0:00:02 > 0:00:04DOOR KNOCKS
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Hi, it's the midwife.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10- That's it, that's it, you're doing it, you're doing it.- Little pushes,
0:00:10 > 0:00:12little pushes.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13Oh my gosh!
0:00:13 > 0:00:16When we're at our most vulnerable,
0:00:16 > 0:00:20we all need someone who ISN'T afraid.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23I'm your midwife and I'm going to be looking after you.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Midwives are responsible for bringing our children
0:00:25 > 0:00:28safely into the world.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30- Hello world! - You have to make a very, very
0:00:30 > 0:00:35intimate relationship with somebody you've never met in your life.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I apologise.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39You've not done anything wrong.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42You're having a baby, you've not killed someone!
0:00:42 > 0:00:46But now, they are facing the highest birth-rate in 40 years.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47BABY CRIES
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Too many women having babies. That's the problem.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51Oooh!
0:00:51 > 0:00:55- Parents are more demanding.- I don't feel that she's getting any answers.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- And pregnancy is more complicated. - We're worried.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Do you know we're worried?
0:01:00 > 0:01:03When you see a baby come out like he did,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05you just think, "Oh no".
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Yeah yeah, I'm fine. I just delivered my first baby.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12That's the best feeling in the world!
0:01:12 > 0:01:16This is what it's really like to be a midwife in Britain today.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24SHE SCREAMS
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Good, keep breathing,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36keep breathing. Well done.
0:01:36 > 0:01:41It's Sunday night on the delivery unit of St Mary's Hospital in Manchester.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44- We just need to do what is best for baby, all right?- OK.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48One of the busiest labour wards in the country.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52So, what do you think is going to happen tonight, then?
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Oh, I don't know. That's the joy of triage.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01The unexpected. We don't know.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05So, we just, sort of, watch him.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10He's a really small baby and probably doesn't have a good outcome, if she delivers.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11Last week, they delivered 136 babies.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15This week, it could be anything up to 170.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20A gorgeous girl. All done. Made my Mother's Day.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22With every expectant mother,
0:02:22 > 0:02:27the midwives have to work out how best to look after her and her baby.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31But they also have to juggle the resources of a busy hospital.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34- Hello everybody.- Hiya.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38If you could do a urine sample for us, please. Not you, sir,
0:02:38 > 0:02:39and not the child, but you please.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Some births will be straightforward. Others will not.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48You never know what you're going to get.
0:02:48 > 0:02:49Like a box of chocolates.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52INTERCOM SOUNDS
0:02:56 > 0:03:00Midwife Gill Barras has worked at St Mary's for 26 years.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Too much pain, OK, Jade, love. Let me have a look at you.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Tonight, she's manning the triage desk.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07Yeah, room one, I think, Pam.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11The first port of call for everyone who comes into the hospital.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13As an midwife on the labour ward,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17you have to very, very quickly
0:03:17 > 0:03:19make a very, very intimate relationship
0:03:19 > 0:03:23with somebody you've never met before in your life.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- Don't you?- You do.- Isn't that a challenge? A massive challenge.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27That is the challenge.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30INTERCOM SOUNDS
0:03:30 > 0:03:35- What's the name?- It's Lindsay Hall. - Hey. We were giving up on you.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37With delivery beds filling up
0:03:37 > 0:03:40and a constant stream of women coming through the door,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42it's up to Gill to work out who to admit
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- and who to send home. - Into this room, darling, OK?
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- What do you think then, Gill? - No.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53I don't think she's in labour.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58Lindsay's fifth child is due today and she's convinced she's in labour.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03You look too relaxed for me!
0:04:03 > 0:04:05But I think you've had four babies before?
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- Plenty of practice.- Yes,
0:04:08 > 0:04:12and practice means calmness, I think.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15I'm just going to examine you very briefly.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- You're not in labour yet, you know. - You're joking, this is killing me.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27No, I'm not joking, mate. I know you're not.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Your cervix isn't properly dilated.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34It's slightly open, I'm not saying it will not dilate,
0:04:34 > 0:04:38but at the moment, no, you're not in labour at the moment.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41I would rather you went home.
0:04:41 > 0:04:47- Could you cope at home? - No.- It's really hurting. That's why I came in.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51I know she's in pain. Of that there is no doubt.
0:04:51 > 0:04:58- Yep.- But, she needs to have some more pain, really,
0:04:58 > 0:05:00before proper labour starts.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04If you could, when she's ready to come out she can come out.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12We cannot risk the dangerous practice
0:05:12 > 0:05:16of filling the delivery unit up with people that are not in labour
0:05:16 > 0:05:20when people might well come in that are very much in labour
0:05:20 > 0:05:24or having various complications and they might well need to have a bed.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32That's difficult.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34She doesn't want to go home until the baby comes out.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Gill doesn't want to admit Lindsay too soon
0:05:37 > 0:05:40but technically she can't send her home against her will.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47- It's really hurting now.- You what?
0:05:47 > 0:05:49It's really hurting.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52You keep walking about, try and keep mobile, sweetheart.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54I think go to the dining room
0:05:54 > 0:05:57or every time you see me, have a contraction.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01- It's never hurt like this before. - Oh, yes it has.- Not this early on.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03What do you mean, this early on?
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Like without doing anything.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07It's not hurt this much.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Well you won't feel great cos it's the end of your pregnancy.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Get a drink of water in there and take two paracetamol.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19I promise you, as soon as you go into labour you can have the gas.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23My life.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Just by the fact that I've got five beds,
0:06:33 > 0:06:34that means I'm not bed-blocked,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37so my only issue at the minute appears to be staffing.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40It's not just beds that are a problem.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45- A midwife's called in sick.- Morning.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47I can't grab you, then? I can't steal you?
0:06:47 > 0:06:50There are now only 13 midwives on duty.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54I could do with grabbing you for an extra pair of hands.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I've got this lady from upstairs who I can't leave.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01- They've only got three up there. - Threes on the wards as well.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04I can't pull from MLU. I've pulled Glenys from management already.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06- OK.- Hello, my dear.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09There might only be one midwife on induction of labour bay.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Well if she's actually here she needs to stay here.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15I've not even checked over there yet.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Certainly when I've done the ward round I'll need to be letting
0:07:21 > 0:07:24the deputy head lead midwife know what's going on,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27just in case we get in a position where we can't provide care.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33You soon realise when you look into midwifery
0:07:33 > 0:07:35that it's about being with women.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Babies are a part of that, but midwife means "with woman".
0:07:38 > 0:07:41That's what it means and that's what we're here for.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43And the baby's the end result.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46I would say it's more difficult to be with the women now,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48than it used to be.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Obviously we give women as much time as they need,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52but in the back of your head
0:07:52 > 0:07:56sometimes you're thinking, "I've got a hundred other things to do."
0:07:56 > 0:07:59And that's just your issue, you just have to deal with that,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01cos that woman is the most important thing
0:08:01 > 0:08:04and you have to give her the time she needs.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08You have to make it your problem and not the lady's problem.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11Are you all right there?
0:08:16 > 0:08:20- Room one. Just through that door, first on the left.- Thank you.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Hello, Triage. Can I help you?
0:08:24 > 0:08:27With her first baby, you have a lot of work to do.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31It's five o'clock on Monday morning.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34After an hour, Lindsay is still refusing to go home.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37She needs to brave it out a little more at home.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Home is where you go into labour, hospital is where you have the baby.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46All right darling, goodbye. Not in labour.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Oh, now this is a good one!
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- What do you want me to do? - Make it stop.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Do you want me to put you on the induction bay and induce labour?
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Do whatever you want to make this pain stop.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Make it stop? The only way to stop them is to have the baby.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- Make it bearable. - Make it bearable how?
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Gas and air works but you won't give me that.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20I will but you need to be sat in a room and I can't keep you in.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22- Why not?- Cos you're not in labour.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24But I'm going into labour.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29- You're going into labour. - I know I'm going into labour.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Right. OK. I know you can't cope. Neither can I.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36And you know I can't. Don't you?
0:09:36 > 0:09:38SHE LAUGHS
0:09:41 > 0:09:45OK. I'll just find your notes.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50OK. That's Thursday.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53You've won.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Let's take you upstairs.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00After two hours of pleading, Gill finally gives in and admits Lindsay.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06I'll go and sort the baby out now.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Farhana Faruque and her student midwife have just finished
0:10:09 > 0:10:11delivering their second baby of the night.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14They're ready to look after Lindsay.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Her pains to me didn't seem to be labour as such.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24But I can't not believe what they're telling me.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28So I've got to act upon what I hear,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32even if I may be thinking entirely differently.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Hello, Lindsay. I'm Farhana, I'm one of the midwives.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38You've got me for an hour and a half,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41so that's how long you've got to deliver this baby!
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- OK. Do you want some gas and air? Is that what you want?- Yes, please.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48SHE GROANS
0:10:48 > 0:10:52INHALES GAS AND AIR
0:10:57 > 0:10:59SHE MOANS
0:11:03 > 0:11:09OK, that's fine. You're about nine. OK? So we know it's labour.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Lindsay's made surprising progress.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14It just goes to show how mums know best.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17She says she has quick deliveries when they do kick in
0:11:17 > 0:11:20and she's gone and laboured really quickly.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Fancy standing up?
0:11:22 > 0:11:24On your knees? On the ball?
0:11:24 > 0:11:26No, cos it hurts.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30She's like a little foetus herself, isn't she, like that?
0:11:33 > 0:11:35No.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40Just take a little, just take some breaths.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45That's baby coming round the bend there.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52GROANING
0:11:52 > 0:11:54OK.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58Lindsay , hold your breath. Hold it in and push. Right into your bottom.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00You're doing really well. Come on.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Let's give the baby some room. Come on.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Is that one gone?
0:12:05 > 0:12:07It's gone. Off the gas.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12No, I don't think we'll manage that.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15You're very easy going in labour, aren't you?
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Just sometimes you say no to everything.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Let's give the baby some room.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Focus on your pushing.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25- SHE MOANS - Is it stinging? That's baby's head!
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- Tiny push.- Bit of room.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- Just breathe for me.- Breathe.- Just breathe.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Baby's there. That's baby's head!
0:12:34 > 0:12:38Baby's head. Look. Have a feel. Be careful. There.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Just let us deliver the baby.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43SHE MOANS
0:12:43 > 0:12:45- There she comes.- That's it. Well done!
0:12:47 > 0:12:49And a good cry for us straight away.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52- Exactly half past seven.- Oh!
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- Look at all that vernix on her!- Wow!
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Hello, Eloise.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01- Here we go.- There we go. - BABY CRIES
0:13:05 > 0:13:07- So that's for you.- Thank you.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Just in between. Just in there.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12OK, fab.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Didn't we ask for a baby by half past? Delivered right on time.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I know! Spot on!
0:13:21 > 0:13:23It was very, very normal.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Just the way mother nature intended it to happen.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31I think I tried to bully her a little bit but it didn't work.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34No. She knew what she wanted.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- PRODUCER: How many is that tonight? - Three. Hat-trick.- Hat-trick.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- Very good, hat-trick.- Yeah.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- PRODUCER: So what next? - Home!- Bed!- Bed!
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Obviously, for mums, it's very special and, you know,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59it's very exciting and sometimes very frightening for them.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03But for a midwife, obviously, we'll know there'll be another one
0:14:03 > 0:14:06right behind her and another one behind her
0:14:06 > 0:14:08and another lady coming through.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12OK, and how often are the pains coming? How long are they lasting?
0:14:13 > 0:14:17And this one's 34 weeks but with tightening so they both need a CTG.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- Yeah, and whatever. - Yeah, three and four.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21Right. Is...
0:14:21 > 0:14:26- I couldn't see that name, then. Leonie Crawley? Yeah?- Right.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Are you on any medication at the minute, Carren?
0:14:28 > 0:14:31If you put Miss Simpson in four then I'll know where I'm up to.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Just bear with me a moment and I'll find out.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- Come on, sweetheart. - Do you want to make your way in?
0:14:36 > 0:14:38And we'll check you over and see what you're doing.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42- Where's the midwife from triage gone?- She may be in with...
0:14:42 > 0:14:45I thought she'd gone back.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48It's Tuesday morning.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51The number of women in labour is steadily increasing.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54They pull a midwife off the triage desk,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57leaving Ann Stapleton to look after four women at once.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02We'll talk to you in a minute. Is that my lady?
0:15:02 > 0:15:04BELL SOUNDS
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- Yes, honey. All right. Come on. - PATIENT GROANS
0:15:08 > 0:15:13The patients rock up without always telling us
0:15:13 > 0:15:16and there's only so many rooms and there's usually,
0:15:16 > 0:15:18there's usually three of us on as midwives.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23It's like the slowest lift in the world.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Carren has travelled 20 miles to be looked after
0:15:25 > 0:15:28by the St Mary's specialist teams.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33She hasn't felt her baby move in the last 12 hours.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Am are going... Is this the right place?
0:15:38 > 0:15:41- Is this triage?- It is. - SCREAMS
0:15:41 > 0:15:43I'll go and see. She seems a bit more distressed.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46I'll come and see Carren in a minute. Are you OK, honey?
0:15:46 > 0:15:49I'll be back shortly. Are you all right?
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Thanks for that!
0:15:57 > 0:15:59SHE LAUGHS
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Well, there's a position! I'm Anne. Hiya.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05- I haven't met this one.- You haven't met this one?- I haven't met you.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08- Sorry.- They all seem to know you. You either work here or you...
0:16:08 > 0:16:11- I live here. - Oh, does she live here? Oh.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16Right. Has anybody looked at you yet? Felt your tum?
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Can I have a little look? Have a quick read.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20I'll get up while I'm all right.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22- So it's your second baby, then. - Third.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27Oh, right. So your due date is the 15th. Lovely.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30So tell me what's happened to you today, Carren.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Just gently seeing how baby is.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36What did the last babies weigh, Dad?
0:16:36 > 0:16:39- What's your name?- Barry. They weighed...
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Just while she's chilling. I thought she was chilling, then.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- Seven pound six.- Sorry, love. Just relax, Mummy.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48- Seven pound five.- Six.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- No, she was seven pound five.- Six. - And eight pound seven.- Right.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52- All normal?- Normal deliveries.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57- Any problems after?- No. just the cardiac defect with the second one.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Right. Did it need treatment?
0:16:59 > 0:17:02- She died.- Oh, sorry babe. Nobody told me that.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05- We usually tell each other before we come in.- It's all right.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08- Don't worry.- Right. Big breath in.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Take a big breath.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13When you're ready. Just seeing how...
0:17:13 > 0:17:16All right. You know, it is so busy out there.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20I do apologise about that again but we do little things, well,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24big things like that for yourselves...
0:17:24 > 0:17:29- She was 15 weeks so we had surgery. - Oh, no, you don't have to tell me!
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- No, it's fine. - But you don't understand.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34We usually try and, within the madness of triage,
0:17:34 > 0:17:35we usually tell each other if we can.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37So I don't ask that question, I could read it.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41- SHE GROANS - I do apologise.- It's not your fault.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Carren and Barry's second child, Lagan,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48was born with a severe heart defect and died just a year ago.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Let's see if we can wake little'un up a bit.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Should he be moving, still?
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Well we, we, it's obvious that there's...
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- Let's see where your placenta is. - Where is it? To the back.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01- Is it to the front?- To the back. - Right.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Cos sometimes if there's placental tissue to the front,
0:18:04 > 0:18:05you don't feel it moving so well.
0:18:05 > 0:18:11The death of their last child makes the lack of movement an even greater concern.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16It could be a sign that baby's distressed for some reason.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20So we need to do monitoring on the baby,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24and it gives us a good signal of how the baby really is.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28It might be that, if we're seriously worried about movements,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31she might have to be induced.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Have you had extra scans this time?
0:18:33 > 0:18:36I've had one extra scan... two extra scans.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Have you found it all a bit more stressful?
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Yeah.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43I think however reassuring we are, with every test in the book,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45until you see your baby...
0:18:45 > 0:18:49Until I've had it scanned I won't be certain.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51No, absolutely.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- It's going to the baby unit, that delivery.- OK.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55So she's on the monitor.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58She just needs a VE then.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02And she'll need a canula if she's going to go to 64 as well. I'll come and do that in a bit.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Worried about dips in the baby's heart rate,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Ann's called in the registrar.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Every now and again, when you're having a contraction,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14baby's heartbeat is dipping down.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17It's coming back up again but it is becoming a bit of a pattern.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20So what I need to do really is pop you back on the monitor,
0:19:20 > 0:19:23see if this is still happening, and if it is
0:19:23 > 0:19:26I need to talk to my boss, about whether we can break your waters
0:19:26 > 0:19:30and maybe bring labour on a bit quicker than it's already happening. Is that OK?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Yeah? I'll be back soon.
0:19:38 > 0:19:39You all right?
0:19:40 > 0:19:42You sure?
0:19:47 > 0:19:50You're going to wet the bed before you get on it.
0:19:50 > 0:19:51SHE SOBS
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Every baby I've had has been in heart distress
0:20:02 > 0:20:06at some point during labour. What is that about?
0:20:06 > 0:20:09It's frustrating. It's upsetting.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Because it suddenly puts a lot of pressure on me.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19How long has this pain been coming for?
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Since about half-past-eight.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24SHE GROANS
0:20:29 > 0:20:31Joanne and Steve wanted a Caesarean section
0:20:31 > 0:20:35after a difficult delivery with their first child,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38but Joanne's gone into labour early.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42We were booked in for a...
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Booked in for a section on Friday
0:20:44 > 0:20:47but he's decided to play today by the sounds of it.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Breathe some fresh air now, all right?
0:20:50 > 0:20:52I'm going to examine you.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54- Is that pain going away?- No.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56SHE GROANS
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Ow!
0:20:58 > 0:21:02- Ow!- Come on.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Joanne, you're about seven centimetres.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05You're joking!
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Your membrane's, I can still feel your waters intact there.
0:21:10 > 0:21:11Right.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14I'm going to get the doctor to come and talk to you.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Do you still definitely want a section?
0:21:16 > 0:21:20- Am I too late for an epidural? - No.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23If I can have an epidural and it works,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- because my last one didn't work, I'll give it a go.- All right.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29If she can get an epidural in, no, she'll go for vaginal.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- 14.- 14.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33I've not done her obs yet.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38JOANNE GROANS
0:21:38 > 0:21:42Joanne is rushed to the delivery unit for an epidural.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54- Hello! Did we want to have a vaginal delivery?- No, we didn't!
0:21:54 > 0:21:56She was booked for a section on Friday.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Just try and relax for me, take some really big deep breaths.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04SHE CRIES OUT
0:22:04 > 0:22:07All right, darling, try not to panic.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12I'm going to sit you up a tiny bit.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16When she's examined, there's a problem.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Because you've done so well and so quickly,
0:22:19 > 0:22:21I'm not sure we can put an epidural in,
0:22:21 > 0:22:25because by the time we sit you up to get it in, you'll be ready to push.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28OK? All right? But that's not it for pain relief.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31We've got lots and lots of better stuff.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Joanne, try and calm down for us and breathe.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Just breathe.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38It's all a bit of a shock, isn't it?
0:22:41 > 0:22:45You got yourself to seven before you got here, so you did well.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49I know what's what with a section.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55- Please.- Finish the pain.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57- But you've done so well! - I don't care.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Ultimately it is her decision
0:23:03 > 0:23:06but we're looking at the safety of her and her baby.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09WOMAN: Do you think women in labour
0:23:09 > 0:23:11are the best judges of what they want?
0:23:11 > 0:23:14That's a tricky one.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16Yes and no.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Yes because their body's telling them
0:23:19 > 0:23:21what they want and what they don't want
0:23:21 > 0:23:23and what stage of labour they're potentially at.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27But then some women do get those premature urges and do get
0:23:27 > 0:23:29a little bit out of control and restless,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33and I think at that point decisions can be a little bit irrational.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Please let me have a section.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38'I try and encourage women to be as open-minded as possible
0:23:38 > 0:23:41'cos you're never always going to get exactly what you want.'
0:23:41 > 0:23:45I know, I know, but the thing is you're fully dilated and you've been pushing
0:23:45 > 0:23:50so if baby's come down we'll be able to give you a hand out from down below instead.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Obviously with better pain relief. All right?
0:23:52 > 0:23:55And that's safer for you and baby than it is trying to do
0:23:55 > 0:23:58a Caesarean when you're fully dilated and have been pushing.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00All right?
0:24:00 > 0:24:04Hiya, Joanne. My name's Ann, I'm going to take you to theatre, OK?
0:24:04 > 0:24:07- Yeah.- I'll take good care of you, OK?
0:24:07 > 0:24:10- Thank you.- We'll get this baby out!
0:24:10 > 0:24:11Thank you.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13With the baby in a tricky position,
0:24:13 > 0:24:17the doctor wants to give Joanne a forceps delivery.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20If you just go in there
0:24:20 > 0:24:23and the midwife will come and speak to you in a minute, OK?
0:24:25 > 0:24:28'We had a baby two years ago on Sunday.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30'Matthew James.'
0:24:30 > 0:24:35And he died in our arms the April 1st at 21-days-old.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Matthew was an IVF baby,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40it's taken us five or six years to get him,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43and obviously we had him for 21 days,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46and then a couple of years of trying now,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48we were saving up to have more IVF,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51and managed to get caught naturally.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54We found out while we were away on holiday.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56And then it's just been like a rollercoaster.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Been subject to a lot more scans to make sure this baby's OK,
0:25:00 > 0:25:04and touch wood, fingers crossed, everything's OK.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06So just need to get him here now.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08- No pain at all now the spinal's in, so she's fine.- Fantastic.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14- Take a seat there, sir.- Certainly.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Hi, Sweetheart. How are you feeling?
0:25:18 > 0:25:21A million times better.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Take a little bit of tilt off as well.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32- I love you.- Love you too.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41So, next contraction,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I'm going to pull and you're going to push like you've never pushed before.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Take a breath in again.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Right, now, just pant for me, Sweetheart, just pant.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Well done.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01And you were worried about this childbirth malarkey!
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Pain? What pain?
0:26:04 > 0:26:08- Keep on pushing your bum. - I'm trying! I can't feel anything.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- Yay!- Oh, my God!- Look at his face!
0:26:15 > 0:26:19He's trying to scream there.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20- No sound. - BABY CRIES
0:26:20 > 0:26:22There you go!
0:26:25 > 0:26:28- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Well done, Sweetheart.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48You did really well.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50I'll try and watch.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Could you have been a bit quicker? Four-and-a-half hours since you started having pain,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and you think you're no good at this bit.
0:26:56 > 0:26:57JOANNE LAUGHS
0:26:57 > 0:27:00- Nine pound one!- He's a bruiser!
0:27:00 > 0:27:034.1 kilos.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Nine pound one!
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Oh, my goodness.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13It would have been his brother's birthday on Sunday, he would have been two.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17It's a hard day for us but I'm glad he didn't come on his brother's birthday.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20We want both the days to be special for each of them.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Your little brother's up heaven, isn't he?
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Isn't he?
0:27:28 > 0:27:32For that couple, I think what made it was because their first baby had died.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36You think, now they've got a healthy little one they can keep,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39and love, it's not got to be rushed off to SCIBU like last time.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43I think it's just knowing how happy they are makes you really happy
0:27:43 > 0:27:45to give that kind of gift to them in a way.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53That really hurts.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55Try not to worry. Try not to worry.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Remember, you don't have to press it, you know how to use it?
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Self release. You don't have to press it.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04You'll get too much, like Delboy.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Midwife Ann is looking after Carren and Barry,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10whose baby has not been moving.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Carren Bell is going to room 5 on 64.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Carren's become a major priority
0:28:21 > 0:28:24and will be transferred to the delivery unit.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Room 5, Carren Bell.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30This lady is a para 2.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34She had one neonatal death with the last baby in 2011
0:28:34 > 0:28:38and she had multiple congenital heart defects, that baby.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42You OK? We're just going round the back way.
0:28:42 > 0:28:43Carren's second child, who died,
0:28:43 > 0:28:46was born a year ago on this very same unit.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Come on then!
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Do you want to stay sat out a little while, Sweetheart?
0:29:00 > 0:29:02MAN: Does it feel weird to be back in the same place?
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Um...
0:29:05 > 0:29:07It feels like we've never left actually, to be honest.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Now I'm in here it's upset me.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12It was on the end of the corridor on the other side.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15It was about twice the size of this room.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19I'm glad it's not the same room because I'd be a bit freaked out.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24Baby machine, routine in every room.
0:29:24 > 0:29:29They're set up in every one, with a heater and a light, OK?
0:29:29 > 0:29:32And a little bit of oxygen.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Cos remember you've got oxygen in your gas and air,
0:29:35 > 0:29:38so sometimes babies are startled, born quickly,
0:29:38 > 0:29:39need help to come,
0:29:39 > 0:29:44so sometimes it's just a little way of giving them a kick-start.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48They're all set up, all cleaned, all checked, twice a day.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51All right, Darling. Nothing to worry about at all.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- Right, so if we pop you in bed then. - On the bed?
0:29:54 > 0:30:00- We've got to do your waters. - Oh, no! Right.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05- You've never had your waters popped. - Yeah, I did with Lagan.
0:30:05 > 0:30:06Right.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10I use my fingers to shield you from that little hook at the end
0:30:10 > 0:30:14and protect you and it's there to pop waters.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17It's just designed for that, not to touch you. OK?
0:30:17 > 0:30:21We appreciate it's not a nice procedure.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30There's been no let-up overnight.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Nine more babies have been delivered.
0:30:32 > 0:30:3714 beds are now occupied, and the delivery unit is filling up.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Right, all sorted.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43I've brought the midwife back to triage now, so they're fine.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46Sorted. OK, see you later.
0:30:48 > 0:30:54The lady in room two is a para 1 that's come across. Four centimetres, wanting an epidural.
0:30:54 > 0:30:59The challenge is to try and free up beds.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01She's going to try and come back into that room.
0:31:01 > 0:31:06All right, let's see if we can have a look at that board.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08With so many women in labour,
0:31:08 > 0:31:12the hospital is in real danger of running out of beds.
0:31:12 > 0:31:18If there is a problem, cos I can see there's a lady who's going down to Ward 66
0:31:18 > 0:31:21because she's developed raised blood pressure and proteinuria,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24which we need to monitor much more closely.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26She'll go down to the high-risk ward.
0:31:26 > 0:31:31- Have you got any more discharges? No?- No.- OK, thank you!
0:31:31 > 0:31:33Thanks very much, toodle-oo.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36We've got two more on the induction bay to come across.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40But I don't want to bring any over just yet.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44In society we're very much, it's our next turn, it's our next turn
0:31:44 > 0:31:48and sometimes situations evolve that don't allow us to do it like that.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50It's about the safety of the mum and baby.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53So, there's lots of decisions that have to be made sometimes
0:31:53 > 0:31:56and you try to explain that to the families.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00But obviously when it's their baby they're very anxious anyway.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Charlotte is overdue and needs to have her labour induced.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12She's been waiting for a bed on the induction bay for the last six hours.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21- Hi Charlotte, I'm Jackie.- Hiya. - Are you all right?- Yeah.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25Good. I'll be looking after you. I'm going to take you into your bed.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27I apologise for the delay in getting your bed.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30There's been quite a lot of movement this afternoon.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34It's so quiet.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36The quiet before the storm!
0:32:44 > 0:32:47The midwife needs to do an examination
0:32:47 > 0:32:50to decide how best to get Charlotte's labour started.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Just stay nice and relaxed. Are you OK if I examine you now?
0:32:53 > 0:32:57Excuse my hand, just shuffle your bottom down a little bit more.
0:32:57 > 0:32:58Cold gel, sorry, Darling.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07Someone talk to me. Seriously! About anything!
0:33:07 > 0:33:08- OK.- Come on!
0:33:08 > 0:33:12Nice and central, baby's head is bobbing away when I examine you there.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17You're two centimetres dilated so we probably can break your waters.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20OK, so it's time to start moving?
0:33:20 > 0:33:23You can have a walk around. The trace is lovely.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26We'll get you off the monitor. I won't give you any Propess or anything.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29- Get you walking around. - Can someone get me up?
0:33:29 > 0:33:30Yeah, of course.
0:33:31 > 0:33:32- All right?- Yeah.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42People are told that when they come in for their induction of labour
0:33:42 > 0:33:45that they expect to be done and dusted within a day.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50So the expectations... We really have to say, "I'm sorry, but no,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52"that's not the process."
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Right, I've just come to let you know what's happening now.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59Obviously you're two centimetres dilated,
0:33:59 > 0:34:04so at this stage we won't do anything else for the rest of the night.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07There's not a bed available on the delivery unit.
0:34:07 > 0:34:12But there's other ladies who are ahead of you anyway, unfortunately.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16There's nowhere for Charlotte to give birth
0:34:16 > 0:34:18so the midwife can't break her waters.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22She's left to see if her labour starts naturally.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Hello. Hi.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38We've got a problem. We need to turn rooms around quickly.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42We've got ladies that are going out of them and ladies waiting to come in to them.
0:34:42 > 0:34:47And we have got - the domestic is going off now.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52Its nine o'clock in the evening.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Liz has come on shift to take over from Ann.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57- It's due.- She'll be all right.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00- Feeling more pressure down below? - Not yet.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07- MAN:- Carren you've always been critical of certain midwives.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11- How was Ann? - Ann's lovely. So far!
0:35:11 > 0:35:12- That's Liz. Ann's gone! - Oh!
0:35:12 > 0:35:19Oh, Ann was like what I think a midwife should be. Absolutely 100%.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Spot on.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Excuse me.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26Good night.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30She's nice because she explained everything, she was calm.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34She enjoys the one-to-one.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40Just has...an eye for detail with people.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49Unfortunately I've got a lot to live up to then, haven't I?
0:35:51 > 0:35:55No, I think you've been good cos you've sat with me already.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06In Carren's circumstances, she's come in with reduced movements
0:36:06 > 0:36:09and she's had a suspicious trace
0:36:09 > 0:36:12and also with her history as well, things are quite tense really.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16So you are really being quite vigilant
0:36:16 > 0:36:20and trying to be calm for Carren really.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22Carren, are you all right?
0:36:22 > 0:36:24They may have got all these anxieties going on
0:36:24 > 0:36:27and you may feel a lot of this anxiety yourself,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30but you can't show it.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34CARREN GROANS
0:36:56 > 0:37:00Am I OK to examine you, Carren? Yeah?
0:37:01 > 0:37:03I'm just trying to see whether...
0:37:03 > 0:37:06I can't really feel much
0:37:06 > 0:37:07I apologise.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12You are fully dilated.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Well done.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19Oh, I hate this.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23Liz has found meconium in Carren's waters.
0:37:24 > 0:37:30The baby has opened its bowels, a sign that it may be in distress.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35That's it. Excellent. Excellent.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Nearly there. You are so close now.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Can I have a paed as well, please?
0:37:43 > 0:37:47- Is he all right?- Yes, yes, yeah.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50You're doing a brilliant job, Carren, brilliant. Well done, well done.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54Now just... Brilliant. Very well done.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56Nice and slow.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Little pushes.
0:37:59 > 0:38:04Blow, blow. No pushing, no pushing no pushing, no pushing, no pushing.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08- Wonderful.- There's baby's head.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10There you go. Baby's head is out.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12Next contraction.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22I've asked the paediatrician to come as well, just because of the meconium.
0:38:22 > 0:38:23Yeah?
0:38:30 > 0:38:32- Very well done.- Here he comes, here he comes.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36- There we go.- Hiya, bubba!
0:38:40 > 0:38:42Hello.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Oh, you're beautiful. Hello. Breathe again. Please.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48- All right.- Hey, bubba.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53We're just going to take him and dry him off.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Four minutes past eleven.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07The paed's here.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13They'll have a look in his mouth, give him a bit of suction.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19He probably will just need a little bit of oxygen.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23OK, but they're just going to give a little bit of suction in his mouth.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26What's wrong with him?
0:39:26 > 0:39:29He just needs a little bit of assistance.
0:39:29 > 0:39:30OK?
0:39:31 > 0:39:32Neonate.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36- What are they doing to him? - They're going to give him oxygen.
0:39:44 > 0:39:49- Can you hear him? - It's a long time two-and-a-half minutes when you're trying.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Did you just hear him then? He went, "Waaa!"
0:39:52 > 0:39:54< He's having a cry under here.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00- Is he all right? - His heart rate's fine. - His heart rate's good.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03It's just doing all this pooing has just affected him, all right?
0:40:04 > 0:40:07They've managed to get him breathing,
0:40:07 > 0:40:09but they're concerned about his colour.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10Very, very pale.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Just thinking with his heart rate
0:40:15 > 0:40:19and the oxygen going into him that he would have pinked up a bit more,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22so whether there's something else, I really don't know.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24It could be another heart problem.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Baby was in a bit of shock when he came out.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30His heart beat was always very good. It picked up.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32He's needed a fair bit of oxygen
0:40:32 > 0:40:36so he's probably going to need to go to the neonatal unit just for a little bit. OK?
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Can I get a cuddle now or has he got to go now?
0:40:40 > 0:40:43I think what we need to do is let the baby doctor decide, OK?
0:40:43 > 0:40:48More baby people, OK?
0:40:48 > 0:40:51Oh, God, why do all my babies do this?
0:40:51 > 0:40:55Did you know that your baby had a problem last time?
0:40:55 > 0:41:01- Mmm. We'd had him scanned and there was always this risk that he might have one.- Yeah.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05- But he's crying and stuff, isn't he? He's not flat, flat.- No, no.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09He is making some respiratory effort,
0:41:09 > 0:41:12but he's just not doing enough, shall we say?
0:41:15 > 0:41:18Last baby had a known congenital heart defect.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Last baby, last year.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43It's unclear what's wrong.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46The doctors decide to send the baby to intensive care
0:41:46 > 0:41:48for an emergency blood transfusion.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11When you see a baby come out like he did,
0:42:11 > 0:42:14you just think,
0:42:14 > 0:42:17"Oh, no, please..."
0:42:17 > 0:42:19I hope everything is OK.
0:42:19 > 0:42:24I hope there's nothing that's gone amiss
0:42:24 > 0:42:25that I should have picked up on.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32I worry all the time, all the time.
0:42:35 > 0:42:40You do because there's always the unexpected that happens, like tonight.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44We don't know what's wrong with baby,
0:42:44 > 0:42:48it's just a waiting game, for all the results of tests.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54It's one of the reasons we wanted to come back here,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57because we know that, you know, if there is anything that does go wrong,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59this is probably the best place to be, isn't it?
0:43:09 > 0:43:13- Hi, are you OK? What's your name? - Charlotte, I'm just trying to find out what's...
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Hi Charlotte, I'm Emma, I'll be looking after you tonight.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18It's Thursday evening,
0:43:18 > 0:43:22Charlotte has been waiting to have her waters broken for 29 hours.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28She said that they're going to do an assessment over there
0:43:28 > 0:43:32to find out how long it'll be before
0:43:32 > 0:43:35the people from here move over there.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39- WOMAN:- How are you feeling about it? - Pissed off.- Why are you pissed off?
0:43:39 > 0:43:44Because I just don't feel that she's been getting any answers about what's happening.
0:43:44 > 0:43:49One's telling us one thing and someone's telling us something else.
0:43:51 > 0:43:55Charlotte's getting stressed with me because I'm getting worked up.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58But all I want is an answer of when something's going to happen.
0:44:02 > 0:44:07I think if you're firm but kind with people, they respond better.
0:44:07 > 0:44:11If I have confidence then they have confidence in me.
0:44:14 > 0:44:19We are always calm cos we're bred to be that way. That's just how we are.
0:44:20 > 0:44:21She's not in there, is she?
0:44:23 > 0:44:26- Anyone called Charlotte?- Me.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29- I'm taking you over.- Never!
0:44:29 > 0:44:32- Yes.- Oh, my God!- Have you been waiting a little while?
0:44:34 > 0:44:37My name is Gill. I'm your midwife, I'm going to be looking after you.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41- So, if you get your stuff ready. - Yeah.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44Just get your bags packed and all that jazz.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47Go and sort that out now. I'll help you.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52- Oh, my God!- Don't be scared.
0:44:58 > 0:45:00You haven't got much, really.
0:45:00 > 0:45:03When the waters are broken, does that mean it'll happen tonight?
0:45:03 > 0:45:06- It'll happen tonight.- The baby will happen tonight?- It will.
0:45:06 > 0:45:08That's what I like to hear.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10Nothing like positive thinking.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13Finally, an answer. A direct answer.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15- Yep, OK.- Good luck, Charlotte.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18I'm telling you, you'll deliver tonight.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21- I like you.- I do like that!
0:45:21 > 0:45:23- I'm very scared now!- You'll be fine.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27- I like this lady.- Anyone want to go back nine months and swap places? - Don't be scared.
0:45:27 > 0:45:32Your bed. Do you want to change into a nightie of ours
0:45:32 > 0:45:35or have you got something to wear to have your baby in?
0:45:35 > 0:45:38- I'll get into that to break the waters.- OK.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40Getting a bit of the daddy butterflies now.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42Are you? Don't worry.
0:45:42 > 0:45:45- I think it'll be nice and quick. - I know she's in safe hands with you.
0:45:45 > 0:45:48- I think it'll be nice and quick. - Do you?- I think so.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50How many babies have you brought into the world...
0:45:50 > 0:45:54- What's your name again?- Gill. - How many babies, Gill?
0:45:54 > 0:45:56God, I don't know. Thousands, I think.
0:45:56 > 0:45:58Thousands! Wow!
0:46:04 > 0:46:05Yep.
0:46:08 > 0:46:09Oh, yes.
0:46:10 > 0:46:12WATER SPLASHES
0:46:12 > 0:46:13Whoa!
0:46:13 > 0:46:15SHE WINCES
0:46:15 > 0:46:18Wow, you are quick!
0:46:18 > 0:46:23She is quick. You've got these socks on, they'll be soaking wet.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25That was brilliant.
0:46:25 > 0:46:28Now, you're not going to have a pain-free labour.
0:46:28 > 0:46:32- I know.- But you will have, I think, a quick labour.
0:46:33 > 0:46:37And a quick labour is better than a slow pain-free labour.
0:46:37 > 0:46:40- Are you with me?- Yeah. - That's the truth of it.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51I don't want to be... It's hurting!
0:46:51 > 0:46:54I know it is. You can change to any position you like.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57It's my hip!
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Get yourself in a position where it's better, then.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04Come on, son. Just get out.
0:47:05 > 0:47:07Charlotte injured her pelvis seven years ago.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11It's making her labour especially painful.
0:47:12 > 0:47:16Don't know how I'm doing this with gas and fucking air.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18Do you want some more diamorphine?
0:47:18 > 0:47:20- Yeah.- You do? OK.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23I'll get you some of that in a minute.
0:47:27 > 0:47:28What time is it?
0:47:30 > 0:47:32- Not home time yet.- No.
0:47:35 > 0:47:36It's only us.
0:47:38 > 0:47:41Charlotte, I've got you the injection.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51I'm so tired.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53I know.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59Baby doesn't think very highly of these contractions.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04Charlotte's labour is now progressing quickly.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11Can I just check, please, there's no cervix there.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13There's been bloody cervix the whole time.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17- No, there's no cervix there now. - Fantastic, baby.
0:48:17 > 0:48:18Thank God for that.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22- That's all that's slowed her down, hasn't it?- It is.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26OK, now, you're fully dilated, I don't want any panicking.
0:48:26 > 0:48:29When you feel the need to push, just push. Baby will come.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31OK, are you pushing now?
0:48:31 > 0:48:33CHARLOTTE GROANS
0:48:34 > 0:48:37Good girl. There he is.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40Come on, another, bigger push.
0:48:41 > 0:48:43Come on, big, harder shove.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45That's it. That's it. That's good.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50Arrgggh!
0:48:52 > 0:48:56Come on. Big hard push, make it the biggest you've ever done.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04If you've got one, I want you to shove it.
0:49:04 > 0:49:05No.
0:49:05 > 0:49:07Come on, big, big, hard shove.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11Bit harder, bit harder. Come on.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13Oh, yeah.
0:49:13 > 0:49:17In your bottom, right down there.
0:49:17 > 0:49:18Open up down there.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20- I'm trying.- I know you are.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22Come on, bit more, bit more.
0:49:22 > 0:49:24Good, good, good.
0:49:24 > 0:49:29Keep pushing, even when you feel it's too much pain, keep on.
0:49:29 > 0:49:30Good girl!
0:49:30 > 0:49:34Come on, Charlotte. That's it. Get yourself mad with it all.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36Oh, that's it.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39Would you take my glasses off? They're doing my head in.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43Come on.
0:49:43 > 0:49:47If you push really hard, the baby might come right out with this one.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49- Argh!- Yeah?
0:49:51 > 0:49:53- Get out!- Get out!
0:49:56 > 0:49:59Baby's head is now out. The worst is over.
0:49:59 > 0:50:01You'll get another pain
0:50:01 > 0:50:04and when you do, I want you to give it a good push.
0:50:04 > 0:50:06This is the one, it's only his shoulders.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09Oh, hold on, there is cord.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16- Is he OK?- He's all right.- He's fine.
0:50:16 > 0:50:17He's fine.
0:50:17 > 0:50:19And up and out.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22- Oh, my God.- Oh, my goodness!
0:50:22 > 0:50:25He's out and he's crying, look.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28Oh, he's a lovely boy! Here you are.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31And that all happened at 46 minutes.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36Lovely, lovely.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38Oh, no, no! Give me a bit of space.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41I still need space for things happening down there.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44- Why's he not crying?- He will.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47He's all right, baby, he took a breath. I seen him do it.
0:50:47 > 0:50:51- Is he breathing?- Charlotte, he's fine.- Are you sure?- Yeah, he's fine.
0:50:51 > 0:50:53But why is he so dark?
0:50:53 > 0:50:57It's just because he's been newly born.
0:50:57 > 0:51:01I'll take him over to my machine and I'll give him...
0:51:01 > 0:51:05He's fine. He's fine, he's fine. Hey!
0:51:05 > 0:51:07BABY CRIES
0:51:07 > 0:51:09There he is.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11He's having a little cry.
0:51:11 > 0:51:13He's fine.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16Our baby's fine. Charlotte, he's beautiful.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20He needs to have a little cry.
0:51:20 > 0:51:22Do you need a paed?
0:51:22 > 0:51:23Yeah.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27He needs to have a bit of a cry.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29Oh, no!
0:51:36 > 0:51:39He needs to cry a bit more.
0:51:39 > 0:51:41He's all right.
0:51:42 > 0:51:46He's not! Look at them rushing around him!
0:51:46 > 0:51:50They're just making sure baby's OK.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53- Hey, honey, are you all right? - No, he's not OK!
0:51:53 > 0:51:55- He is, he's fine.- He is.
0:51:57 > 0:51:59Just recently had diamorphine? Yes.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01In the last hour, was it? 40 minutes?
0:52:01 > 0:52:03About the last hour.
0:52:03 > 0:52:06He's just shocked at being in the outside world.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09But he's breathing on his own?
0:52:09 > 0:52:12- He's making a few whingey noises. - Can I have a bit of oxygen, please?
0:52:12 > 0:52:14BABY CRIES
0:52:14 > 0:52:15There you are.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18He's fine, honestly. He is fine.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20He was born at 46.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26- Spilling his lungs, yeah?- Oh, he is.
0:52:26 > 0:52:27He's fine.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32There we go.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36I'll just cover him up a little bit.
0:52:36 > 0:52:37Hello!
0:52:44 > 0:52:47Can you help me try and get him on the mobile?
0:52:50 > 0:52:53Right, what I need to do...
0:53:00 > 0:53:03- It's been lovely. - You've been fantastic.
0:53:04 > 0:53:09BABY SCREAMS
0:53:09 > 0:53:11Nowt wrong with his lungs.
0:53:14 > 0:53:16I think I need a cuddle!
0:53:18 > 0:53:19It's been lovely.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24- Have you got name bands for this baby?- No, not yet.
0:53:24 > 0:53:26Oh!
0:53:29 > 0:53:32Obviously, the mum had had diamorphine within an hour of birth.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35That does make the baby floppy
0:53:35 > 0:53:38so that was why he took a bit of resuscitation.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42Even after delivering thousands of babies,
0:53:42 > 0:53:44things don't always go to plan for the midwives.
0:53:44 > 0:53:46They're always learning.
0:53:50 > 0:53:53It was floppier than I thought it would be, that baby,
0:53:53 > 0:53:54so it did give me a fright.
0:53:56 > 0:54:00Midwifery is a very challenging job.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02If somebody told me,
0:54:02 > 0:54:05"You're going to go in that room and this is going to happen,"
0:54:05 > 0:54:07I wouldn't want to go in the room
0:54:07 > 0:54:09but because you're doing it at the time,
0:54:09 > 0:54:12before you've had time to think about it,
0:54:12 > 0:54:15it's done and you've dealt with it. That's just how it is.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20- Right. Shall we go, then? - Yes, let's go for a walk.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28If you need anything, Carren, press the buzzer, someone will come.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32It's midnight. An hour after his son was born,
0:54:32 > 0:54:36Liz takes Barry to see him in intensive care.
0:54:41 > 0:54:42Got baby Bell?
0:54:45 > 0:54:46- I shall see you in a bit.- OK.
0:54:53 > 0:54:55As you can see... Oh, sorry!
0:54:55 > 0:54:57That's to protect his eyes from the light.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59He was quite anaemic when he first got here,
0:54:59 > 0:55:02so we're just giving him some blood at the moment
0:55:02 > 0:55:04and I think it's making a difference already.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07He's a little bit more alert than he was.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10They've discovered the baby's lack of movement
0:55:10 > 0:55:11was due to a huge haemorrhage.
0:55:13 > 0:55:17The baby was bleeding into the mother through the placenta.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19I know it's a lot to take in.
0:55:21 > 0:55:23Yeah, it is a bit, but...
0:55:24 > 0:55:28If you don't feel your baby moving,
0:55:28 > 0:55:30you must come in and get checked out.
0:55:30 > 0:55:35If Carren had left it any longer,
0:55:35 > 0:55:38then the baby may not have survived
0:55:38 > 0:55:42and she may have come in with, unfortunately...
0:55:44 > 0:55:46..baby have died inside.
0:55:47 > 0:55:49'I think she's very lucky.'
0:55:49 > 0:55:51So she's gone to 66?
0:55:51 > 0:55:54She is, yeah. In a single room, room four.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56- OK, see you later.- See you later.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58So where are we going, 66?
0:55:58 > 0:56:00A day later, Ann's back on shift.
0:56:00 > 0:56:04She wants to find out how Carren and the baby are doing.
0:56:04 > 0:56:09You see things that might have been peculiar to your own family history
0:56:09 > 0:56:12and it just reminds you, when you get very upset.
0:56:13 > 0:56:19We lost our first baby, actually, which is a long time ago now
0:56:19 > 0:56:23and I know that gave me...
0:56:23 > 0:56:25I wasn't a midwife then, obviously.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28That gave me the push, I suppose,
0:56:28 > 0:56:30to find out more about what happened to me
0:56:30 > 0:56:33and to give some of my experiences back.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36None of it was a bad experience, losing the baby was awful,
0:56:36 > 0:56:39but I just wanted to be able to look after other women.
0:56:39 > 0:56:43'In all the years I've worked, there's only one time'
0:56:43 > 0:56:45I've ever shared it with a lady
0:56:45 > 0:56:49because it's not about my experience, it's about their experience now.
0:56:49 > 0:56:54So most women, I'll have that rapport and compassion and empathy
0:56:54 > 0:56:56for what's going on around them
0:56:56 > 0:56:59but I've never needed to disclose my own.
0:56:59 > 0:57:01OK.
0:57:03 > 0:57:06Hello? Hello, Carren.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09Hello.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11I did ring about half 11.
0:57:11 > 0:57:15- So you didn't do too bad in time. - Didn't do too bad in time?
0:57:15 > 0:57:18We did say you might not get another examination!
0:57:18 > 0:57:21- Sit down.- Oh, thank you.
0:57:21 > 0:57:24He was put onto Resuscitaire, and vented.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27We were scared, if that had happened at home, he wouldn't have survived.
0:57:27 > 0:57:31Yeah. No, there's no way, it's the resuscitation, isn't it?
0:57:31 > 0:57:32Yeah, he would not have made it.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35And we weren't to know that was going to happen.
0:57:35 > 0:57:37Yeah, how do you pick that up?
0:57:37 > 0:57:39So I'm so glad we were in.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41He will get better, that's the good thing.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44In the long term, he shouldn't have any lasting effects.
0:57:44 > 0:57:47Carren's baby, Lochlyn, is recovering well.
0:57:49 > 0:57:51In two days' time, they'll be able to take him home.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54Very nice having you.
0:57:54 > 0:57:56Thank you for looking after me.
0:57:56 > 0:57:58- No, it's a privilege. - It made a big difference.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00Thank you very much.
0:58:00 > 0:58:04- I'm going to have a little cry now. - Ah! Going to cry!
0:58:04 > 0:58:06Thank you very much.
0:58:06 > 0:58:10- Tarara.- See you later. Thanks.- Bye.
0:58:10 > 0:58:13Ah, ain't that lovely?
0:58:13 > 0:58:14Very nice.
0:58:14 > 0:58:17- You almost had a tear in your eye. - I did.
0:58:17 > 0:58:20I will after, I know. I've left a lady, so I feel a bit stressed
0:58:20 > 0:58:23because even though she's lovely,
0:58:23 > 0:58:26you just are aware of your colleagues looking after your lady.
0:58:26 > 0:58:29- The next one.- Yes, the next one!
0:58:50 > 0:58:53Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd