0:00:02 > 0:00:04This programme contains some strong language.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08- Hi, it's the midwife. - That's it, you're doing it.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Little 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 > 0:00:30Hello, world!
0:00:30 > 0:00:33You have to make a very, very intimate relationship
0:00:33 > 0:00:35with somebody you've never met before in your life.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39- I apologise. - You'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're facing the highest birth-rate in 40 years.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Too many women having babies, that's the problem.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55- Parents are more demanding... - I don't feel that she's been getting any answers.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- ..And pregnancies more complicated. - We're worried.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00You know, we're worried.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05When you see a baby come out like he did, you just think, "Oh, no".
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Yeah, I'm fine. I just delivered my first baby.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12It'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.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35This is the Wirral,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38a small peninsula between Liverpool and Wales.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43It's a place of two worlds, divided by the M53.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47On the west are some of the wealthiest postcodes in Britain.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50The east is home to some of the most deprived.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54But no matter where they live,
0:01:54 > 0:01:58the babies and new mums in the Wirral are looked after by the same team of midwives
0:01:58 > 0:02:00from Arrowe Park Hospital.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Sometimes on a labour ward,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06you have two babies from totally different backgrounds
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and you think one baby's going to go back to a mansion
0:02:09 > 0:02:13and one baby's not, but whose life's going to be any better?
0:02:13 > 0:02:14You don't know, do you?
0:02:17 > 0:02:19The midwife's job is very different
0:02:19 > 0:02:22depending on which side of the Wirral they work.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26Katie works in Birkenhead, on the east side.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30In Birkenhead, there are a lot of child protection issues.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35I have been in houses where the toilet was broke,
0:02:35 > 0:02:41so they were actually going to the toilet in empty milk tins.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46A lot of Katie's time is spent tracking down mums
0:02:46 > 0:02:49who haven't turned up for their check-ups.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54It takes up a huge amount of your time, really,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56following people around.
0:02:56 > 0:03:01You'd think it would be easier to turn up to a 15 minute appointment.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04The midwives have come up with a plan
0:03:04 > 0:03:07to deal with women who skip their appointments.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11They put midwives on the high street.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15A few doors up from Primark is a drop-in centre,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17the only one of its kind in the country.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Do you want to feel his little head?
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Katie works here regularly.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31Today, she's seeing 18-year-old Rachel and her boyfriend, Tom.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Rachel is seven months pregnant,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36but hasn't been to her last two midwife appointments.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41- How have things been going? - All right.- OK.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44- So you're 31 weeks?- Yeah.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- So do you know what you're having? - No.- It's a surprise.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52- Yeah, I don't want to know.- Ah.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04You're measuring a little bit under. It's 28 centimetres.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08I'll just have a little listen in to the baby's heartbeat.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16BABY'S HEARTBEAT HEARD VIA ULTRASOUND
0:04:17 > 0:04:20It's a little bit faster than normal.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28- Could be because I've just drank coffee.- Might just be the coffee.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31But just to be 100% sure, is it all right
0:04:31 > 0:04:34if we refer you up to the hospital? I'm going to put you on the monitor,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36you see, for them to have a little listen in.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39- Is that OK?- Yeah, when will that be?
0:04:39 > 0:04:41- Probably now.- Is that OK?- Yeah.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51There's a number of reasons why people don't come
0:04:51 > 0:04:53and see the midwife.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57They don't want to. Sometimes it's like an acknowledgement of the pregnancy.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59If you see a midwife, you've got to acknowledge
0:04:59 > 0:05:01that "I'm pregnant and this is really happening".
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Rachel and Tom are sent to the hospital,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08so the baby can be checked.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13The midwives want to be sure the baby's heart rate is normal.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19They'd only been together a month when Rachel got pregnant.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Her mum asked if we were being careful.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Which we weren't.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27She told her mum that I bought condoms that were too big for me.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29SHE LAUGHS
0:05:29 > 0:05:31So her mum thinks I'm a bit of a...
0:05:36 > 0:05:39It was literally just a drunken thing.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42We were just messing around,
0:05:42 > 0:05:48had one bottle of amaretto too much. So...
0:05:48 > 0:05:50How did your mum react when you told her?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52I was lying in bed,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55and she must have heard me crying and came in.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58And she just asked me, "Are you pregnant?" I was like, "Yeah".
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Then she just went, "Right.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01"Are you sure you want to keep it?"
0:06:01 > 0:06:06And I knew abortions and things like that weren't really an option,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09because I've seen so many people struggle
0:06:09 > 0:06:12to even just become pregnant,
0:06:12 > 0:06:16never mind miscarriages and everything like that.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Like, just because of my age and my circumstances,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22doesn't mean I can just throw away that life so easily.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24It's my own fault for getting in that mess.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28If it is a mess, I don't know.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Do you really think it is a mess?
0:06:30 > 0:06:31Yeah.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Yeah.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Tom is planning to move in with Rachel and her mum
0:06:40 > 0:06:41when the baby arrives.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46I don't know, it's quite scary.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48It's a really new relationship,
0:06:48 > 0:06:53and to be talking about moving in together, it's mental.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57- But you see couples like that all the time.- On Jeremy Kyle!
0:06:57 > 0:07:02See, I've just got so many images of myself walking around
0:07:02 > 0:07:05with a pram with some screaming toddler,
0:07:05 > 0:07:10or, like, years later, on the school run, starting on the hoovering.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13That's my idea of hell.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17I think you don't see how you want to be as a parent.
0:07:17 > 0:07:18But living round here,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22you see how you don't want to be and what you don't want to do.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Like, I'd rather it hadn't happened.
0:07:24 > 0:07:30But...now that I'm used to it, I'm excited.
0:07:30 > 0:07:31Oh.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33SHE LAUGHS
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Good for you. Well done.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48On the other side of the motorway, West Wirral is a different world.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52This is where midwife Jan works.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57This afternoon, we're going to visit a woman
0:07:57 > 0:08:01who is 36 weeks pregnant,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04and she wants to have a home birth.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Hi, Sally.
