently, and with the pushing as well,
0:11:24 > 0:11:25baby will fall out.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29- That bit, is that with towels in hand or is that just bare hands? - Up to you.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33The important thing is when a baby is delivered,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35you dry the baby quickly.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- Really dry them off well and put a warm dry towel around the baby.- OK.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45- I hope this doesn't happen. - It won't happen.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Before all this, I should have said, put your guitar down!
0:11:49 > 0:11:50It'll be your fault...
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Near Llandyfri,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57a midwife is on her way to a scheduled call on a new mother.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03But there was nothing scheduled about the last time Nan Duncan called here.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Right... We are going to see a little girl
0:12:07 > 0:12:11who had an emergency Caesarean section,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13week before last.
0:12:13 > 0:12:19She is due for a general check-over to see how things are going.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22But it was a hairy moment, I can tell you.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29The "hairy moment" came when Lisa's placenta broke away from her womb.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Suffering terrible stomach pains and losing a lot of blood,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35something had to be done -
0:12:35 > 0:12:36quickly.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38The first person who came into my head was Nan,
0:12:38 > 0:12:40because I knew who Nan was,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43she knew me, she knew my previous pregnancies.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Nan said, "I'm coming round straightaway.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48"Ring the ambulance," and that was it.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52It was like, "No, we can't stop and collect this that or anything,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54"we've got to go now."
0:12:54 > 0:12:59That is why we are here. They know us and we're the first person they call.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02It's our job to make sure that the problem gets sorted.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I remember the surgeon speaking to me and saying,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09"Well, the baby only had minutes, you would've had, like, half an hour
0:13:09 > 0:13:14"to an hour if things were left, and we could've lost you as well."
0:13:14 > 0:13:15One, you were bleeding
0:13:15 > 0:13:18and, two, he was early. We could've lost the two of you.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- Thank goodness we don't get them every day!- I know.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26I should be a couple of stone lighter if there was.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Jayden was born eight weeks prematurely.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36He's still in Glangwili Hospital's Special Care Unit.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Slowly, he's gaining.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42But he's still too small and too weak to be allowed home -
0:13:42 > 0:13:45a day that won't come soon enough for Lisa.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50We're just waiting to get his feeding established.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53As soon as that's established, sometime in May, he can come home.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Glangwili Hospital is HQ for the 40 community midwives that
0:14:02 > 0:14:05care for mums in the Carmarthenshire team.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07And on its maternity ward,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10the big day has arrived for first-time mother Bethan.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12This will be a Caesarean delivery,
0:14:12 > 0:14:17and, as it's twins, both Anwen and Sian will be present -
0:14:17 > 0:14:20if Anwen can get over her little phobia, that is.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23I don't like doing this because it's oxygen,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27and it just shoots out sometimes and I'm scared it'll hit my face.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Oh!
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Not too bad.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36All dressed, ready to go. Right.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43This is obviously Bethan's first pregnancy.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45And she's having twins, which is huge,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49so she is obviously very nervous about the whole process,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53so it would be nice to just get on with it and see the little babies and
0:14:53 > 0:14:56make sure everything is fine, and Bethan's OK after it as well.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02In 2013, over a quarter of all births in Wales
0:15:02 > 0:15:04were by Caesarean section.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Commonplace it may be, but the surgery involved is major.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13Complications can still happen. But, hopefully, not today.
0:15:17 > 0:15:2145 minutes later, Anwen has the all-important news.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26We've got a boy and a girl. Fantastic! I can weigh them now.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Now that it's all over, the atmosphere is truly relaxed.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Whilst Bethan recovers,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37the arms that are used to cradling lambs are now holding babies.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Look at you! Old hand!
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Easy, wasn't it?
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Easy?! THEY LAUGH
0:15:49 > 0:15:52The little boy came first. Cian David.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56And then, Elliw, followed after, the little girl.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Now the work begins.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Oh, yes!
0:16:00 > 0:16:04As the double birth brings double joy to the parents,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07the midwives face the challenge of double the paperwork.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Sian's getting confused.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- Sian can't count.- Very confused.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16For midwives, working days often become working nights.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19The end of the shift has come and gone.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24And so - as often happens - it's now phone-a-friend time.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27I'm lucky that my friend Cheryl has managed to get hold of her
0:16:27 > 0:16:30mother-in-law and she's picked up my children for me from school.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34And hopefully take them back to her house
0:16:34 > 0:16:37till I get back and pick them up.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Finally, the moment that's been a long time coming.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48Following an emergency Caesarean and 12 days of very special care,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Lisa and little Jayden are homeward bound.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Together, at last.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Jayden has been let out today.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59We'll be going home.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Can't wait.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08Taking a baby home brings excitement,
0:17:08 > 0:17:09but also worries.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12This is why, today, Nan is on her way to see Lisa.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18She's had no trouble breastfeeding her previous children.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22But, a day after getting Jayden home, Lisa isn't happy.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24I got a breast pump.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26I used it yesterday
0:17:26 > 0:17:28and I used it this morning
0:17:28 > 0:17:33and I've only got, like, 20ml on each one...
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Not that much at all.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Breastfeeding may be natural.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40But it's something that has to be worked on,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43and mothers often need extra support.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47With all her years of experience, Nan just knows what's wrong
0:17:47 > 0:17:49and what to do about it.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52It's instinctive, really, it's like being a detective, the midwife knows
0:17:52 > 0:17:57the parameters of normality and who to call and how to make the outcome safe.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01He needs to have the quality and quantity of feed
0:18:01 > 0:18:05because we don't want his weight to dip down.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09That's when his energy levels are sapping and we'll have a big problem.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14So you've got to show him how to get onto that breast properly.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Behind the tips, you have got a reservoir...
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Nan shares her knowledge so that little Jayden may get
0:18:22 > 0:18:25the sustenance that he so badly needs from his mother's breast.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28You want some winding as well to go with it...
0:18:28 > 0:18:31To parents with their doubts and anxieties, the calm reassurance
0:18:31 > 0:18:35and good-natured advice of the experienced midwife is invaluable.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37So I need you to eat loads.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42- Is that very important, to eat? - Huge amount, huge.- Oh, is it?
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Huge!
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Show me now how you'd feed him.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Right, that's it.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54When his mouth is open wide, you can whack him on.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57You want to develop my whack.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03The all-seeing eyes watch carefully as Lisa manages to satisfy
0:19:03 > 0:19:05little Jayden's need.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Home at last.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12The twins are also home and, with the help of student
0:19:12 > 0:19:16midwife Natalie, Anwen is paying her final home visit to Bethan
0:19:16 > 0:19:21and Dylan before passing care on to the health visitor.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23- So, eating OK, both of them? - Yeah, both of them.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28We check the eyes, we check that the mouth is nice
0:19:28 > 0:19:31and clear to make sure there are no signs of thrush or anything.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34We check the colour of the babies, make sure they're nice and pink,
0:19:34 > 0:19:36no jaundice.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39We then check the umbilical cord to make sure that's OK.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43We always check if there's wet and dirty nappies so that we know
0:19:43 > 0:19:44the babies are feeding fine,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47their urine and their bowel movements are all fine.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Anwen's journey with this family is coming to an end.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Today will mean breaking the umbilical cord of care
0:19:59 > 0:20:02and friendship between her and Bethan and the babies.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07You do get attached to the babies - how can you not?
0:20:07 > 0:20:10They are absolutely beautiful.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12But with Bethan and Dylan, they are up a lot in the night -
0:20:12 > 0:20:14at least I get to sleep at night.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17THEY LAUGH
0:20:17 > 0:20:19It's a lot of hard work, but between the two of us,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21we get round it in the end, I think.
0:20:21 > 0:20:26I am going to miss Anwen, it is really nice to have somebody here.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30She's been a lot of help and support to me over the last few months.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32It can be really emotional
0:20:32 > 0:20:35because you get to know the mothers during the pregnancy.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38You do build up a relationship with them.
0:20:40 > 0:20:46It is going to be strange after today, not to have them around.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Both absolutely healthy, perfectly healthy twins.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- Ta-ra!- Ta-ra!- Ta-ra!
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Oh, 'eck! Oh, dear.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Erm...have you got a jack?
0:21:03 > 0:21:08The tyre's flat, but Dylan is buoyant as he enjoys this
0:21:08 > 0:21:10opportunity to show his gratitude.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Aw, thank you, Dylan.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16And away they go, but not to the nearest garage.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19It's on to the next new mother and the next new baby.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Midwives enjoy their work.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30But even the most dedicated of midwives such as Nan Duncan
0:21:30 > 0:21:32have to have time to themselves.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Come on, then! Come on!
0:21:35 > 0:21:38My husband's hobby, nothing to do with me, I just put up with him.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40I just pay for him!
0:21:40 > 0:21:43I wish.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47It's a beautiful place to live and completely different to my work.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52- I can completely unwind here. - Come on.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Over 33 years as a midwife, Nan's built up a wealth of knowledge
0:21:55 > 0:21:58and expertise.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01But it's only recently that's she come to question, at what cost?
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Three children, a farm, a business.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Yes, they have lost out a lot.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11It's taken me until this age, really,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15to realise that the important things in life is your family.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18My grandchild now, I've got far more time with him
0:22:18 > 0:22:21because I realise what I'd lost with my own children.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27This is my husband, Wayne. Sometimes known as Ginge.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31But he's turning white now so I ought to call him Whitey now, I suppose.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36With rural midwives often on-call day and night,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39should Wayne perhaps be called a "mid-husband"?
0:22:42 > 0:22:43He's good, very good, actually.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Although I don't give him credit to his face,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- he is extremely good.- I can't see me
0:22:50 > 0:22:53part-exchanging her for a nice 18-year-old,
0:22:53 > 0:22:55but that was the idea in the past,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58but I think we've gone past that now.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00It's all good fun and good stuff -
0:23:00 > 0:23:03it is what makes marriage and a happy life, isn't it?
0:23:05 > 0:23:08In the heart of the Teifi valley, midwives Anwen and Sian
0:23:08 > 0:23:12are not hanging about, as they head for Newcastle Emlyn.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Darren has had to put down his guitar and pick up the phone.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19Things are beginning to move.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Darren rang to say Kelly had started having contractions.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- I could hear her. It was the end of one contraction, wasn't it, Darren?- Yeah.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32I thought, she is cracking on, so it was...running out into the car park.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Darren and Kelly already have three boys.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Knowing that the imminent birth will give them a baby girl
0:23:39 > 0:23:42is making it difficult for Darren to contain his excitement.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Kelly will tell you, I am terrible at waiting.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49We were expecting, through previous births, for her to be early,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52but she is on her due date so exciting times.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Feeling quite good at the minute, relaxed...
0:23:57 > 0:24:01So the contractions are coming quite regularly now.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06We now monitor how often Kelly is having the contractions.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09We see how long they are lasting.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11We listen in to baby's heartbeat
0:24:11 > 0:24:14to make sure the baby is coping well with
0:24:14 > 0:24:17the contractions as well.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19It's Kelly's fourth baby
0:24:19 > 0:24:24and she's had others no problem, so no concerns or anything with Kelly.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Just go with it now and hopefully have a lovely baby pretty soon,
0:24:28 > 0:24:30for Kelly's sake, isn't it?
0:24:33 > 0:24:35For midwives,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39"pretty soon" can in fact mean quite a few hours, as the stages of birth
0:24:39 > 0:24:43progress according to the mother's and the baby's very own timetable.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Go with your body now, OK?
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Nice, slow breathing.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Watching carefully is an important part of Anwen
0:24:55 > 0:24:59and Sian's work throughout the whole pregnancy.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Despite the relaxed atmosphere that they are purposefully
0:25:01 > 0:25:05maintaining, it's in these last critical hours
0:25:05 > 0:25:08that their watchfulness becomes hyper-sensitive.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10DEEP BREATHING
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Well done.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14GROANING
0:25:14 > 0:25:16That's right.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19You're doing brilliantly. Wash the pain away.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21SHE INHALES AND GROANS
0:25:21 > 0:25:23That's the way.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Even though this is Kelly's fourth birth, it's no easier...
0:25:26 > 0:25:28and the painful, contraction-after-contraction
0:25:28 > 0:25:30process of giving birth
0:25:30 > 0:25:34draws mother, father and midwives closer and closer together.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Slowly now...
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- I've got cramp in my blinking leg! - Which one...?
0:25:40 > 0:25:43- Left.- Yours!
0:25:46 > 0:25:50I see her now, she's on her way. All signs looking good.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Despite Kelly's obvious discomfort, everything is looking good.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57The miraculous moment of birth is imminent.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03A little hand coming there as well.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05A really big push now.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07- Well done.- Here she is!
0:26:07 > 0:26:10BABY CRIES
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Ohhhhh!
0:26:12 > 0:26:14There we are! Fantastic!
0:26:14 > 0:26:17And so it happens.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Zoe Jane is born.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Safe and sound.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24She's fine.
0:26:24 > 0:26:30- Is she a girl?- She's definitely a girl. She's gorgeous.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32SHE SOBS
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Yep...there we are.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41It's relief and joy all round, of course.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43But, although the hardest work is done,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46the placenta - the afterbirth - has still to be delivered.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49A nice and healthy one.
0:26:49 > 0:26:54Saving and serving it up for its health benefits is a growing trend amongst parents,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57although few, perhaps, are as enthusiastic as Darren.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00I've managed to get one of my chef friends to agree to cook it.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06So, it should go in the freezer, and be ready to be eaten.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12- Hello.- Another good day's work, Anwen?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14A perfect day's work.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18- Lovely, and I've got two days off now so I'll be on a high now.- Yeah.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21It's very painful...
0:27:21 > 0:27:25and, er, I'm glad she's here now.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Finally, whilst Anwen and Sian
0:27:29 > 0:27:33get to grips with all the boxes that need to be ticked,
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Darren greets his newborn daughter with a newborn song.
0:27:37 > 0:27:43# Sunshine of my life The twinkle in my eye
0:27:43 > 0:27:48# You're everything to me... #
0:27:48 > 0:27:51You just look at them there now and just think,
0:27:51 > 0:27:54this is what it's all about.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58# It's plain for all to see
0:27:58 > 0:28:01# Why you are everything to me. #
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Another hard day's night draws to a happy close.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08I know you're not allowed to drink, so I have got some apple juice
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- and lemonade.- Thank you. - Congratulations!
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Well done, Kelly, this is to you and our beautiful little girl, Zoe Jane.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17- Yeah.- Well done.- Congratulations.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Next time on The Country Midwives...
0:28:22 > 0:28:26Anwen's friendly call becomes a call for concern...
0:28:28 > 0:28:30Sian hears about the strangest of cravings...
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Flannels. Just sucking flannels.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36And carnival star Lynne delivers a show-stopping home-birth.
0:28:36 > 0:28:37Hello!