0:00:02 > 0:00:03Midwives.
0:00:03 > 0:00:04Hello!
0:00:05 > 0:00:07They have to be there when they're needed...
0:00:07 > 0:00:09My baby!
0:00:09 > 0:00:11..being mother to the mothers...
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Your waters are not gone, are they?
0:00:13 > 0:00:15..support to the fathers...
0:00:15 > 0:00:17- All right, Sam?- Yeah, 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 > 0:00:26Ooh, heck!
0:00:26 > 0:00:28It's full of great ups and difficult downs...
0:00:28 > 0:00:30It's through gates, it's over fences.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32..of twists and turns...
0:00:32 > 0:00:36The most bizarre place is up a treehouse, 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 > 0:00:45You've got a lovely belly.
0:00:45 > 0:00:46My office is my car, you know?
0:00:46 > 0:00:48..all-seeing eyes...
0:00:48 > 0:00:49Absolutely perfect.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51..and big, big smiles.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Very au naturel.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55I think a lot of the women are quite strong characters.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Welcome to the real-life drama of The Country Midwives.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Carmarthenshire is one of Wales's most rural counties,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11whose expectant mums are looked after
0:01:11 > 0:01:15by the Hywel Dda University Health Board's midwives.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21South of the M4 lies the former coal mining valley of Cwm Gwendraeth
0:01:21 > 0:01:23and, at its head, Burry Port.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Today is carnival day.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31Everybody's dressed up, including midwife Lyn Smith.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Burry Port's a good community spirit
0:01:34 > 0:01:36and everybody comes together on carnival day.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39It's always a good turnout and everybody comes to enjoy.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Being a local girl, familiar faces are everywhere,
0:01:44 > 0:01:47including many she's helped bring into the world.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Oh, there must be about 10. I think there's five in our crowd now.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52There's one of them.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Someone who's renewed her acquaintance with Lyn
0:01:55 > 0:02:00over the last nine months or so is Jenny, along with partner Sam.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01Just come down to see everybody,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05because I'm from the area anyway, and we came to see Lyn
0:02:05 > 0:02:08and to see her dress up, because I knew it would be quite funny.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Jenny's booked in for a home delivery that could happen
0:02:11 > 0:02:12any day soon.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14What if it's today?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17I am on call for a home delivery so I'm hoping... My bra...
0:02:17 > 0:02:20No, my phone was in my bra but it's not now, it's in here.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23But I've just seen her and she said she's not having pain,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25so hopefully I'll have time to change, then.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Maybe if I get a movement now, she'll have to come up like that!
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Well, if the phone goes I'll just have to go like this, as I am,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and I'm sure she'll be happy to see me.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40The midwives' northern patch stretches to Lampeter.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Occasionally they cross the border into Ceredigion itself,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45as today has Anwen Evans.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49She's calling in the home of Lois Puw,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53whose journey of discovery is only just beginning.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54The two are life-long friends,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58but because Lois lives outside the Carmarthenshire area
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Anwen's had to gain special permission to be her midwife.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03Within such a close relationship,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06that role will carry added responsibility.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10You worry about somebody's pregnancy anyway, but, you know,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14you're more involved with it and it's more personal, and it's...
0:03:14 > 0:03:18I think it's nicer in a way as well.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22The process begins today with the first home visit - the booking-in.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24- Right, loads of paperwork, Lois, OK?- OK.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27- Little bedtime reading for you. - Lovely, thank you.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30This is a book that explains everything about pregnancy,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33any little questions that you've got, it'll answer them in there.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36We do recommend that you have the flu jab in pregnancy.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Despite knowing each other so well, all the questions have to be asked,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44even though some of them are... well, quite personal.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48- Is Martin the baby's father? - Well, I hope so!- Good.- Yes.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52- And you're not addicted at all, are you?- No!- Lovely.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56At last, questioning over.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00With the help of the "magic wheel" comes...the exciting bit.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05So we're going to make your baby due on 20 August,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09- by our little wheel, but we'll always go by scan.- Right, OK.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11After going through your medical history,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14you do class in the category that we can offer you a home birth.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17We'd come to you and there'd be two midwives present
0:04:17 > 0:04:20and we'd look after you at home throughout your labour.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- Have you thought?- I haven't, but I'll think about it.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29The form-filling done, it's time for the real health checks to begin.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41All expertly executed - apart from one "sticky" problem.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44This is what you have to do to pass the test to be a midwife!
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Wahey!
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Lyn's carnival is over.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58But Jenny's big event is getting really close.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00All the family's getting excited.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03And they all know Lyn so well.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Lyn was my midwife with my first pregnancy
0:05:07 > 0:05:10and when Adam was born on Christmas Day
0:05:10 > 0:05:12she was there, she delivered him.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15And she still hasn't forgiven me 10 years later
0:05:15 > 0:05:19for spending her Christmas Eve in hospital with me.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- So you've felt more pressure now, have you?- Yeah.- What, down below?
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Yeah. I get shooting pains all the time as well.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29That's normal now at this stage, OK?
0:05:29 > 0:05:33By now, Jenny and Lyn are a well-rehearsed double act.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35But this will be Sam's first child.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Opting for a homebirth seemed perfectly normal for Jenny,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41but came as quite a surprise to Sam.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43It was just something that came out of left field to me,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46and I was like, "What? You what?"
0:05:46 > 0:05:48You know, I was really surprised by it.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52He said, "Babies are not born at home, they're born in hospitals,"
0:05:52 > 0:05:55and that it's his baby as well and he should get a say in it.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59And why did I get to make the choice?
0:06:00 > 0:06:02That's so inconsiderate, isn't it?
0:06:04 > 0:06:07148 beats, that's brilliant.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09But, you know, Lyn reassured me
0:06:09 > 0:06:14that probably at home Jenny would be the most relaxed she could be
0:06:14 > 0:06:17and her every need is going to be catered for.
0:06:17 > 0:06:18The things that can go wrong at home
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- can go wrong in hospital anyway, so...- Exactly, yeah.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25At the end of the day it's where she feels comfortable, is the most important thing.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Midwives in the east of the county serve the market town of Llandovery
0:06:30 > 0:06:33and the furthest reaches of the Towy Valley.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Looking after expectant mothers here -
0:06:37 > 0:06:40from traditional farming wives to New Age tent dwellers -
0:06:40 > 0:06:43is community midwife Nan Duncan.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46I'm very fortunate to have a lovely job.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Not often I think, oh, my word!
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Mostly it's, yes, up and at it.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55It's lovely to see the little ones growing up
0:06:55 > 0:06:59and then before you know it they're into school,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and then they have more children!
0:07:02 > 0:07:06So, yes, we're in their lives for quite a substantial time
0:07:06 > 0:07:08but, you know, I'm always Nan, I'm always around.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Today she's on her way to the mums-to-be clinic.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17As fertility rates in Wales are steadily rising,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20it's going to be another busy day.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24- Have you still got itchy hands? - Yeah.- Are they?- And all over now.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27The ten or more women Nan will see today
0:07:27 > 0:07:29will all have different issues...
0:07:29 > 0:07:31You've got a lovely belly.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34..from swollen feet
0:07:34 > 0:07:37to Lindsay, set for a homebirth but who's had an accident.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42Yeah, wrote off my car and I seem to have stretched my ligaments
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and done some sort of damage to my lower back as a consequence.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49So where... You know your pain, where is your pain predominantly?
0:07:49 > 0:07:52The pain is, well, in this lower back region...
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Nan is all for homebirths, but not, sadly, in this case.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Were things to go wrong and a late move to hospital necessary,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02she sees too much of a risk of making things worse.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Well, I'd rather you be in place
0:08:04 > 0:08:07where we can actually do something for you.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12The moving of you, in labour, with an exacerbated problem,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14it's not good for you.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17That is the major reason why I'm thinking...
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Nan's hair may turn grey with worry, but Lindsay persists.
0:08:21 > 0:08:27There is only so much hair dye available. No.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Last in today is Tina Muller.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Happily for her, there are no complications, as yet.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37- All happy for the homebirth?- Yes. I'm all happy you're coming.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43- You are coming, are you? - Yes, we're coming.- OK.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50That's what I wonder sometimes!
0:08:52 > 0:08:53In the Teifi valley,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58midwives hold regular clinics in the market town of Llanybydder.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Lois Puw is about to have her 16-week check-up
0:09:01 > 0:09:03with lifelong friend Anwen.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Good, your iron levels are fine.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12We check your urine every clinic appointment, OK?
0:09:12 > 0:09:14At this stage it's to make sure
0:09:14 > 0:09:17there are no signs of infection or anything.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20These are still early and anxious days.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25As many as one in eight women suffer an early miscarriage
0:09:25 > 0:09:28within the first three months - as Lois did last year.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Hearing her baby's heartbeat today will be so important.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- Whoo!- Sorry, cold hand!
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Should have pre-warned you!
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- Get used to my cold hands. - It's quite exciting.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45It usually takes 12 weeks for the uterus to get out of the pelvis
0:09:45 > 0:09:48so up until 12 weeks we can't really hear anything.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52And now it's only small, and, you know, they can move and dodge
0:09:52 > 0:09:56the sonic aid so it's hard to try and find them and pick them up.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Ooh!
0:10:01 > 0:10:03THEY SPEAK WELSH
0:10:08 > 0:10:10That's lovely.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17I think it's because, erm...
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- Because I lost last year, I think it's more...- Yeah.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27It's nice and exciting.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34With any woman, you constantly make sure that everything is OK,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37but I think when you're caring for a friend
0:10:37 > 0:10:40you question everything just a little bit more
0:10:40 > 0:10:43because you're the only midwife that sees them through their pregnancy.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46But I'm just keeping my fingers crossed now that
0:10:46 > 0:10:49everything will be OK for the rest of Lois's pregnancy
0:10:49 > 0:10:51and that she has a wonderful birth at the end.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58From Carmarthen to Drefach Felindre is only some 20 miles.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02But ahead of Sian Maynard are 20 very twisting and confusing miles.
0:11:02 > 0:11:07Not surprisingly, her first morning chat is with her trusted friend,
0:11:07 > 0:11:08the sat-nav.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13I'm looking for Drefach Felindre. I get a little bit confused sometimes.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16I remember, years ago, I went to the wrong Drefach -
0:11:16 > 0:11:17or Hebron, I think it was -
0:11:17 > 0:11:22and I ended up going about 30 miles out of my area.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Oh, it's market day in Llanybydder, today.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31I got lost loads of times.
0:11:31 > 0:11:37The first year I was out in this area, I had a little A4 map.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41A year into it, they decided to give me a sat-nav, which is brilliant.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47In such a rural area, Sian's hands spend as much time at the wheel
0:11:47 > 0:11:49as they do on expectant bellies.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54Perhaps we'll have 30 miles between one visit and another,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58so we might only do three or four visits in a day
0:11:58 > 0:12:01and we could do 120 miles
0:12:01 > 0:12:06whereas when I worked in...in Carmarthen, Carmarthen town,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09if I did ten miles, that was a lot of mileage in one day.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12This is a familiar road for Sian.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Three weeks ago, she took charge of a homebirth at this farmhouse.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Today's, she's back to hear any views Lottie may have on her
0:12:19 > 0:12:21and her fellow midwife's work.
0:12:21 > 0:12:22Hello?
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Lottie was hypnobirthing,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28a technique used by some mothers during childbirth
0:12:28 > 0:12:30as a way of controlling their pain.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33It demands great concentration on the mother's part -
0:12:33 > 0:12:35an effort not appreciated, in Lottie's view,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37by everyone present.
0:12:37 > 0:12:38If there's chit-chatting,
0:12:38 > 0:12:40which I was joining in with early on -
0:12:40 > 0:12:42- we were having a good laugh, weren't we?- Yeah.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44But then it gets to a point where you're like,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46"OK, we can't do this any more.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50- "I've got to think about delivering the baby."- Yeah.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52During the first stage of labour,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Lottie was quite chatty, and as it progressed,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58then, you know, perhaps... we could have, sort of,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00lowered our voices a little bit.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02So I expected more sensitivity,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05thinking, "Ooh, we might be a bit loud, here."
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- It's knowing that cut-off point, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10'It's good to have that feedback,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12'because we'll certainly be more aware of it.'
0:13:12 > 0:13:13You learn every day -
0:13:13 > 0:13:15every single day, you learn something.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20No time to ponder - it's straight on to Lottie's sister-in-law, Ellie,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22who lives close by.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27Despite having seven weeks to go, Ellie's bump is big...very big.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30So what have they said in the hospital now?
0:13:30 > 0:13:34Um...last week, they said that I've got an extra-large baby.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36All right, OK!
0:13:36 > 0:13:39'The scans and measurements that have been taken recently'
0:13:39 > 0:13:43suggest that the baby that Ellie is carrying now
0:13:43 > 0:13:45is about the size of her sister-in-law's baby,
0:13:45 > 0:13:47which is about three weeks old.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49So that is freaking her out a little bit.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Yeah - long legs, big head, big waist.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- Yeah - no, the head's normal size. - It was just at the top.- OK.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00- So he's got a big belly.- Big belly.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03That's probably the amount of cake I'm eating.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05'Lots of women will have very large babies'
0:14:05 > 0:14:06no problem at all -
0:14:06 > 0:14:10it just means we need to monitor the progression of the labour.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Pregnancy has been full of surprises for Ellie -
0:14:14 > 0:14:16none more so than her cravings.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Flannels - just sucking flannels. I don't know what it is.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- Fish, as well, I'm eating fish. - Did you eat it before?
0:14:23 > 0:14:24No - I'm vegetarian.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27- All right, that's a problem, then! - Yeah.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Sian will keep a watchful eye on Ellie's big belly
0:14:30 > 0:14:31over the coming weeks.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Back in the town of Burry Port, near Llanelli,
0:14:36 > 0:14:38it was Lyn's day off...
0:14:40 > 0:14:42..until the call came from Jenny.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46From her two past experiences,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50she's pretty certain that things have really started to happen now.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Contractions were ten minutes apart, then eight. The last one was seven.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57To know it's coming closer is really, really exciting.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Lyn, she just phoned me now, she's going to come and have a check.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Knew it'd go today, on her day off. Just typical.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08The difficulty I have, my husband works away.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11With a home delivery, obviously I make arrangements.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13I've always got friends. My family are really helpful.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15So they'd always step in.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18I could phone one sister, she'd come at 4.30 in the morning,
0:15:18 > 0:15:19She'd be over here straight, you know?
0:15:19 > 0:15:23All right? Said you were having a baby!
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Feeling OK? Good movements?
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Yeah. In-between the contractions as well,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31the baby's moving and it's going really tight.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Got a contraction timer -
0:15:33 > 0:15:35it's been downloaded quickly
0:15:35 > 0:15:37so we knew where we were, sort of thing.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- Let's hope today's the day, then. - I hope so.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43It's just so uncertain in midwifery -
0:15:43 > 0:15:46if we could tell when these girls were going to deliver,
0:15:46 > 0:15:47it would be so much easier.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49It's not the posh ones in the hospital...
0:15:49 > 0:15:51So it's time to run all the checks.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53And, yes, Jenny's right.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56It really does look as if today is the day.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02I've just encouraged her now to walk around,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05go into the garden for a little walk and see how things go.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08So when contractions pick up, in the next few hours,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10I'm sure we'll be well on our way, you know?
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Whilst Lyn waits for nature to take its course,
0:16:17 > 0:16:18Sian's on her way to a home
0:16:18 > 0:16:24where nature has recently changed the course of life dramatically.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26She's calling on quite a special young mother,
0:16:26 > 0:16:3120-year-old Non Williams and Jack, her two-week-old baby boy.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- Hello!- Hello.- How are you then?
0:16:34 > 0:16:38- Hey, how much weight has he put on?- He's 8lbs 14oz.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40- Fantastic.- Yeah, weighed on Monday.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Imagining how things will change
0:16:43 > 0:16:46is part and parcel of being an expectant mum.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But Non was given little time for such thoughts.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Well, I went to the GP, had a bit of pain in my stomach.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54And my belly had swollen up a little bit
0:16:54 > 0:16:56so I went in and I said,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58"Well, obviously I've got something growing
0:16:58 > 0:17:00"or I've got something wrong with me."
0:17:00 > 0:17:05And then we done a pregnancy test and it showed it was positive.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07But a greater shock was to come.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Not only was she pregnant,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12her baby was to arrive in four weeks' time.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15- So you didn't feel the baby move at all.- No, nothing.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- Funny, isn't it?! - It's strange.- Yeah.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21It was a very, big shock.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24But no, it's been a nice shock.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Now then, have you had any thoughts on contraception?
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- Were you using anything before? - I was on the pill.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Right, so the pill doesn't suit you?
0:17:32 > 0:17:34- No.- We know that.- Yeah.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40It was just a mistake, wasn't it?
0:17:40 > 0:17:42A very good mistake!
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Oh, Non's doing great. She's like a duck to water.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52She's as happy as Larry there, no problems.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58No two births, no two pregnancies... it's never the same.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Every one is totally different.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03And that's what makes the job really interesting.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Near Lampeter, midwife Anwen Evans
0:18:09 > 0:18:12is giving Lisa and Steffan their start for the day.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Husband Sion is used to the unpredictability of Anwen's days,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19even if, like today, it's her day off.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20It's a juggling act.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Midwifery and taking the kids here, there and everywhere.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26And if she's not on... If she's at home, then we're lucky.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29If she's not, she's always prepared something for me and the kids.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33Yeah, it just takes one phone call to completely change your day.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37You can plan it out to a T in the morning
0:18:37 > 0:18:39but it can change in a matter of seconds.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41And it's quite difficult thinking,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43"Oh, gosh, where are the kids tonight?"
0:18:43 > 0:18:44"Where's Sion?"
0:18:44 > 0:18:47"How am I going to get them looked after?"
0:18:47 > 0:18:51And obviously, concentrating with my work as well.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Anwen likes to keep work life and home life apart.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59But sometimes, it's just not possible.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00It's a challenging position, really.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Obviously it's life and death.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05And unfortunately when the bad things do happen...yeah,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08we do have a chat about it but not that I can do much.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12But I can listen, make a cup of tea and hopefully things will get better.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Lois is Anwen's best friend.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Her due-date has passed.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Like brides, first babies tend to be late.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24On her day off, Anwen has called on her friend
0:19:24 > 0:19:26to give her some moral support.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- How are you feeling?- Oh, I'm OK. A bit of backache.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Lois is now seven days overdue so I'm on pins,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34waiting for the phone call.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38- You're waiting on that phone call! - I am! I am.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I'm scared if I leave my phone anywhere for long.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43I think, "Oh, my God, where is it?!"
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Anwen is used to postponing things at the last moment.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48But not tomorrow, please!
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Hubby is home today, hoping to finish
0:19:50 > 0:19:52so we can go for a day out tomorrow
0:19:52 > 0:19:54for our wedding anniversary.
0:19:55 > 0:19:56Unless Lois has the baby!
0:19:56 > 0:19:59If Lois has the baby, I'll be there...
0:20:00 > 0:20:04..celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary with Lois and Martin!
0:20:04 > 0:20:08I'm sure the hospital won't mind if Sion comes in for a couple of hours.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16Before leaving, Anwen transforms from friend to midwife,
0:20:16 > 0:20:18just to be sure that all's well.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21BABY'S HEARTBEAT RACES
0:20:28 > 0:20:31But, as you can hear, all is not well.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33The baby's heart is racing.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39With time, it might well calm itself down.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40On the other hand...
0:20:40 > 0:20:42No, it's still high.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Anwen's taking no chances.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47That of course means hospital.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- I'll book for you to go in for a monitoring.- Oh, right.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Cos it was 160-175.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Oh, was it?
0:20:54 > 0:20:56It could be that just the baby's been active and moving around a lot
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and by the time she gets down there, it could have settled down.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01But we need to rule out,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03just in case there is anything...
0:21:03 > 0:21:06that the baby's heart rate is getting higher for some reason.
0:21:06 > 0:21:07We need to know.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- Oh, yeah, I can feel it.- Yeah.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11If the baby's heartbeat is still high,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14they might think about inducing Lois sooner rather than later,
0:21:14 > 0:21:16because she is term plus seven now.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18So we'll just wait and see.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29In Burry Port, the contractions are coming stronger and faster.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Jenny's discomfort is clear to see.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Sam isn't looking too good either.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Now that the process of pain has begun,
0:21:38 > 0:21:43Lyn has a pretty good idea of what's going to happen, when.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45I've just examined Jennifer now
0:21:45 > 0:21:47and the cervix is almost fully effaced, 3cm.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51So another hour or two and I'm sure we'll be cooking on gas, then.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00Time allowing, two midwives are present at every homebirth.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Just arrived and helping Lyn with the equipment
0:22:03 > 0:22:04is team member Amelia.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07We're making sure that everything is to hand and again,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11it's important that you do choose wisely
0:22:11 > 0:22:13when you're saying yes to a home delivery, you know?
0:22:13 > 0:22:16That we're looking at the low risk women.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Because Jenny is young and healthy
0:22:19 > 0:22:22and has already had two trouble-free births,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Lyn is confident that she's made the right call.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32An hour later, the hard work of labour has begun.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33The morning's excitement
0:22:33 > 0:22:37has turned into the nervous quiet of the waiting game.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40She's doing really, really well.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43The contractions are getting a lot stronger now.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45Whereas before, downstairs, Jen was really chatty,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47now she's gone quiet and this is all normal, you know,
0:22:47 > 0:22:51in labour, how you change. Cos they're working so hard.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55And you can see her grimacing now, with the pain.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58But I believe she's still smiling along with it!
0:22:58 > 0:23:01THEY GIGGLE
0:23:03 > 0:23:06For Jenny, being at home helps her smile, even now.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12And Lyn and Amelia's expertise is a source of real reassurance.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24Lois was already overdue when Anwen called for a chat,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26heard the baby's racing heartbeat
0:23:26 > 0:23:29and sent her best-friend quickly off to hospital.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Thankfully, little Osian was well.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34So well, in fact, that he was in no hurry at all
0:23:34 > 0:23:37to leave the snugness of his mother's womb.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38Hello, Osian!
0:23:38 > 0:23:42We had a hot curry, just to try and get things moving,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45and the following morning, on the Saturday,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48my waters broke about 4.45am.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Sunday morning, they thought they'll start to induce me now
0:23:51 > 0:23:55because it'd been 24 hours after the waters had broken.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57On the drip for six hours
0:23:57 > 0:24:01and only 2cm dilated, doing that for two hours!
0:24:01 > 0:24:04So because of no progress, really,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07they said it would need to be an emergency Caesarean.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11So at 9.51 on Sunday night,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Osian was born.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- And are you having some sleep at night?- I am.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18Lois knows that she is very lucky indeed
0:24:18 > 0:24:21to have Anwen as her midwife as well as friend.
0:24:21 > 0:24:26With Anwen, I can call her on her personal phone, which is lovely!
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Oh, hello, beautiful!
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- Oh, look! - LOIS EXCLAIMS
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Ah, what a life!
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Oh, that's the best way to be, Osian.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43Bringing a new life into the world is a wondrous occurrence,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47especially if past experiences have ended in disappointment.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49It's overwhelming sometimes.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52You look at him and you're thinking, "My gosh!"
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Because of the loss last year,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58it means so much more that there's a new life there.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00And it's fantastic, it's really nice.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Absolutely perfect.
0:25:02 > 0:25:03Hello, beautiful!
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Being midwife to a lifelong friend
0:25:08 > 0:25:11has been a quite an experience for Anwen, too.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Perfect, absolutely perfect.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17It's nice.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18It makes my day.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23We took some photos after coming out of the theatre,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25of Anwen with Osian
0:25:25 > 0:25:28and with us and everything.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31And it's lovely, I think. That bond is there then, I think.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34It's a lovely start for their relationship, as well.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38I think that's what's nice being a community midwife,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41is that you see a nice closure to everything.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43You've seen them through the whole procedure
0:25:43 > 0:25:46and it's just perfect, absolutely lovely.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00In Jenny's bedroom,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04gas and air help ease the pain as the hour of childbirth approaches.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07JENNY: Is it out?
0:26:07 > 0:26:09No!
0:26:09 > 0:26:11I feel like I've just gone this way.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13No, no, you're OK, you're doing really well.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14- LAUGHING:- Is it out!
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Just go with it now, don't be frightened,
0:26:20 > 0:26:22just go with what your body's telling you now, right?
0:26:22 > 0:26:24With 18 years' experience behind her,
0:26:24 > 0:26:30Lyn's cool-hand approach is of immeasurable importance to Jenny.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31- You all right, Sam?- Yeah, fine.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Pushing down, just go with it now, you're doing a fab job,
0:26:34 > 0:26:35just go with it.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Well done, Jenny, keep going, babe.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Brilliant, well done.
0:26:41 > 0:26:42Good girl, well done.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Nice and slow for me know, nice and slow.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45Good girl.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Keep it coming, that's fantastic.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50- Well done.- Well done.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- You're coming out in one fair scoop, are you?- Oh!
0:26:53 > 0:26:55And this is your daddy.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58- Whoa-ho!- Yeah!
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Oh!
0:27:02 > 0:27:05- Hello!- Well done.- Hello.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Well done, babe.
0:27:08 > 0:27:13The pain and the pushing over, the age-old miracle is complete
0:27:13 > 0:27:16as the newborn baby boy fills the room with emotion.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Not a dry eye in the house, now!
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Well done.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28Another successful homebirth for which Lyn has just one word...
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Fab.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32You've done amazing, you've done so well.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34- Look how small he is. - You going to give him a kiss?
0:27:35 > 0:27:38For first-time dad Sam, it's been quite a day.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41I knew it would be the best moment of my life
0:27:41 > 0:27:44and it's even better than I could have ever thought. Amazing.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49And, even after her years of experience,
0:27:49 > 0:27:52it's been quite a day for Lyn, too.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56I think the day I stop getting emotional is the day I give up.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58This is the bit I love now, watching them
0:27:58 > 0:28:01all together after the baby, it's lovely.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03Makes it all worthwhile, you know?
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Next time on The Country Midwives...
0:28:14 > 0:28:17a mum-to-be's visit to the loo gives the midwives the runs.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21Big, big push in your bum. That's it, fantastic.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25What happens when morning sickness lasts all day, every day.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27She vomited 16 times overnight.
0:28:27 > 0:28:31And how midwives deal with sorrow, as well as joy.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34I've just got to be strong and try and help her
0:28:34 > 0:28:36to come through the tears.