0:08:07 > 0:08:1037-year-old Sally is a business development manager
0:08:10 > 0:08:14for a multinational company. She's expecting her third child,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16and knows just how she wants this birth to be.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21So, home birth and a water pool,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23- I would like.- OK.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29- The pool would be here?- Yeah. - Where's your bathroom?
0:08:29 > 0:08:31It's just next door.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Check those taps,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36- and check the pressure that the water comes out at.- OK.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41- It'll be lovely.- Yes.- As long as that floor's strong enough.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45My first birth was in a hospital,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47and it was really hard and it went on for a long time
0:08:47 > 0:08:52and it was a bit of an emergency in the end, quite scary.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56So once maybe you've had not such a good experience,
0:08:56 > 0:09:01then you quite like to try and do the opposite.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Although midwives encourage women to consider home birth,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08they also have to mention some of the risks.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Potential complications - you know, for somebody like yourself,
0:09:13 > 0:09:17it's extremely rare for any of these things to happen.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19First one on our list -
0:09:19 > 0:09:24foetal hypoxia is where the baby's oxygen level
0:09:24 > 0:09:27starts to reduce during the labour.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Shoulder dystocia is where the baby's head delivers,
0:09:31 > 0:09:35but the shoulders get stuck.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Then there's placental abruption,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41where the placenta abrupts or detaches from the wall of the uterus.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Umbilical cord prolapse.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47There's a chance that the cord can come down
0:09:47 > 0:09:49in front of the baby's head.
0:09:49 > 0:09:55What you need to do is immediately push it back inside, and dial 999.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58So can I ask you to sign this to say that
0:09:58 > 0:10:01"I've been through all those potential complications",
0:10:01 > 0:10:06to say that you want the pool and that
0:10:06 > 0:10:09you understand that should these things happen,
0:10:09 > 0:10:13we would strongly advise you to transfer in.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18But at the same time, you know that they're not likely to happen,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20and hopefully, they won't.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23There are some people that do think,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25how can you put your baby at risk
0:10:25 > 0:10:29by choosing to have this birth experience and have this home birth?
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Whereas my view is the opposite.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35It's that, you know, I think it's the safest way,
0:10:35 > 0:10:40and I think things that can escalate in a hospital
0:10:40 > 0:10:45and the complications I had the first time...is more risky.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51I love home births.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55I personally had all my three children at home,
0:10:55 > 0:10:59even though I was a labour ward sister at the time.
0:10:59 > 0:11:05So I'm very in favour of keeping things as normal as possible.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14Back at the hospital, Jan is making arrangements for Sally's home birth.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17This is the baby resuscitation equipment, with the oxygen,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19enough oxygen for the baby.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23She's preparing a pack she'll send to Sally's house.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29This is her pool, and these are the pool kits. Delivery pack.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Suture set for stitches, should she need it.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40Splash glasses to protect our eyes. This is all just-in-case stuff.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43You don't actually need much to deliver a baby
0:11:43 > 0:11:45except a pair of gloves,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48cord clamp and a pair of scissors.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Jan runs classes for expectant parents in West Wirral.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02The classes here are almost always oversubscribed.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Most of us, especially when having our first baby,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08realise your tummy's getting quite big,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11and the exit route is quite small.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16And you start to get a little bit worried about how it's going to fit.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Once you're pregnant,
0:12:18 > 0:12:23you do not have control over your physical body, really.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26It's happening. It's happening to you.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30And some people like to be in total control.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33I find highly educated,
0:12:33 > 0:12:39well qualified professional women to need a lot of psychological support.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45You can dance your way through your labour.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Arms round your partner's neck.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50You can be whispering in her ear to keep her calm.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Often, you see them sort of think...
0:12:53 > 0:12:57you know, "The baby's in there.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00"I don't really want to think about how it's got to get out."
0:13:00 > 0:13:01And then pant.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04SHE MIMICS PANTING
0:13:04 > 0:13:09I encourage all my women to come to a class like this
0:13:09 > 0:13:10with their partners.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Visualise your cervix just going...opening.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19Remember, it's nothing to be afraid of.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23It's not pleasant, but it's got to be done.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31Over in the east, Katie is on her way to visit an expectant mum
0:13:31 > 0:13:34in one of the most deprived areas of Birkenhead.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38There are more health problems here than in the west,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42and life expectancy can be as much as 15 years shorter.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Katie is making a home visit,
0:13:44 > 0:13:49because the mother didn't turn up for a blood test yesterday.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51You all right?
0:13:51 > 0:13:55- How are you getting on, Danielle? - OK.- Baby moving OK?
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- Kicks every day, yeah.- Ahh.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Have you got any ideas about names?
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Yeah, Danielle wants Riley, off Hollyoaks.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09Bruce and Danielle's third child is due in two weeks.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Danielle's iron levels have been unusually low during the pregnancy.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17Katie's worried that this could lead to complications in labour.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21I explained to you yesterday that I've got to do your blood again,
0:14:21 > 0:14:26and see if we can find reasons for your blood being a little bit low.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Go over that way with that. I don't want to see it.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- You'll have to turn your head that way.- I'm watching my telly, thanks.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37All right, you sit and watch your telly. I'll do this.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Bruce and Danielle are both unemployed,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41and the family rely on benefits.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44They haven't had a cooker in their house for almost a year.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Press on there as hard as you can.
0:14:48 > 0:14:49So are you eating plenty?
0:14:49 > 0:14:53Yeah, I eat sweetcorn in a lot, like.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56And green things as well, broccoli and stuff.
0:14:56 > 0:15:01- And raisins are good as well. Don't you like raisins?- No.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02How have you got on without a cooker?
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Microwave, chip pan, chippy, kebab shops.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Are you a good cook?
0:15:09 > 0:15:13- I do home-made lasagne and macaroni cheese.- Ooh!
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Better watch out. I'll be coming round here for some dinner.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21I'll see you later. See you next week.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Say bye.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28They eat a lot of takeaways and fast food.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31So obviously, there's not much iron in a pizza.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37So it looks like it's been the diet,
0:15:37 > 0:15:39but they are working with the family support worker
0:15:39 > 0:15:44and they are working with them to go to cooking classes and things.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58Rachel's come back to see Katie at the Birkenhead drop-in.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Last week, there were concerns about her baby's heart rate.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06BABY'S HEART BEATS OVER ULTRASOUND
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- That's better than last week.- Yeah.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Are you going to be living at your mum's?
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Yeah, I'll be staying with her.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19I don't know what I'd do without my mum helping me with the kids.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25How's your mood and everything going?
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- That's not great. - Feeling a bit down?- Mmm.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31How come you're feeling a bit down?
0:16:31 > 0:16:36Because I don't, like, I don't want it.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40So I suppose I'm not excited about it.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53Without sounding weird, like,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56you're meant to want all these things for your children
0:16:56 > 0:16:58and stuff like that.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01But...I couldn't give a stuff at the moment.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Like, I have no instinct, maternally,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07to look after this thing in my belly at the moment.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10But I suppose it'll be different when it's born, hopefully.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Rachel's feelings about her baby
0:17:17 > 0:17:20have raised concerns amongst the midwives.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24She's been referred to Helen,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27a midwife who specialises in mental health.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33- How do you feel about this baby now inside you?- It freaks me out.
0:17:33 > 0:17:38You know like when people say "Oh, it's beautiful and natural".
0:17:38 > 0:17:42It's like, it might be natural, but it doesn't mean it's beautiful.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44So if you don't think it's beautiful,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46how else would you describe how you feel about it?
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- Do you talk to the baby at all?- No.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51No. Are you looking forward to the baby being born?
0:17:51 > 0:17:56- No.- OK. Do you feel the baby wriggling around?- Yeah.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- See, I find that annoying. I don't find that sweet.- OK.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02I'm picking up very much
0:18:02 > 0:18:07that you are not having any bond, really, with the unborn baby.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13She is a concern. She's somebody we need to watch closely.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Mainly, I think, from an emotional point of view,
0:18:16 > 0:18:20because obviously, she's got to be able to look after her baby
0:18:20 > 0:18:24when she gets home, and that's challenging at the best of times.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29Whether or not we're going to be able to make everything smooth for her,
0:18:29 > 0:18:33I don't know, but I do hope that with Rachel,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36we can turn things around for her so that she can enjoy her baby.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Midwife Cheryl works in east and west Wirral.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52She sees how families on both sides cope with their new arrivals.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Today, she's making home visits on the east.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05- Have you noticed any lumps, bumps, bruises, rashes?- No.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Nothing you're worried about?
0:19:07 > 0:19:09And underneath, is that OK?
0:19:09 > 0:19:11- You didn't need stitches?- No.- OK.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16You know in the next couple of days, round here, Dolly Parton, yeah?
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Or should I say Jordan? Tell him to get his camera out.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22You see that a lot in Birkenhead,
0:19:22 > 0:19:24where they just get on with it and do it.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27It's not like an illness or a massively big thing to them.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30It's so easy, in a way, to look after the girls from Birkenhead,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32because that's what they do.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34They don't want you for anything, really.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39It's a big difference between them and the West Wirral women.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41A lot of them are career people,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43so it's a big shock when they have a baby.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47You can be there for two or three hours,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50just chatting to reassure them that they're doing everything right,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54because this baby's not conforming to the standard they're expecting!
0:19:54 > 0:20:00Is the snorting definitely normal? He does it quite a lot. He's like...
0:20:00 > 0:20:02SHE SNORTS
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- Is that a normal noise?- Yeah.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09It's normal for them to have a bit of dry skin as well.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11I'm not really worried,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15but it's because I started reading about it, and I was like "Oh".
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Every new mum probably gets worried
0:20:18 > 0:20:21- that their baby's going to die at some point.- Everyone worries.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25They are really emotional, you know.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28I feel like I want to do that with a wand
0:20:28 > 0:20:30and make it right for them,
0:20:30 > 0:20:36when you know...the sensible part of your brain says you can't do that.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39But actually, the caring side of you wants to just do that
0:20:39 > 0:20:41and make it all right, you know.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47DOG BARKS
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- Molly!- In West Wirral, two midwives will attend Sally's home birth.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55There's a chance that she won't have met them before,
0:20:55 > 0:20:56so she's hired a doula,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00a private birth partner who'll be with her during her labour.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Today, Anne's come round to go through the birth plan
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Sally's written for the midwives.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09"We'll create our own birthing environment,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13"a peaceful and quiet room with dimmed lighting and relaxing music.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16"Contractions to be referred to as surges,
0:21:16 > 0:21:20"and no references to pain or hurt.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24"All decisions to be made by us.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28"Questions to be directed to Anthony and you,
0:21:28 > 0:21:30"so that I can do the breathing.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34"Calm, low tones, free of pushing prompts.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40"And breast-feeding as soon as possible". That's great.
0:21:47 > 0:21:48On the east side,
0:21:48 > 0:21:53midwives deal with ten times more teen pregnancies than in the west.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57The Wirral's teenage mums are seen throughout their pregnancy
0:21:57 > 0:21:59by midwife Camilla.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02- Are you still with Jake?- No.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- Is he still going to come and see the baby?- I don't know.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09And your family's happy about everything that's going on?
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Are you going back to school after the baby?
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Yeah, I'm going to stay on in the Hospital School.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20Yes, a lot of our young women are from areas on the Wirral
0:22:20 > 0:22:22that are known more for deprivation.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27The reasons behind that could be a history of exclusion from school.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30They might be the daughters of young mums themselves.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33There's a level of acceptability. It's what you do next.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37Camilla is concerned that Rachel is finding pregnancy
0:22:37 > 0:22:40more difficult than most young mums she sees.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Hi, Rachel. How are you?
0:22:43 > 0:22:47- I'm OK.- Are you?- I suppose. - Ish.- Yeah.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51Is there something you're scared of?
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Labour, delivery, is there an aspect that's stopping you getting excited?
0:22:55 > 0:22:58No. You know, I'm not stupid.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03I know labour's going to be bloody painful.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06But because you're feeling quite ambivalent now,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09that doesn't mean that's going to go on for ever,
0:23:09 > 0:23:10I promise you that, OK?
0:23:10 > 0:23:15You're sort of expecting the worst. I think that's your fear,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18that you're going to see this baby and not feel anything for it.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20You're not going to bond. You're worried.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23I'm expecting to fall in love with it, because it's natural.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26It's natural to do that,
0:23:26 > 0:23:29so you think it's going to happen, but what if you don't?
0:23:29 > 0:23:30Plus, I think it's the fact
0:23:30 > 0:23:33that me and my partner are still really new, and I didn't want...
0:23:33 > 0:23:38you know, that was a bit embarrassing, to be honest,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41to be with someone a month, and you're up the duff.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45I think somewhere along the line, you're judging yourself a little bit.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Yeah.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Because I look at other 18-year-old mums, you know what I mean?
0:23:53 > 0:23:56- And now I bloody am one.- Yeah. OK.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58So, yeah.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00You've not actually done anything wrong.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02You've not done anything wrong.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04You're having a baby, you've not killed someone.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05So embarrassment and guilt
0:24:05 > 0:24:08have just got to come out of the equation here, babes,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10because you've got nothing to be embarrassed about.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12You've got nothing to be guilty about. OK?
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- I'm going to get you some tissues. - OK.
0:24:25 > 0:24:26Bollocks.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32- Are you OK?- Yeah, I think it's just hit home now.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44She's hit the nail on the head there.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47I am just judging myself.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06- Just loosen that for me a bit, Danielle. What's your name?- Bruce.
0:25:06 > 0:25:11Bruce and Danielle have come into hospital. Danielle is in labour.
0:25:12 > 0:25:18- Midwife Sue is on duty. - You're more than five, actually.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23I could stretch it to what we wanted! Very stretchy.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26I've had everything sorted for the last five weeks.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32If it's a girl, then the boys will be excited.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33And so will Bruce as well.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38I'm done then. I'm not having nine more. I've had enough.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I won't not be looking at the baby when it comes out.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47I'll be at the top end. I can't stand blood one bit.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Keep your blood to yourself.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Though her labour is progressing quickly,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Danielle is coping with just gas and air.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Bruce, I think, is just particularly excitable at the moment.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18He's quite excited. That would drive me nuts if I was in labour.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20I don't dislike the music,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24but it's perhaps not the most appropriate stuff.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29But not everybody's into whale noises either, are they?
0:26:29 > 0:26:32I'll put it on the baby, and you'll see the feet kicking.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35You've not had any kicks in there at all, have you?
0:26:35 > 0:26:38It's being good this time.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Just a sec - Bruce, sorry.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Are you getting a bit of pressure?
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Yeah. Oh, well. Moving on a bit.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11SHE GROANS
0:27:15 > 0:27:20- Oh, it hurts!- It does. Take another suck on your gas, Danielle.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Nearly there.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Oh, here we are. Baby's out.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Wahey!
0:27:36 > 0:27:37Hello!
0:27:37 > 0:27:42Do you want to lift the baby up yourself? No?
0:27:42 > 0:27:44What's that?
0:27:44 > 0:27:48- It's the baby.- Oh, is it? Sorry. - There's your baby.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52- I'm sorry if I drowned you! - You haven't!
0:27:52 > 0:27:56- Oh, it's a little boy! - It's a boy.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00- It's all right, babe. Don't worry. - He's fine.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04I've got no room for manoeuvre.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09Can't believe it's a boy again. I wanted a girl.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11He's beautiful.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13I'm a bit gutted. I wanted a girl,
0:28:13 > 0:28:18but at the end of the day, it's a little boy. But you should be happy.
0:28:18 > 0:28:19She was brilliant.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23It was just at the end, before she started to push,
0:28:23 > 0:28:25she made a bit of noise then.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29Otherwise, she was silent, wasn't she?
0:28:29 > 0:28:32And the placenta plopped out nice and quick as well.
0:28:38 > 0:28:43Four miles away in West Wirral, Sally is now a day overdue.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46She's doing everything she can to get things started.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50These are my hypnobirthing images,
0:28:50 > 0:28:54to help with the visualisation, to help...
0:28:54 > 0:29:00I have to imagine the thinning and opening
0:29:00 > 0:29:04of the cervix,
0:29:04 > 0:29:07which is represented by the picture.
0:29:07 > 0:29:13It's just supposed to help bring on labour, really. Come on, cervix.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25The midwives have told Sally to keep mobile
0:29:25 > 0:29:27if she wants to bring on labour.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34I don't want him to stay in there much longer
0:29:34 > 0:29:36in case he gets too big,
0:29:36 > 0:29:39and it's more difficult to get him out then!
0:29:39 > 0:29:42So that's why I'm keen for him to come soon.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45I'm not very good with pain either.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48Despite the fact that I'm having a home birth
0:29:48 > 0:29:50and trying not to have any pain relief,
0:29:50 > 0:29:52I'm not the best with pain!
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Jan has offered to visit Sally at home
0:30:01 > 0:30:04to see if she can hurry things along.
0:30:04 > 0:30:05DOORBELL RINGS
0:30:05 > 0:30:10I'll examine your inside, see what's happening in there
0:30:10 > 0:30:14and see if we can tickle this labour into coming.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23- Good. Right, touching the head now. - Touching the head?
0:30:23 > 0:30:25Yeah, just going through the cervix.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31This is where the baby has a little head massage.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38- There's not a lot of hair on it. - Isn't there?
0:30:38 > 0:30:40OK, are you ready for this?
0:30:40 > 0:30:43Take a deep breath in,
0:30:43 > 0:30:47and breathe out slowly.
0:30:47 > 0:30:48Well done.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52Right, we'll do one for the road, and then we'll leave it be.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56Big breath in. And breathe out slowly.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02OK, well done.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04Coming out.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08Sally knows that if she's more than two weeks overdue,
0:31:08 > 0:31:11it'll no longer be safe to have the home birth she wants.
0:31:11 > 0:31:16- See you tomorrow.- Oh, I hope so.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18All right, bye.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Bye-bye.
0:31:25 > 0:31:31Had you literally just pulled in at the car park when he popped out?
0:31:31 > 0:31:35Back at the hospital, midwife Sue has had an unexpected arrival.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38You did deliver? I thought it was just...
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Gemma, a young mum from Birkenhead,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42has given birth in the back of an ambulance.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47While the baby arrived in the ambulance,
0:31:47 > 0:31:50the midwives still have to deliver the placenta.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53Just pop it out. It's coming on its own. Good girl.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55SHE PANTS
0:31:55 > 0:31:58The pain started at four o'clock,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01and what are we now? Quarter to seven.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04That is incredibly fast for a first labour
0:32:04 > 0:32:06by anybody's standards, isn't it?
0:32:06 > 0:32:09And she's had a lovely, low-risk pregnancy.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13The placenta looks lovely and complete and healthy.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15And baby is fine.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Younger girls often labour extremely well.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21It just goes to show you're in your prime for having babies
0:32:21 > 0:32:25when you're sort of late teens, early twenties.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Professional women tend to leave it as late as possible now.
0:32:29 > 0:32:30They want to have it all -
0:32:30 > 0:32:33the career, the nice car, the holidays.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35And by the time they test their fertility,
0:32:35 > 0:32:38they unfortunately sometimes find it's too late,
0:32:38 > 0:32:43which is sort of what happened to me, actually, but that's another story.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47I am making a right bloody mess here, aren't I?
0:32:47 > 0:32:51Gemma is taken upstairs to the maternity ward,
0:32:51 > 0:32:53to recover with baby Ollie.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59I love his little nose.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05I'm glad I had him when I had him,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07because I'm 22 and Lewis is 24 now,
0:33:07 > 0:33:10so I think if we'd left it any longer,
0:33:10 > 0:33:12I'd have felt a bit old.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17People have babies really young nowadays, don't they?
0:33:17 > 0:33:20So I feel quite old at 22, just having my first,
0:33:20 > 0:33:22cos all my mates have got two by now.
0:33:24 > 0:33:25Come in.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Hello, everyone, I'm Jen, one of the community midwives for Birkenhead.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32I'm going to start on the MLU, which is the midwife-led unit,
0:33:32 > 0:33:34which is this part.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38Rachel and Tom have come on a tour of the delivery suite.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40Their baby is due in five weeks' time.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47I definitely recommend you all try and go in the pool.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49There's a little seat.
0:33:49 > 0:33:50Mums can sit on that,
0:33:50 > 0:33:53but I recommend that you don't sit on that.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55I recommend that you crouch over, like that.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59Dads, unfortunately, you can't whip your Speedos on and jump in,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02because the pool, as you can see, isn't that big.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06Also in these rooms is the gas and air, if you want it.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08Years ago, they used to say it was like laughing gas,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11but I doubt you'll be laughing when you use it.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22Come in. This is baby Riley, born today at 2.28.
0:34:22 > 0:34:27And he's lovely. He was only born today, so he is really a newborn.
0:34:28 > 0:34:34And he's gorgeous. This will be what yours looks like. Look at his hair!
0:34:34 > 0:34:37He's gorgeous, isn't he? And a lovely weight.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41So this makes it feel more real for you,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44because it won't be too long...
0:34:44 > 0:34:49It's scary seeing a newborn baby in front of you,
0:34:49 > 0:34:52because you see pictures on Facebook and things like that.
0:34:52 > 0:34:58But when you actually see a real newborn baby...
0:34:58 > 0:35:00Aaahh...
0:35:00 > 0:35:02I'm getting really freaked out.
0:35:07 > 0:35:12Three weeks later, Rachel's baby is making its presence felt.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16I find it funny when it punches and stuff like that sometimes.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18Like, you can see it moving now.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22You can just watch feet and hands running over your stomach.
0:35:22 > 0:35:27There's something kicking and punching you from the inside.
0:35:27 > 0:35:32Other than that, I've got no real feeling towards it.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34I've got no real bond.
0:35:36 > 0:35:41But I've got no real hatred or anything like that either.
0:35:42 > 0:35:48Like, I can still be a great mum, without loving him...maybe.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51- But would you want that?- No.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54It's not great, really, is it?
0:35:54 > 0:35:57If you don't feel love towards a child,
0:35:57 > 0:35:59why would you bother looking after it and stuff like that?
0:35:59 > 0:36:01You think that you should get pregnant
0:36:01 > 0:36:04and you should feel a sudden urge, this gush of love
0:36:04 > 0:36:08and be all maternal about it, and some women aren't like that.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Some women are like that, some really enjoy the pregnancy,
0:36:10 > 0:36:12but some women aren't like that.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14With some women, it takes time to bond with the baby.
0:36:14 > 0:36:19Even after the baby's born, it takes a few weeks to bond with the baby.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35The day after Danielle is discharged from hospital,
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Katie has come to do her first check-up.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47No answer.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Usually, though, on the first day,
0:36:49 > 0:36:52they've been up all night, haven't they?
0:37:00 > 0:37:03Hi, Bruce, it's Kate, the midwife.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06You're on your way home now?
0:37:06 > 0:37:09I just need to check Danielle and the baby.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Were you off to Birkenhead, shopping?
0:37:15 > 0:37:19You've got to be careful in case she has a bleed or anything.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21You'll end up back at the hospital.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26Is it all right if we have a little look at him?
0:37:26 > 0:37:30- Yeah, I'm just going to take this bit of sick out of his mouth.- Oh.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34Do you want me to take his little coat off?
0:37:34 > 0:37:37No, I want to take the other one to school and stuff.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- Take it easy, Danielle, you know. - Oh, I will do.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- How's your cooker getting on? - What cooker?
0:37:43 > 0:37:46- I thought you got a cooker? - Got rid.- Why?
0:37:46 > 0:37:48It's too high volume.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52It could blow all the leccy. Got to sell it and get a new one.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54I was waiting for my macaroni cheese!
0:37:54 > 0:37:57I was waiting for my own home-made lasagne.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02- You're doing well, but you just need to take it easy, OK?- Yeah.
0:38:04 > 0:38:09"Advised to rest".
0:38:19 > 0:38:23Four days after her due date, Sally's waters have broken
0:38:23 > 0:38:25and she's gone into labour.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32Jan isn't on shift tonight. Lorraine is the midwife on duty.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38She'll be working alongside the doula, Anne.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41I've never, ever worked with a doula,
0:38:41 > 0:38:44and I think they're an extra supportive birthing partner, really.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47That's what they are there for. We are the prime care-giver.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51Obviously, I don't need to build such an intense relationship
0:38:51 > 0:38:53with Sally, because she's got that from the doula.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57I think she just likes to have the safety of us in the background.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Blow out through the mouthpiece.
0:39:07 > 0:39:13- Oh, it feels so much better being in here.- Yeah.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Sally has asked her husband, Anthony,
0:39:15 > 0:39:19to keep the water in the pool at the right temperature.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24- No!- What?
0:39:24 > 0:39:28That bucket, I've been cleaning the floors with,
0:39:28 > 0:39:30and it was filthy.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34Ugh!
0:39:39 > 0:39:42An hour later, a second midwife, Michelle, arrives,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44ready for the delivery.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07The midwives keep a close eye on Sally,
0:40:07 > 0:40:09but because she has a doula looking after her,
0:40:09 > 0:40:11she doesn't always want both of them in the room.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19You're joking!
0:40:22 > 0:40:24Just after five in the morning, there's a noise from upstairs.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28That was sneaky!
0:40:28 > 0:40:30BABY CRIES
0:40:32 > 0:40:35- Oh, fantastic!- Where's Anthony?
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Anthony, we've missed it!
0:40:41 > 0:40:44- Oh, my God!- It was just me and her!
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Oh, let me see you!
0:40:47 > 0:40:49You're beautiful!
0:40:49 > 0:40:53Oh, he looks like his brother and sister, doesn't he?
0:40:53 > 0:40:58After six hours in labour, Sally has given birth. It's all gone to plan.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09Look at that little face.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12She was so in control, you know, it was just great.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16She sort of breathed him out more than she'd done anything else.
0:41:16 > 0:41:22It was just amazing. Amazing. Good job well done. She was a star.
0:41:28 > 0:41:29Eight pounds eight.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34I'll just let you know we've delivered.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38Yeah, delivery at five o'clock. Placenta's out and everything.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41So we'll be heading back probably by around seven o'clock-ish,
0:41:41 > 0:41:42something like that.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48Whether I feel I supported them or not makes no difference.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50It's what she feels.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54At the end of the day, this is her delivery, not my delivery.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57It's how she feels, and if she felt that we supported her
0:41:57 > 0:42:01and she got the delivery she wanted, that's all that matters, really.
0:42:16 > 0:42:17On the east side,
0:42:17 > 0:42:21Katie is on her way to visit a mum who gave birth two weeks ago.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24But she won't be examining the newborn baby.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28It has already been taken into care by social services.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31It's hard being a midwife in Birkenhead.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35I mean, when you first start dealing with it, it's a big shock.
0:42:35 > 0:42:41I'm not saying it gets normal. It doesn't get normal.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45It doesn't get easier, but it is part of your job.
0:42:45 > 0:42:50Katie has been in close contact with the mum throughout her pregnancy.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54Hiya, you all right?
0:42:54 > 0:42:57The mother of the baby has chosen not to be identified.
0:42:57 > 0:43:02- How about your legs, any pain or swelling?- Er...no.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04I've just had a bit of back pain.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08This isn't the first time that social services have been involved.
0:43:08 > 0:43:13She's had a number of other children removed at birth
0:43:13 > 0:43:16because of very serious allegations made against the father.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18In the weeks since this birth,
0:43:18 > 0:43:22she has been allowed to visit her baby under supervision.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24How's the baby doing?
0:43:24 > 0:43:29- He's taking his bottles, sleeping through the night now.- Is he?
0:43:29 > 0:43:32- He's doing well, isn't he? - He was doing it in the hospital.
0:43:33 > 0:43:39- Model child.- All my babies asleep through the night.- Ah.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42It's really sad. It pulls at your heartstrings.
0:43:42 > 0:43:49It is the right thing to do for the baby at this moment in time, so...
0:43:50 > 0:43:53But I don't think it makes it any easier when you go in there
0:43:53 > 0:43:57and there's the empty Moses basket.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02And it was brought up in a lot of the meetings
0:44:02 > 0:44:05that maybe she should be offered to be sterilised.
0:44:05 > 0:44:11But it's her human right, isn't it, to have children.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15Whether it's the right or wrong thing to do, I don't know.
0:44:15 > 0:44:18But you can't sterilise nobody without their consent.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22You know, is she going to come back in ten months' time again
0:44:22 > 0:44:25pregnant, and we're going to go through the whole situation again?
0:44:29 > 0:44:32The mother has given Katie a thank you card.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34"To Kate, happy Christmas and all the best.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38"PS - thanks for all the support you have given me
0:44:38 > 0:44:40"when I have been pregnant.
0:44:40 > 0:44:43"It really means a lot to me and baby."
0:44:48 > 0:44:52You just wish there was something more that you could do, don't you?
0:44:53 > 0:44:54But...
0:44:59 > 0:45:02I think it's the world, isn't it, that we live in?
0:45:03 > 0:45:07Which is sometimes lovely and sometimes horrible.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22Rachel has come to hospital with her mum and her boyfriend, Tom.
0:45:25 > 0:45:29OK. All right, come on in, mister.
0:45:29 > 0:45:34Tell me a story. What's been going on?
0:45:34 > 0:45:38I've been getting contractions since, like, midnight last night.
0:45:38 > 0:45:42- How often are they coming?- They were every three to four minutes.
0:45:42 > 0:45:45Chill out, put your feet up on the bed.
0:45:45 > 0:45:50- What names have you got for this baby, then?- None.- None?
0:45:50 > 0:45:52- Is it a baby girl or boy? - Don't know.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55OK, let me have a feel of your tummy.
0:45:55 > 0:45:58The head's lovely.
0:46:00 > 0:46:04That's normal. I don't think you're in active labour.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06She's three centimetres. OK.
0:46:06 > 0:46:11Right, one to ten. That's where you are.
0:46:11 > 0:46:12You've got to get to that.
0:46:15 > 0:46:20- Wow. That's so cool! - What, that's cool?- Yeah!
0:46:20 > 0:46:24- Like, your body can do that. - It's great, isn't it?
0:46:24 > 0:46:27You're doing it yourself, so you're doing really well.
0:46:27 > 0:46:28I thought I was in labour.
0:46:31 > 0:46:32Come on, then, let's go.
0:46:33 > 0:46:37Rachel is sent home to wait for her labour to progress.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41People keep texting me saying, "Is there any baby news?"
0:46:41 > 0:46:42There obviously wouldn't be,
0:46:42 > 0:46:46because I'd write something quickly on Facebook.
0:46:46 > 0:46:50I'd write something quickly on Twitter, just to let people know.
0:46:50 > 0:46:54So I don't understand the point of asking me.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57It's just really...especially because nothing's happening.
0:46:59 > 0:47:04A day and a half later, Rachel comes back to the delivery ward.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10The contractions are getting a lot worse.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12Contractions are getting a lot worse.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15- What number baby is it, love?- Huh?
0:47:15 > 0:47:17- What number baby?- One.- Number one. OK.
0:47:20 > 0:47:22A bit cold on your tummy.
0:47:22 > 0:47:24BABY'S HEART BEATS VIA ULTRASOUND
0:47:24 > 0:47:26Happy little baby.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30She's still three centimetres dilated.
0:47:30 > 0:47:32RACHEL SIGHS
0:47:32 > 0:47:36I know, it can take a long, long time to actually get into labour.
0:47:39 > 0:47:41She'll know when she's in labour.
0:47:53 > 0:47:58In the early hours of the following morning, Rachel is back again.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00So your waters went at 2.45?
0:48:02 > 0:48:05- Yeah.- Just breathe and blow, long and slow.
0:48:05 > 0:48:07Fuck.
0:48:10 > 0:48:14Oh, what are you doing, man? What's he doing?
0:48:14 > 0:48:16Breathe in.
0:48:16 > 0:48:17Fabulous.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22Going to give your secrets away in a minute on this. Breathe in.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25Only joking. Breathe in.
0:48:25 > 0:48:27You going woozy yet?
0:48:29 > 0:48:31- Do you like it?- Little bit.
0:48:31 > 0:48:36- Right, OK.- That's a pretty ball. - That's a birthing ball.
0:48:36 > 0:48:39- Do you want to sit on it? - No. It's pretty, though.
0:48:39 > 0:48:40Do you like it? It's all right.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44There we go.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49SHE CRIES OUT
0:48:53 > 0:48:55There's nothing you can do.
0:48:55 > 0:49:00You feel like you should help, but you can't.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03I want to be, like, with her, but she's also got her mum there
0:49:03 > 0:49:07and the midwife, and I've just got to kind of sit back,
0:49:07 > 0:49:09because I don't want to overcrowd,
0:49:09 > 0:49:13but I don't want to look like I'm not bothered.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16How are we doing, love?
0:49:17 > 0:49:22- All right.- All right? You look a bit tired. Bit spaced.
0:49:22 > 0:49:24I haven't slept in four nights.
0:49:28 > 0:49:34I think she's not that enthusiastic at the moment. It's scary, isn't it?
0:49:34 > 0:49:36She's young, it's scary, it's not what she planned.
0:49:36 > 0:49:40But she's doing well, she's progressed. She's six centimetres.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43Be positive. She's more than halfway there.
0:49:44 > 0:49:47I don't know where her pain threshold is.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50She's just mentioned an epidural.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53I don't think she needs an epidural.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56If she wants one, she can have one. It's up to her.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59I'm wondering if there's anything...
0:49:59 > 0:50:03I was just going to say, do you want some paracetamol?
0:50:03 > 0:50:08Yeah. Is there anything, like, you know, like...hardcore?
0:50:08 > 0:50:12- Drugs?- Drugs. Give me your drugs.
0:50:12 > 0:50:13< SHE LAUGHS
0:50:13 > 0:50:15- Not at the minute.- Oh.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19- Paracetamol are very good, OK?- Right.
0:50:26 > 0:50:30Nice, deep breaths. Come on. Stay nice and calm.
0:50:33 > 0:50:34Good girl.
0:50:34 > 0:50:36I just want you to really listen to me,
0:50:36 > 0:50:38and I'll talk you through every step of it.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42- OK. Can I not have an epidural? - No, you're not having an epidural.
0:50:42 > 0:50:43- It's a bit late.- Oh!
0:50:43 > 0:50:47If you want to use your gas, take a nice breath on your gas.
0:50:47 > 0:50:51Listen to your body, do what your body's telling you to do.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54SHE SCREAMS
0:50:54 > 0:50:59Go with it, Rachel. Nice breaths.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02Go with it. Well done.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05Good girl.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08Breathe through for me.
0:51:08 > 0:51:12You did fantastic there. You pushed your baby out.
0:51:12 > 0:51:14The baby's coming round that little U-bend.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18- Can you see the baby yet?- Not yet. - OK.- Almost.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20Want you nice and relaxed.
0:51:20 > 0:51:23Take another breath.
0:51:23 > 0:51:27You can't push if you haven't got breath in your lungs. Go on.
0:51:27 > 0:51:31That's it. Good girl.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33What's that? I can feel something.
0:51:33 > 0:51:34That's the baby's head.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37- Stretching everything. Are you all right?- Yes.
0:51:37 > 0:51:41- Are you OK?- Yeah. Don't worry about me.
0:51:41 > 0:51:46- Another big breath in.- I can't do it! - Yes, you can.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48Another big, big push. Go on.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52Oh, shit! Oh!
0:51:54 > 0:51:58You're allowed to swear when you're in labour, love.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01Go with your body.
0:52:01 > 0:52:03Next big push, baby's head will be out.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07- The head's not out?- No.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11Big, big push, into your bottom. Big push. Go on.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14RACHEL SCREAMS
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Rachel, look down.
0:52:17 > 0:52:21Rachel, look down. Look down.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24There's your baby.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28Happy birthday!
0:52:28 > 0:52:31Do you want me to tell you, or do you want to have a look?
0:52:31 > 0:52:34- I'll have a look.- You have a look.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39You've got a daughter.
0:52:39 > 0:52:41BABY CRIES
0:52:43 > 0:52:45Hello, baby.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55Happy birthday, young lady.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18They just do it. They know they've got to do it, and they do it.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20Whatever kicks in, I don't know,
0:53:20 > 0:53:23but she just controlled herself so well,
0:53:23 > 0:53:27and you've seen the result. Beautiful.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37We all get it. We all get that little choked bit.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40It's a very, very privileged position,
0:53:40 > 0:53:42having your hands on that new life.
0:53:47 > 0:53:52Room four, delivered. There we go.
0:53:52 > 0:53:56Hiya. Congratulations! I heard you were a star.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00BABY CRIES
0:54:00 > 0:54:02She's got a voice already, hasn't she?
0:54:02 > 0:54:04Oh, she's lovely, isn't she?
0:54:04 > 0:54:08When you've had a sleep, you wake up and think, "Is that mine?
0:54:08 > 0:54:10"What do we do?"
0:54:10 > 0:54:17- What have we called her? - Rose.- Rose! Like Titanic!
0:54:20 > 0:54:22Rachel stays in hospital overnight.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26The following day, Camilla, the teen pregnancy midwife,
0:54:26 > 0:54:28comes to see how she's coping.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30Hello! Hiya.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34So how are you feeling, sort of bonding-wise and stuff,
0:54:34 > 0:54:36or is it too early to tell?
0:54:36 > 0:54:38At the moment, I think I'm just getting to know,
0:54:38 > 0:54:41because I'm not confident picking her up or anything yet.
0:54:41 > 0:54:45But I feel all right because, like, she's mine.
0:54:45 > 0:54:49- Do you feel proud of what you've done?- Yeah, she's pretty cute.
0:54:49 > 0:54:53- She's fantastic!- She's pretty cute. - You did make that from an egg.
0:54:53 > 0:54:55You had a bit to do with it, young man.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58But honestly, you grew her from an egg.
0:54:58 > 0:55:02You've got a whole other human being there and you made her,
0:55:02 > 0:55:05so you should feel really clever and really proud.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15- Breasts are fine?- Yes. - Bowels all right?- Yes.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17- You know I can visit for up to 28 days.- Yes.
0:55:17 > 0:55:22But I'm not concerned in any way about you or about Charlie.
0:55:22 > 0:55:27- Very best of luck. Look forward to seeing you next time.- No!
0:55:27 > 0:55:29I think three's enough.
0:55:29 > 0:55:34So I'll see you in about 18 months, two years, max?
0:55:34 > 0:55:38- No!- I think you said that last time!
0:55:38 > 0:55:42- I did, yes.- Bye-bye, little boy.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45Bye, Sally. See you in a couple of years. Bye.
0:55:45 > 0:55:46SALLY LAUGHS
0:55:51 > 0:55:54You all right to turn the music off?
0:55:54 > 0:55:58Turn it off for a bit while I'm here, for my final time.
0:56:02 > 0:56:08In Bruce and Danielle's house, the baby isn't the only new arrival.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10Let's have a look.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Oh, isn't it great?
0:56:12 > 0:56:15You will be a super chef, won't you?
0:56:15 > 0:56:19He's lovely, isn't he? Yeah.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22Blue eyes.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24Contraception - yes, you're on the pill.
0:56:24 > 0:56:28But we don't want no more babies. Eh?
0:56:28 > 0:56:32Ta-ra, Bruce! See yous again.
0:56:32 > 0:56:34Bye!
0:56:40 > 0:56:41You're a bit sad to see them go,
0:56:41 > 0:56:44because you've looked after them for a while
0:56:44 > 0:56:46and been involved in their life for a while.
0:57:08 > 0:57:12Rachel and baby Rose have been discharged from hospital,
0:57:12 > 0:57:14and are going home for the first time.
0:57:40 > 0:57:44- She's really bloody cute. She's really cute. Isn't she cute?- Yeah.
0:57:48 > 0:57:50I just want to...umm!
0:57:56 > 0:57:58That's all you need, isn't it, in life?
0:57:58 > 0:58:03You know, love, isn't it? Love and support. You don't need money.
0:58:03 > 0:58:07You don't need materialistic things.
0:58:07 > 0:58:11It'd be nice, but, you know, it's two different worlds, isn't it?
0:58:11 > 0:58:14But they all come out the same way, don't they?
0:58:49 > 0:58:53Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd