0:00:04 > 0:00:06Hi, it's the midwife.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09SHE GROANS That's it, that's it. You're doing it, you're doing it.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Little pushes, then. Little pushes.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13Oh, my gosh.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17When we're at our most vulnerable,
0:00:17 > 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 > 0:00:33We have to make a very, very intimate relationship with somebody
0:00:33 > 0:00:35you've never met before in your life.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I apologise.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39You've not done anything wrong.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42- OK.- You'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.
0:00:46 > 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 > 0:00:53Parents are more demanding.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55I just don't feel she's been getting any answers.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58And pregnancy is more complicated.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00We're worried. Do you know we're worried?
0:01:01 > 0:01:04When you see a baby come out like he did you just think, "Oh, no."
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Yeah, I'm fine. I just delivered my first baby.
0:01:10 > 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 > 0:01:22WOMAN YELLS
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Hello? Hiya.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39So they broke your waters this morning, have they?
0:01:39 > 0:01:40- Yeah.- Just I've been reading on the board.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45- It was horrible. They broke my waters. - Got your epidural in now?- Yes.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48- For your contractions?- Yes.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Aww. And how's baby doing?
0:01:50 > 0:01:52- Is he doing all right?- Quite happy.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55It's been so long now.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58So much gone on.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Oh, it's going to be lovely.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01MIDWIFE CLAPS
0:02:01 > 0:02:03So excited for you. I am.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Lauren has been in labour for five hours.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11She's been pregnant three times before,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13but this is the first time she's having a baby.
0:02:20 > 0:02:21How are we doing?
0:02:21 > 0:02:23Hello.
0:02:26 > 0:02:27- Oh, fantastic.- Yeah.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Oh, my God!
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Oh, brilliant.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- Be strong.- I'll try.- Keep going.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- Chin down.- Chin down. No screaming.
0:02:42 > 0:02:48Miranda is a specialist midwife at Saint Mary's Hospital in Manchester.
0:02:48 > 0:02:49I'm OK.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52She helps women like Lauren who've had several miscarriages.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55We saw Lauren in the recurrent miscarriage clinic
0:02:55 > 0:02:57after having three early pregnancy losses.
0:02:57 > 0:02:58LAUREN YELLS
0:02:58 > 0:03:02'When you've lost several pregnancies it must be
0:03:02 > 0:03:04'a long time before that baby's actually here.'
0:03:04 > 0:03:08- I don't think I can do it!- You can. - I want a C-section.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11You know, pregnancy's not been nine months.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Some ladies, they may have been trying ten years, some of them,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16maybe more, even.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Really good. LAUREN GASPS
0:03:18 > 0:03:20LAUREN GASPS And again.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21Big deep breath.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25It's just such a big deal. It's a really big deal.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28We're doing this, this is going to be teamwork now.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32- Push, push, push. - Push into her hands, now. - Keep going, keep going.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33Come on baby, come on, you can do it.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Push this baby out. Good girl. Good girl. Go on! Go on!
0:03:37 > 0:03:38LAUREN GASPS
0:03:38 > 0:03:39Come on, Lauren.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Big push.
0:03:41 > 0:03:42LAUREN YELLS
0:03:42 > 0:03:43Awww.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Here's here, he's here.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48A little baby.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- Well done, Lauren. - Well done, he's massive!
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Lauren and Alex must have thought that they were never going to get to this point.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56So proud of you.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59I think if you've gone through so many miscarriages,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01you think, "I'm never going to be a mum."
0:04:02 > 0:04:04He's perfect.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09'Hello, Miranda Hobson?
0:04:09 > 0:04:11'Hello! You all right?'
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Yeah. Yeah.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17It is with a low-lying placenta, Emma.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20You need to come in and make sure baby's OK.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Miranda is part of a team of specialist midwives.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26They look after women whose pregnancies are high-risk,
0:04:26 > 0:04:28either for the mother or baby.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30OK, Penny.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33These midwives don't deliver babies, instead they see women
0:04:33 > 0:04:37for the whole of their pregnancies, doing all they can to help them through.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40'Hello, Miranda Hobson?
0:04:40 > 0:04:42'Oh, hi, Holly!'
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Hello, we keep missing each other.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50The fridge?
0:04:50 > 0:04:51Why?
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Is your fridge an old fridge, or is it a new fridge?
0:04:57 > 0:05:01Like old as in 20 years, or fairly new, as in the last ten years?
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Oh, Holly, it'll be fine.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Yeah. Yes, it is. It is.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11It's not something we see very often at all.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14What about cheese?
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Cheese is fine, hard cheese is fine.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20It's been pasteurised, so it's been blasted, so all the bugs are dead in it.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25Yes, it's fine. And we have women who go to rock concerts pregnant!
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Oh, Holly.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Oh.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33She's worrying about listeria, because she's eaten
0:05:33 > 0:05:36a yoghurt out of the fridge that had been there for a week.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39You end up giving advice about fridges, and...?
0:05:39 > 0:05:41- Yeah.- ..everything.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44I do with Holly, yeah. I do with Holly.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49Occasionally, you just get people with these questions.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Can we go the long way round? I need to take it easy,
0:05:54 > 0:05:55if that's all right.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59- And be careful of the bumps. - No problem.- Thank you.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16Holly is 39.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21She has one 14-year-old son and is 28 weeks into this pregnancy.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26In the past four years, she's had three unexplained miscarriages
0:06:26 > 0:06:29and a baby who died after being born at 30 weeks.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32She sees Miranda every fortnight.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36MIRANDA: I am foreseeing a very normal pregnancy with Holly.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40I think she'll come in on her due date and have a caesarean when it's planned.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43The baby is fine, as far as we're concerned at the moment.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45It's plodding on really well.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50And there's nothing in her body, infection-wise or anything like that,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53that we would be concerned about in this pregnancy.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55It's the anxiety that we're supporting.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00- Hello, Holly!- Hello. - How are you doing?
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- I'm not having a nervous breakdown, quite.- Good.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06- MIRANDA LAUGHS - It's just the overriding thing of,
0:07:06 > 0:07:07"Oh, my God, I just hope he's OK."
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- Mmmm.- And I keep trying to tell myself,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13well, pregnant women go off and they go to work, and they do that
0:07:13 > 0:07:18and they do the shopping and they look after other children, but I can't...
0:07:19 > 0:07:21..OK that in my head.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23- It's as if I'm... - Oh, Holly, that's fine.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28..carrying round some, you know, precious antique china that can't be, you know...
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Just every move I make...
0:07:30 > 0:07:33It's mixed emotions all the time, isn't it?
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- It's a rollercoaster. - That's the word I was looking for.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38We've been on a rollercoaster.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40You know, it's ups and downs and ups and downs.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- And we just have to hang tight, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Well, thank you very much. Have a good couple of weeks.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48You're welcome. You too.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49I'll probably talk to you in the meantime.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51MIRANDA LAUGHS Yes, I imagine so.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Hello, is that Jamila? Jamila, it's Gretta here.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04How many weeks are you, Jamila?
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Are you testing your blood sugars?
0:08:06 > 0:08:10You are. And what's the results? Are they OK? Are they normal?
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Gretta works alongside Miranda in the clinic.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16She's one of two midwives who see women with diabetes,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19a condition which can sometimes cause stillbirth.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24I never liked diabetes. I didn't want to ever do it.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26I reluctantly covered a maternity leave,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29and, I think, covered a second maternity leave reluctantly,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31and then I fell in love with the job.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36- How are you, Mary?- Fine. - How many weeks are you now?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- 35.- 35?
0:08:38 > 0:08:42- Close, aren't you?- Yeah. Just in grabbing distance.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- See you after you've had your scan. - Okey-dokey. Thank you.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- She's dead nice, isn't she?- Mmm-hmm.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Mary is 17 and has had diabetes for six years.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57She comes to see Gretta every week, always with her boyfriend, Uri.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01INTERVIEWER: Are you enjoying being pregnant?
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Are you excited about becoming a dad?
0:09:03 > 0:09:04Yeah.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08It's like buying baby clothes and baby shoes and, you're thinking,
0:09:08 > 0:09:12"He grows up he's going to be a footballer, or boxing."
0:09:12 > 0:09:17Said to me the other day, "I hope I'm one of them that give all boys."
0:09:17 > 0:09:19That's what I want. A football team.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23He always makes sure I've had my insulin on time.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Makes me my breakfast in the morning.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28And brings me insulin up, so I get breakfast in bed.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31You'll give us some, I don't get that.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33- Have you given a urine sample? - Yeah.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Mary is 35 weeks and near the end of her pregnancy.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41It's now that her baby is at greatest risk from her diabetes.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45It's any lady with diabetes, when they're coming up
0:09:45 > 0:09:49to the last few weeks of pregnancy, I think we all are waiting
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- for that lady to deliver. - The whole team.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56We know that if the blood sugars are high towards the end,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59the risk of stillbirth is that little bit higher.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01It's getting that message across
0:10:01 > 0:10:03to Mary, without upsetting her, or...
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- Making her anxious. - Making her anxious about that.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10You're sweating a bit. A little bit.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Although stillbirths are rare,
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Saint Mary's deal with around 50 a year.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Mary is five times more at risk than women without diabetes.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20- You're very tired?- Yeah.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- What's that about? Do you know why? - I don't know.
0:10:23 > 0:10:24- You don't know why?- No.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26- Any headaches?- Now and then.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- I've got one now. - You've got a headache now?- Yeah.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Loads of questions, Mary. GRETTA LAUGHS
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Now, diabetes, did you bring a book with you?
0:10:35 > 0:10:38I've been writing in my diary, but I forgot to bring it,
0:10:38 > 0:10:39because I was rushing this morning.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Because this is really important.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Another thing I wanted to ask as well,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46you know when I'm actually having the baby,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48how many people will I be allowed in the room with me?
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Two. What are you thinking?
0:10:52 > 0:10:54- Four is what I want. - Oh, you want four!
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Oh, my goodness. I can see you breaking every rule, Mary.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01GRETTA LAUGHS You've got your own rules, haven't you?
0:11:02 > 0:11:04There aren't many teenagers in Gretta's clinic,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07but they are often the hardest to handle.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12You feel like mothering her. I look at Mary and think of my daughter...
0:11:12 > 0:11:16- You have your 16-year-old, yeah. - And think, "If that was my daughter..."
0:11:16 > 0:11:19You just think, "Come on, come on, keep going, keep going."
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- "You're doing well, Mary."- Yeah!
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Her concentration span as well... The visitors were a big thing
0:11:24 > 0:11:26for her, how many people were on the delivery unit.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28And there's no point in talking about blood sugars
0:11:28 > 0:11:32if she's moved onto that, because you've lost her.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Or, in the middle of a consultation, when you're doing really well,
0:11:35 > 0:11:38you think she's listening and she'll say, "Can I go now?"
0:11:38 > 0:11:42You think, "I hope I've got that message across
0:11:42 > 0:11:44"about the blood sugars."
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Kelly Fox?
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- CHILD CHATTERS - Oh, I've put on.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03You have. You have, see.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05You can stop worrying now.
0:12:05 > 0:12:06Is the baby moving well?
0:12:06 > 0:12:11Claire is the specialist midwife for women with kidney problems.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Women like Kelly are endangering their own lives by getting pregnant.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19You're never starting off on a straightforward pregnancy.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23You're always starting off on the back foot, so to speak.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26So you've always got to, at the very beginning ,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29when it's, "Congratulations, you're pregnant" with the scan,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32but then you still have to go through, "Because of your medical condition
0:12:32 > 0:12:36"we need to be doing this, this and this to monitor you."
0:12:36 > 0:12:39That's come down. It's much better than it was.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Kelly, husband Rob, and three-year-old daughter Madison
0:12:42 > 0:12:43have come to see Claire.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46Kelly's 34.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49She had a kidney transplant seven years ago, and by getting pregnant
0:12:49 > 0:12:53she knows she's putting her new kidney, and life, at risk.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58I was told there was a 50/50 chance, really, for having a successful,
0:12:58 > 0:12:59healthy pregnancy.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04Then I just think, "There's two women in a room and one of us
0:13:04 > 0:13:07"had to get picked, I've got just as much chance as anybody else."
0:13:07 > 0:13:12Say, bye-bye! 'I thought I'd be quite happy with just one. And I am.'
0:13:12 > 0:13:14It's also because I've got Madison,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16and I know how fantastic she is,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19that makes you want another one.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25And if anything happened to me, they've got each other to rely on.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29- INTERVIEWER:- If you were in her position, and you had her history, and you've been given
0:13:29 > 0:13:33all these statistics, would you be having a baby?
0:13:33 > 0:13:38I think if it was going to be my first baby, possibly.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41But then I can see where Kelly comes from
0:13:41 > 0:13:43and this could be her last chance.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47So, I don't think it's something you can say,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50that you would or you wouldn't, until you're in that position.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Just got to support her, really.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I don't think there's any right or wrong.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58She's made the decision and we'll see how it goes.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Do you think we'll be able to see if it's a boy or a girl today?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03We can certainly look for you.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Madison thinks there's a baby in there for everyone.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07Do you?
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Kelly is four months pregnant.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Her kidney was weak before she conceived,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and the midwives know there's a chance that pregnancy
0:14:15 > 0:14:17could make her so ill they'll have to deliver the baby early.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Here's the body with the heartbeat.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22They want to get her as close as possible to the full nine months,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and at least to a point at which the baby could survive.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29So, the baby's growing completely normally. This is baby's head.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33That's definitely a boy. It's got a brain.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37- I think your baby just waved to you, Madison.- It's waving.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38Do you see the little hand?
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Madison: Where baby hand?
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- There.- There's a hand.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Let's have a look between the legs.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50- I thought I'd just seen something dangling, then.- Yeah, you wish.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- Do you want me to say in front of Madison?- Yeah, go on.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55- I think it's a little girl. - Yeah, just then, see?
0:14:55 > 0:15:00Very pretty. And just like her big sister. Can you see her?
0:15:03 > 0:15:05I knew it would be a girl.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- I feel cheated. - THEY LAUGH
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Never mind, next one might be a boy.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14No, I'm joking. This is your lot.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16So far, the baby is growing well.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21But Kelly's been told her body will struggle as the pregnancy goes on.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24There's a chance her kidney transplant could fail completely.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Her kidney's not going to last for ever,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30and there is going to come a point where she's going to need dialysis,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34so I think in her head it's a case of is she bringing it forward
0:15:34 > 0:15:37too quickly, or will the pregnancy bring it forward.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49- Morning, darling!- How are you?
0:15:50 > 0:15:55- I read One Day. Have you read it? - I'm into it.- How far are you in?
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- Not very far. I've seen the film... - I can't say...
0:15:58 > 0:16:00I've seen the film so I know what happens.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01- You know she dies?- Yeah.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Liz, other people might not have read it or seen it
0:16:04 > 0:16:07but you have to say the ending every time you talk about things.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11- No, I don't! - You do, you ruined Atonement for me.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15The specialist midwives all share one small office.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19They see over a thousand women every year.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Throw them in. Pile them up.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23Hello, Mary.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25How are you?
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Are you OK?
0:16:27 > 0:16:3017-year-old Mary is now 36 weeks.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34There's been a dramatic change in her blood sugars.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Yeah. So when you went home you had no insulin with your tea?
0:16:38 > 0:16:39'Because I had a hypo.'
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Because you had a hypo. And what was your blood sugar? When you said hypo?
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Good girl.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48I'm just wondering, you know, Mary, with all this,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51should you come in and be checked out today.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52Hmmm.
0:16:52 > 0:16:58Let me phone the doctors and get back to you. OK?
0:16:58 > 0:17:00But definitely, we definitely want you in tomorrow.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05She's needing less insulin for some reason,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08and we're not quite sure what that is.
0:17:08 > 0:17:13It's different. And anything that's a little bit different is not right.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15And then we act on that.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Having spoken to the doctors, Gretta's fears are confirmed.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Mary's baby could be in serious danger
0:17:25 > 0:17:27and Gretta has to get her to come in urgently.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Hello, Mary. Me again.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Gretta's worried that if Mary feels hassled,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37she may stop taking her calls altogether.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Mary, we'd like you to come in.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Today.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Oh, Mary. You're pushing it.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53GRETTA LAUGHS
0:17:53 > 0:17:56You know yourself that we've always said all along, haven't we,
0:17:56 > 0:18:01we said that if something changes then you're safer in here.
0:18:04 > 0:18:05Yeah.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11OK. We'll give you a ring later on, and see how you go. OK?
0:18:13 > 0:18:15She said, "I'll come in tomorrow.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18"What's the point in hanging around tonight?" She's got...
0:18:18 > 0:18:22- No way!- Yeah. She assures me, she said,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25"Even as I'm talking to you my baby is moving."
0:18:25 > 0:18:27She likes to be the boss.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31- INTERVIEWER:- How do you feel about her not coming in?- Nervous.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36Maybe you just have to speak very straight to her
0:18:36 > 0:18:38and tell her the risk.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40And there are real worries.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Right, I'll see you in a couple of weeks.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49SHE YAWNS
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Amanda, look at these. She's leaving.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56- Aww. Has she sent them to you?- Yeah.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Aren't they lovely? Is it a boy?
0:18:58 > 0:19:01- Yeah.- What have they called him?
0:19:01 > 0:19:03- Austin.- Austin?
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Oh, look at that! That is beautiful.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Hello, Mary. SHE MOUTHS
0:19:16 > 0:19:17Mary still isn't listening
0:19:17 > 0:19:19and Gretta decides to pile on the pressure.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23What you need to do is come in NOW for a trace of your baby.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26She needs to monitor the baby's heart rate to make sure it's OK.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28And it's all a rush for you today.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Why?
0:19:34 > 0:19:39Mary, do you know how important this is? I'm worried, Susan's worried.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Doctor Maresh is worried.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Pardon? As soon as you can get in.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49All right. OK, well done, Mary. Good girl.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Take care. Bye. Bye.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56She's coming in, on her terms again. But she is coming in.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Brilliant.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- Yeah.- She hasn't seen what we've seen, though.- That's it.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03She doesn't know.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08We've seen a tragic ending and she hasn't
0:20:08 > 0:20:12- and she'll never comprehend what might happen.- No.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27I know that things can go wrong. I know that things do happen.
0:20:27 > 0:20:32And I know what that feels like, I know that I don't want to go there again.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36And I know how desperately we want to be able to bring this baby
0:20:36 > 0:20:39home and have him and cuddle him and kiss him and look after him.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45Holly is now 29 weeks, a week away from when her last baby died.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Her anxiety is getting worse.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51- HOLLY SIGHS - I'm very wobbly today, I have to say.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53What, wobbly when you're walking, or...?
0:20:53 > 0:20:56I think it's very hard for other people to understand sometimes,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00because I must sound as if I'm completely bonkers to normal people.
0:21:01 > 0:21:07Over the last week, I've managed to drop a block of cheese on him,
0:21:07 > 0:21:11drop a serving spoon on him whilst I was cooking the dinner,
0:21:11 > 0:21:17gave myself an electric shock from my mobile phone charger yesterday.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20It's just that, sort of, if he is born
0:21:20 > 0:21:23and he's alive, is there going to be something wrong with him?
0:21:23 > 0:21:25'None of the questions are silly questions,
0:21:25 > 0:21:29'they're all relevant because she's thought about them.'
0:21:29 > 0:21:34- Do you feel a bit more reassured, or not? Or it just doesn't help? - Oh, I'm sorry.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36I think if she went to see a community midwife,
0:21:36 > 0:21:40or presented at triage saying, "I've dropped a spoon,"
0:21:40 > 0:21:43or "I've dropped a chunk of cheese on my belly
0:21:43 > 0:21:46"and I'm worried about the baby,"
0:21:46 > 0:21:48I think they'd be a bit shocked
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and surprised that this lady was presenting with this problem.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52- Thank you very much. - All right, Holly.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56We know where she's coming from and hopefully we can reassure her.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59- I shall see you in a few weeks. - Okey-doke. Ta-ra.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03I'm sure it must help coming to see the same person all the time.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Zumba tonight.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Release all me stress.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I hope it's not too busy.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Mary has finally come in and Gretta has put the baby
0:22:43 > 0:22:46on a heart rate monitor to see how it's doing.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51- URI:- The more you wait, the more excited you get.- No. No.- Yeah.- No.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54The longer you wait, the worser it is.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56OK, well, I'll speak with Doctor Maresh
0:22:56 > 0:23:00when we've done another piece on this trace, yeah?
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- And then see.- But I hate sitting and waiting.- I know.
0:23:03 > 0:23:04I know you hate that, yeah.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10I'm not worried about you.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11That's nice! >
0:23:11 > 0:23:14- LAUGHTER - It's... I'm worried about the baby.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18With you not knowing, really,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21what quite to expect with blood sugars, do you?
0:23:21 > 0:23:22I don't know how the baby is.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Because you're only 36 weeks, this is going to get
0:23:25 > 0:23:28your blood sugars a little bit, make sure your blood sugars are more stable.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31The team want to keep Mary in hospital
0:23:31 > 0:23:33for the rest of her pregnancy.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35This way they can act quickly if the baby's in distress.
0:23:45 > 0:23:46See you tomorrow.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48See ya.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02My plan was for tonight to get a nice hot bath,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05get my pyjamas on, sit down, watch the soaps.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Now I'm stuck in here, staring at white walls, and no TV.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14- INTERVIEWER: How are you coping, Uri?- Me? All right.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17I was just speechless for words.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Mary and Uri met on Facebook just over a year ago.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24They still live with their families,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26but are planning to move in together once the baby is born.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30INTERVIEWER: Are you worried about Mary?
0:24:30 > 0:24:32No, course not.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Only joking. Yeah, I am.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40I just want him to be born now, that's the main thing, innit?
0:24:41 > 0:24:46INTERVIEWER: Who's going to be in the birthing room with you?
0:24:46 > 0:24:47My nanna.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Uri's going to cut the cord and I hope it squirts in his face!
0:24:53 > 0:24:55'How important is your nanna to you?'
0:24:55 > 0:24:59Very important, cos my nanna and grandad took us in
0:24:59 > 0:25:03about seven years ago, when my mum lost my brother David
0:25:03 > 0:25:07and she had depression and stuff like that.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09'So what happened with your mum and David?'
0:25:09 > 0:25:14It was actually when I was living with my mum,
0:25:14 > 0:25:17she was pregnant with my little brother,
0:25:17 > 0:25:22and one night she got up and she started to bleed.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24And obviously I was panicking even though I was young.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26I was about eight, I think.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31I ran out, in just my knickers, to one of the neighbours
0:25:31 > 0:25:32and she phoned an ambulance.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36And then my mum's come running down the street, bleeding like mad.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Really, she should have stayed at home and made sure the blood
0:25:40 > 0:25:44wasn't coming out as fast, but you don't think at the time, so...
0:25:44 > 0:25:50She ended up having...I don't know what it's called. But baby ended up being dead. So...
0:25:55 > 0:25:57'Do you remember it really clearly?'
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Yeah, I remember it like it was yesterday.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04'Do you ever think about that with this pregnancy?'
0:26:04 > 0:26:10No, not really. I try not to, if anything.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Everyone's been through something in life,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15and you have to get over it and deal with it.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Gretta's finished her day and is going home.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31- MARY:- I want to go home.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I hear another kid screaming.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Two hours later, against Gretta's advice,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Mary discharges herself from hospital.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55You going to do Mum's blood pressure first?
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Yeah, yeah, I get to press it!
0:26:59 > 0:27:03- All by myself!- All by yourself?
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Right, ready, go.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07- MACHINE WHIRS - Thank you.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11- Are you Mum's nurse?- Yeah.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15This is my poorly mummy.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Kelly is only halfway through her pregnancy
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and already her health is suffering.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23These ones are my blood pressure tablets,
0:27:23 > 0:27:27they're my anti-rejection tablets, rotational antibiotic
0:27:27 > 0:27:33and one to stop me getting stomach ulcers from all the tablets I take!
0:27:33 > 0:27:39On top of her kidney problems, Kelly has started to itch constantly.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42It's so unbearable, she can't sleep.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Now, itching.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49What are you taking? What did they start you on?
0:27:49 > 0:27:52- The URSO.- The Ursodeoxycholic acid.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55- Has it helped? - No. Maybe a little bit.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56A little bit.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00- Are you sleeping any better? - No.- Oh, dear.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02And you said you'd got a bit of an infection on your leg.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04- Can I have a look?- Yeah.
0:28:04 > 0:28:05Oh, Kelly.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09- That's from scratching?- Yeah.
0:28:09 > 0:28:15Right, well, Doctor Venning's here, so I think he's going to have a look.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20So, it's slightly unusual...
0:28:20 > 0:28:23The doctors don't know what's causing Kelly's itching
0:28:23 > 0:28:26and they're worried it could mean her liver isn't working properly.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30It could affect her chances of making it through the pregnancy.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32So increase the URSO to three, three times a day.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35And then we can go up to four, three times a day and then
0:28:35 > 0:28:39over that is illegal dosing, which we may have to do.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41"Put up and shut up, Mummy!"
0:28:41 > 0:28:43No, not put up with it, it's miserable.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Absolutely miserable.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49Oh, dear, your poor mummy.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55If I was scratching like she was every day, it would drive me insane.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58I don't think people appreciate it...
0:28:58 > 0:29:02And until you'd had it solidly for yourself for two or three weeks,
0:29:02 > 0:29:06then you might get an idea of actually how miserable that can be.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10It's a week-to-week assessment of how she's doing.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Holly is nearly 30 weeks pregnant.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30It was at this point two years ago, that she lost a baby.
0:29:33 > 0:29:38I decided that there should definitely be a new form of therapy on the NHS.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40Crochet therapy.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43It's so meditative, you see, especially if you're counting,
0:29:43 > 0:29:45because you can't then think about other things.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48So it's helped a lot with my anxiety.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52But it was a life-saver, really, as well, just after Arthur died,
0:29:52 > 0:29:55because I crocheted him a blanket...
0:30:00 > 0:30:02..to be buried in.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05So he's wrapped up in something that I made for him.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08But I don't know what I'd have done in that first week
0:30:08 > 0:30:11if I hadn't had something to do with my hands.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14Hello, Holly, it's Miranda.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17How are you doing?
0:30:17 > 0:30:18Oh.
0:30:20 > 0:30:21Oh.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Maybe it's just with you both being full of a cold...
0:30:25 > 0:30:31You know, like we talked before about this 30 week point, and...
0:30:31 > 0:30:34maybe it's just the build-up to that, Holly, that's making it all
0:30:34 > 0:30:37a bit worse at the moment.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43Richard came out yesterday with the fact that...
0:30:43 > 0:30:45He said, "I don't know if I can love the baby."
0:30:45 > 0:30:48And she said, "I think that's what..."
0:30:48 > 0:30:52Cos they're coming up to this 30-week period when they lost Arthur...
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Holly married Richard in 2009.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01She already had one son, Elliot, by a previous relationship.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06Holly and Richard had one miscarriage
0:31:06 > 0:31:08and then Holly got pregnant again.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13But at 20 weeks, her waters broke and she was put on complete bed rest.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15There was a very traumatic period
0:31:15 > 0:31:17where we didn't know what was going to happen.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20It was three months in the end.
0:31:20 > 0:31:21We had scans fortnightly
0:31:21 > 0:31:24so we could see how little fluid there was there.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27But he was growing consistently
0:31:27 > 0:31:31so we thought there was a chance, really, at the end.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34And then one day, I was at work
0:31:34 > 0:31:38and I got a call that she'd been quite ill
0:31:38 > 0:31:41and she'd been rushed into hospital again.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45So I went over to the hospital straight away
0:31:45 > 0:31:48but he'd already been born by that stage.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51Apparently he'd cried just one, solitary cry.
0:31:54 > 0:31:59I heard him cry, which gave me hope.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01I'd kind of got it into my head that if he cried
0:32:01 > 0:32:04when he was born then his lungs would be working
0:32:04 > 0:32:08and maybe that would be a sign that things would be OK.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11But what had happened was he'd got an infection
0:32:11 > 0:32:13that hadn't shown up in me.
0:32:15 > 0:32:21I was passed a sheet of paper which confirmed his name and birth weight
0:32:21 > 0:32:25and then it dawned on me that I must be a father.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29So the initial thought when I looked at him was,
0:32:29 > 0:32:31"This is incredible, and amazing."
0:32:33 > 0:32:37Arthur was put on a ventilator to help him breathe.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41- HOLLY:- After six hours of him not responding, his other organs
0:32:41 > 0:32:45started failing because of the lack of oxygen in his blood supply.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48He died in our arms.
0:32:55 > 0:32:56He was perfect.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06'Some people will give up at that point,
0:33:06 > 0:33:10'they wouldn't embark on another pregnancy.'
0:33:10 > 0:33:13It must be horrible to come into hospital pregnant
0:33:13 > 0:33:17and go home with no baby. I couldn't think of anything worse.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20I couldn't think of anything worse.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30MIDWIFE: Keep going. Breathe the gas, don't give up on it. It's really good stuff.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35It's three days since Mary discharged herself from hospital.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39- I'm not going to be able to do this. - You are!
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Now she's 37 weeks,
0:33:42 > 0:33:46and the team are worried about the pregnancy continuing any further.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48They've made her come in to be induced.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51- I forgot people can be in labour for, like, 20 hours.- Eh?
0:33:51 > 0:33:54'No, we're not planning on that happening, we're hoping not.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57'We are interfering a little bit, aren't we?
0:33:57 > 0:34:00'So hopefully it won't happen like that.'
0:34:00 > 0:34:03With diabetic women we do try to bring on the labour a bit quicker.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05She's been fairly stable throughout.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Obviously, she's had a few hypos today.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11But it's just keeping an eye, because obviously there are complications.
0:34:11 > 0:34:16Mary is high risk, and closely monitored.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Her blood sugars are checked every hour.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Right, we're going to have to get you some glucose.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29Bear with me, I shall go and get the docs, love, don't worry.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Mary's blood sugars have fallen to a dangerous level.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36'Right, I've got you some Dextrose tablets, which I'm sure you're used to by now.'
0:34:36 > 0:34:40She's given sugar tablets to stop her falling unconscious.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44- Is the baby OK? - Baby's absolutely fine.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50- She should be on a sliding scale.- Yeah, she should.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52- She was throwing off hypos in the induction...- I know...
0:34:52 > 0:34:54So we need to go and see her on the ward rounds.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Half an hour later, the tablets have worn off.
0:34:59 > 0:35:04The team put Mary on a drip to regulate her blood sugars.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07MARY WAILS
0:35:07 > 0:35:09And again, Mary, breathe the gas again.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13Come on, good girl.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19Good girl, come on. Mary, breathe for me, sweetheart.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Come on, that will help you through.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23Good girl. That's it.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29We'll have to see if we can get baby again in a minute,
0:35:29 > 0:35:30cos he's gone walkabout.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32Let me see.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35I just need to get to your tummy and see where this baby's gone.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Now the baby is starting to show signs of distress.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43Its heart rate has become irregular.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46We'll check in a second, we'll see what's happening.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48MARY WAILS
0:35:48 > 0:35:52Don't bloody push it out when I'm not in there.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55- I just want to get it out now. - I know you do, sweetheart.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57We're getting late dips, so just...
0:35:58 > 0:36:01The baby's heart rate remains unstable.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Now, Mary's contractions have slowed down.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06The doctors decide they can't wait any more.
0:36:06 > 0:36:08They need to deliver the baby.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11On the next contraction, I'm going to give you a small episiotomy
0:36:11 > 0:36:15and see if the baby comes out without putting the suction cup on.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17I'm hoping it should. All right?
0:36:17 > 0:36:21- OK, that's a sharp scratch now, all right?- Have you got a pain there?
0:36:21 > 0:36:25- Go on. Go on, go on, go on. - Good, good, good, that's it!
0:36:25 > 0:36:26Keep it coming, keep it coming!
0:36:26 > 0:36:30- Brilliant.- Brilliant. So I'm going to give you a small cut now...
0:36:34 > 0:36:36He's doing it!
0:36:36 > 0:36:40Little push again, little push again. Go on, Mary.
0:36:40 > 0:36:46Keep going. Well done. Little push. Breathe. Good girl.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48How many more pushes, do you think?
0:36:48 > 0:36:50You're just waiting for another pain,
0:36:50 > 0:36:53and with the next pain your baby's going to be born.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56- Do I have to push now?- If you've got a pain, let's go for it.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Come on, baby's coming.
0:37:00 > 0:37:01That's it, the head's just there now.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04That's fantastic, keep it going.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Good girl. Brilliant! Well done!
0:37:07 > 0:37:12- Congratulations! There you go! - Is that 25 past?
0:37:12 > 0:37:16Absolutely fine.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20That's it, and again. There we go.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24Well done, you. You did brilliant.
0:37:24 > 0:37:29See, he looks absolutely perfect, nobody's worried about him.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Oh, I'm so proud now. I'm a mum.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55- Oh! Can I come in?- Yeah.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02Fantastic. Well done, you! I don't even know...
0:38:02 > 0:38:03- Have you got a boy?- Yeah.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05- Have you? What's his name?- Mason.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09Oh, well done. Everything went OK? Yeah?
0:38:09 > 0:38:11I didn't think it was going to be...
0:38:11 > 0:38:14- And do you feel OK now?- Yeah. - You look amazing,
0:38:14 > 0:38:16you don't look like you've delivered.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20- Hello, you.- He only weighed seven pound one.- Seven/one?
0:38:20 > 0:38:26Well, look at him. He's just beautiful. Isn't he gorgeous?
0:38:26 > 0:38:30He's lovely. Fantastic. Just so relieved.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33Just the best news we've heard, because last week was so tough
0:38:33 > 0:38:35and she took up a lot of our time last week
0:38:35 > 0:38:37and now there's just this sense of relief.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41Even from Mary, I think, the stress has gone from her face,
0:38:41 > 0:38:46she looks relieved as well. It's just the nicest part of it, to see that.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Kelly is 22 weeks.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04Her itching has become so bad, she's been admitted to hospital.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08It's a sign that her body is really struggling with the pregnancy.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11Kelly came in on Friday, she didn't look well.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Her bilirubin, which is one of the liver function tests,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17had gone quite high, which would indicate...
0:39:17 > 0:39:20You can get some clinical jaundice, which is the yellowness.
0:39:20 > 0:39:26So I spoke with Dr Gillham, the consultant, and decided to admit her.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31How are you doing?
0:39:34 > 0:39:36You wanted a word?
0:39:36 > 0:39:39I just wanted to know if I could take these tablets.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43How long is it going to take till I'll know if they've worked?
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Just keep putting your cream on,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49we'll get as much cream as we can for you.
0:39:50 > 0:39:55- 'Are you worried about her?'- 'I am worried about the liver bloods.'
0:39:55 > 0:39:58The worst case scenario would be that she could end up with
0:39:58 > 0:40:02liver failure or kidney failure.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06Which then will mean possibly dialysis for the kidney,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09which isn't great in pregnancy.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12I'll be happier when she's got to 24 weeks,
0:40:12 > 0:40:16to know the baby could be viable, in a sense.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Claire's come and seen me already.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21- You've not had a good night, I gather.- No.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24OK, 40 minutes' sleep?
0:40:26 > 0:40:28The team have always known that Kelly was unlikely
0:40:28 > 0:40:31to make it through nine months of pregnancy
0:40:31 > 0:40:33but at this stage it's too early to deliver her.
0:40:33 > 0:40:38They need to find a way of helping Kelly that won't harm her baby.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41Speaking to some colleagues, there's something else I want to try, OK?
0:40:41 > 0:40:45It's a drug called naloxone, that we give by infusion.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50It's not something that is used in pregnancy
0:40:50 > 0:40:54because it's not normal that the itch is bad enough to need it.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57I'll be honest, I can't find a reason not to use it
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- but there's no evidence that I should, either.- OK. - Does that make sense?
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Where you are at the moment is quite an extreme place,
0:41:04 > 0:41:07so I'm trying things that I wouldn't normally try.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11I'm happy to try them for you, but it's done on the understanding
0:41:11 > 0:41:15that we both understand this is something that we wouldn't usually do.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- Yeah.- But not doing something is not an option either.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20- Does that make sense to you?- Yeah.- OK.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Thank you very much.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31Kelly has to wait until the doctors can give her the new drug overnight.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33She's had hardly any sleep in the last four days.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37If the team can't find something that works,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Kelly's only option may be to end the pregnancy.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43It's everything together, do you know what I mean?
0:41:43 > 0:41:48It's not just one little thing - I could cope with the itching,
0:41:48 > 0:41:51I could cope with not getting a bit of sleep...
0:41:51 > 0:41:56I can't even manage to get dressed...
0:41:56 > 0:41:58It's cold touching me.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02And the pain that I'm in is unbelievable.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08It's like there's...
0:42:08 > 0:42:12I can't even tell you how much I wanted this baby and it's like...
0:42:12 > 0:42:14I know it's not the baby's fault
0:42:14 > 0:42:20but I can't stand the thought of it being in there another day.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Cos of the way it's making me feel.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28I feel like it's taking me away from Madison, do you know what I mean?
0:42:28 > 0:42:30I feel like it's taking me away from who I am.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36I cannot physically go on for another two months like this.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39I can't.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41I feel like I'm dying inside.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45I just feel so tired.
0:43:01 > 0:43:02Holly has made it past 30 weeks
0:43:02 > 0:43:06and is slowly starting to prepare for her baby's arrival.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09It's going to be the silliest hat in the universe.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11I'm making it up as I go along.
0:43:11 > 0:43:15She's been offered a caesarean and it's booked in at 38 weeks,
0:43:15 > 0:43:17less than two weeks away.
0:43:18 > 0:43:23I always liked what my friend Gemma said after her first daughter died.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26She felt like her life had gone into black and white but then
0:43:26 > 0:43:30when she had her subsequent daughter, her second baby,
0:43:30 > 0:43:34she felt like everything had gone back into glorious technicolour.
0:43:34 > 0:43:39I think we've put so much on hold and so much has been in limbo,
0:43:39 > 0:43:43I'm hoping that this will be a whole new beginning.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45INTERVIEWER: I wanted to ask about Elliot as well
0:43:45 > 0:43:51and how you think he's handled the past few years.
0:43:52 > 0:44:00Erm, exceedingly well, given that he's only an early teenager.
0:44:01 > 0:44:05He's been through an awful lot and he's had to cope with an awful lot.
0:44:05 > 0:44:10Have you started to talk about things more than you would have in the past?
0:44:10 > 0:44:14- Yeah, we sorted out the clothes and the toys, didn't we, Mum?- Yeah.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18And you didn't really want that to happen, did you, Richard?
0:44:18 > 0:44:21Well, I was comfortable with it by the time we did it.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24I'd have been uncomfortable three months ago.
0:44:24 > 0:44:27It was actually quite nice to see them when I got home, all laid out.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30There's not very much time left.
0:44:30 > 0:44:34No, not really. Just two weeks.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37That's time to greet.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41INTERVIEWER: I like this word greet, rather than meet.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45Well, I just didn't think meet was the right word.
0:44:45 > 0:44:50I think we've already met him, we've seen him on the scans
0:44:50 > 0:44:55but we just haven't really said a proper hello yet.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59And then he'll actually be able to hear us properly.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05I think once I do get a brother,
0:45:05 > 0:45:09I think I'll wish that I had a brother a bit earlier.
0:45:17 > 0:45:20Kelly has been given the new drug overnight.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23They hope it will ease the itching, and allow her to sleep.
0:45:23 > 0:45:25What happened last night, did it work?
0:45:25 > 0:45:27No.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30SHE SIGHS Not at all?
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Yeah, mornings are the worst.
0:45:44 > 0:45:46Hello, sweetheart.
0:45:50 > 0:45:52No joy.
0:45:59 > 0:46:00Oh, darling.
0:46:04 > 0:46:05It's not good.
0:46:05 > 0:46:11From her notes, I think they have discussed termination.
0:46:13 > 0:46:15Because she seems so...
0:46:15 > 0:46:17You can just see her, she can't carry on like this.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19She can't keep going like this.
0:46:21 > 0:46:25It's all right, Kelly. Come on, darling. Come on.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27Careful. Careful. Wait. On your feet.
0:46:27 > 0:46:31- Where were you trying to get, sweetheart?- I don't know.
0:46:31 > 0:46:32You don't know?
0:46:32 > 0:46:35PHONE RINGS
0:46:35 > 0:46:39Hi, Fran? We've just found her on the floor, delirious.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42She didn't know where she was going.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44Do things like this happen a lot?
0:46:44 > 0:46:48No. I've never had this before in one of my women.
0:46:52 > 0:46:54Claire's worried that Kelly is in no fit state
0:46:54 > 0:46:56to be deciding on a termination.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58- INTERVIEWER:- Do you know what to do?
0:46:58 > 0:47:00Erm, no, not at the minute.
0:47:00 > 0:47:06The decision that she's thinking of making, that's a big, big decision.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09And what you don't want is, two months down the line,
0:47:09 > 0:47:12for her to think, "But what if I had tried that?"
0:47:15 > 0:47:17You know, it would be a different matter
0:47:17 > 0:47:21if she was 10 or 11 weeks pregnant but she's not, she's 22.
0:47:22 > 0:47:26'Hi, Angus, I'm sorry to bother you. Claire Mullen may have explained
0:47:26 > 0:47:28'about the situation with this girl, Kelly Fox...'
0:47:28 > 0:47:31If the team can get Kelly through the next two weeks,
0:47:31 > 0:47:34then at 24 weeks they could deliver the baby early
0:47:34 > 0:47:37and there's a small chance it would survive.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51- Is that nice?- Overnight, the doctors have taken a risk.
0:47:51 > 0:47:55They've given Kelly a high dose of the drug, in an injection.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59It's paid off and eased the itching.
0:47:59 > 0:48:02- She's finally got a few hours' sleep.- Hello.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05I'll see if we can give her that one-off injection again.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08It does make a bit of a difference, doesn't it?
0:48:08 > 0:48:10It worked. It must have worked for about three hours...
0:48:10 > 0:48:13She was asleep earlier, so I thought...
0:48:13 > 0:48:16I got here and she was crashed out.
0:48:16 > 0:48:19She looks a lot better, her face and eyes looked a bit sunken...
0:48:19 > 0:48:22Well, you know what difference it makes, don't you?
0:48:23 > 0:48:26I feel happier now that she's doing better.
0:48:26 > 0:48:29If she continues to have that injection
0:48:29 > 0:48:33and she's getting a few hours where it's better and she can sleep,
0:48:33 > 0:48:36I think she'll certainly get through the weekend.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46Holly's caesarean is in three days.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49This is her last visit to the clinic.
0:48:51 > 0:48:53Oh, it's nice and toasty warm!
0:48:54 > 0:48:57Something sticking out there, is it a little foot?
0:48:57 > 0:48:59- Erm, I think so, cos his head's sitting here.- Yeah.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01I can't... I still can't. I just...
0:49:01 > 0:49:03- Visualise?- No.
0:49:03 > 0:49:08Keep yourself busy the next few days and it's all go.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10See you Thursday.
0:49:10 > 0:49:11- Good luck.- Thank you.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13I'll be thinking of you.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16And you, Richard. I shall be thinking of you on Thursday.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19- Thank you.- I will.
0:49:21 > 0:49:23I can't believe that's going to be the last time...
0:49:23 > 0:49:26- That we see her here.- ..that we see her in the antenatal clinic.
0:49:26 > 0:49:28- She looks so much better than she did.- Oh, so much better today!
0:49:31 > 0:49:33Hopefully it will all come together.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35- I'm excited.- I'm so excited!
0:49:35 > 0:49:39- Wonder what it's going to look like?- I don't know.
0:49:43 > 0:49:47Hi, Mike, it's Claire. Hmm...
0:49:47 > 0:49:51well, we're looking very yellow today, bless her.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53Yeah, after everything.
0:49:53 > 0:49:58Two weeks later, the new drugs have continued to help Kelly.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00She's made it to 24 weeks.
0:50:00 > 0:50:04From here on, her baby would have a chance of survival
0:50:04 > 0:50:06if it had to be delivered.
0:50:06 > 0:50:07So two hours today, Kelly, OK?
0:50:07 > 0:50:10But the pregnancy has come at a huge cost.
0:50:10 > 0:50:14Kelly's kidney is no longer working.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18She's had to go on dialysis.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20She's spending two hours a day, five days a week,
0:50:20 > 0:50:24on a machine which replaces her kidney, cleaning her blood.
0:50:26 > 0:50:30I'm just worried as to how she'll cope with the dialysis,
0:50:30 > 0:50:33cos she's been through it before, she knows what it entails.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35And it was something she really didn't want.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39We was warned that it could happen,
0:50:39 > 0:50:45along with another big list of different things that could happen.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49Just didn't think it would.
0:50:50 > 0:50:53INTERVIEWER: Do you feel like this is for ever now, then?
0:50:53 > 0:50:57Part of me keeps thinking,
0:50:57 > 0:51:00"No, everything will be all right."
0:51:00 > 0:51:03But then the reality kicks in
0:51:03 > 0:51:05and I just think, "Probably."
0:51:05 > 0:51:08Her kidney could have lasted 15 years
0:51:08 > 0:51:11but the pregnancy has cut its life short.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14The likelihood is, whether it be 12 months
0:51:14 > 0:51:17or a good few years down the line,
0:51:17 > 0:51:20she may need another transplant
0:51:20 > 0:51:23and she will get to a point where she'll be on daily dialysis
0:51:23 > 0:51:26until another transplant is needed.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44Big day. Holly. Baby.
0:51:44 > 0:51:46Come on, I can't wait!
0:51:48 > 0:51:51- Hello!- Hello.
0:51:51 > 0:51:55I've run round in my coffee break, to see where you're up to.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.
0:52:00 > 0:52:02I'm terrified. Terrified, terrified.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04- Did you sleep last night?- No.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Everything's gone very surreal this morning.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09- Well, you're here.- Yes.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13- All right, I shall see you in a bit.- See you in a bit.
0:52:24 > 0:52:28Holly and Richard have been trying for a baby for four years.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30This is her sixth pregnancy.
0:52:33 > 0:52:34'Theatre to midwife.'
0:52:35 > 0:52:39'It's just if you could attend the section in theatre.
0:52:39 > 0:52:43'We're not quite knife-to-skin yet but the spinal anaesthetic is in.'
0:53:02 > 0:53:04There we go.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10What he should be. Monty.
0:53:12 > 0:53:14Look at you!
0:53:14 > 0:53:15Oh, he's gorgeous.
0:53:15 > 0:53:16Isn't he lovely?
0:53:16 > 0:53:20Congratulations, Holly. I'll just go and give him a quick dry off, OK?
0:53:20 > 0:53:22Then I'll bring him back to you.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25BABY CRIES
0:53:28 > 0:53:31Why are you crying? It's your birthday.
0:53:33 > 0:53:37HOLLY CRIES
0:53:37 > 0:53:39Oh, my God, he's lovely.
0:53:43 > 0:53:48I think we need to take bets on how quickly Miranda and Liz will arrive.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51Hello.
0:53:54 > 0:53:55BOTH: Look at him!
0:53:57 > 0:53:59- Isn't he just gorgeous? - He's beautiful.
0:53:59 > 0:54:04- Oh, Holly, he's beautiful. Look at his blond hair!- I know!
0:54:04 > 0:54:06He's like a little angel.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09- And how much does he weigh? He looks quite a big boy.- Eight/four.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11BOTH: Oooh.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14I can't believe it. How are you?
0:54:14 > 0:54:20I'm OK, yes. I'm just... Oh, it's just so fantastic.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23This is our reward. It is. It is.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26I just wanted you to know, I just...
0:54:26 > 0:54:30Honestly, I don't know how I would have got through it without you.
0:54:30 > 0:54:35- I really, really appreciate... - I'm glad we could be there for you.
0:54:42 > 0:54:43Relieved.
0:54:43 > 0:54:45- Rewarded.- Yeah.
0:54:45 > 0:54:46An achievement.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52THEY LAUGH
0:54:54 > 0:54:57It's happy.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00- Happy tears, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:55:00 > 0:55:04Just so happy to see the baby.
0:55:12 > 0:55:14Baby's fine. Baby's heartbeat's fine.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17Kelly's doing wonderful, she's not uncomfortable.
0:55:17 > 0:55:21She has bled a little bit, but she's in labour so we're not too worried.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24Your baby will be delivered today at some point, I'm quite sure of that.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29Kelly has been in hospital for more than two months.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31Despite the dialysis and the drugs,
0:55:31 > 0:55:34her body can't cope with the pregnancy any longer.
0:55:36 > 0:55:40At 31 weeks and 6 days, her waters have broken.
0:55:40 > 0:55:45You OK? D'you feel like someone's washing up in your tummy?
0:55:45 > 0:55:47The baby's in a difficult position
0:55:47 > 0:55:51so the team have to give Kelly an emergency caesarean.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53The cord round the neck...
0:55:53 > 0:55:56They don't know what condition the baby will be in.
0:56:01 > 0:56:02Come on, you.
0:56:06 > 0:56:08Thank you.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10Come on, you, little one.
0:56:17 > 0:56:20They're just making sure she's OK.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23They're doing everything they'd normally do
0:56:23 > 0:56:25with a baby that's just short of 32 weeks
0:56:25 > 0:56:27but she appears to be perfect.
0:56:27 > 0:56:31That's all I can tell you at the moment, but she's beautiful.
0:56:31 > 0:56:33Well done. Aren't you clever? All right.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40Kelly's baby is two months premature
0:56:40 > 0:56:43so she will need to spend her first few weeks on the neonatal unit.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47But all the signs are good.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00She's done really, really well.
0:57:00 > 0:57:03I'm really pleased that we got her to 32 weeks.
0:57:03 > 0:57:08To know that she's delivered but she's OK and that baby's OK,
0:57:08 > 0:57:09it's a huge relief.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14- Hello.- Hello.- Oh, hello.
0:57:14 > 0:57:15Get you!
0:57:18 > 0:57:22From seeing her at 23 weeks, to seeing how stressed she was
0:57:22 > 0:57:25and how unwell she was and how she was feeling,
0:57:25 > 0:57:28it's just such a huge difference.
0:57:28 > 0:57:31She looks amazing, really good.
0:57:31 > 0:57:33Glad that I stuck it out.
0:57:37 > 0:57:43Hello, is that Rhoda? It's one of the midwives at Saint Mary's Hospital.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46Both the results are a little bit too high...
0:57:52 > 0:57:55If you're worried about something or you want
0:57:55 > 0:57:58to sound something out with somebody, we're quite happy for you
0:57:58 > 0:58:00to phone us here and we'll have a chat with you.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11Hello, come in.
0:58:13 > 0:58:16I can just relax again.
0:58:16 > 0:58:17Shhh.
0:58:47 > 0:58:51Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd