Callum & Adam Don't Just Stand There... I'm Having Your Baby

Pain.

SHE SCREAMS

Labour.

Good girl.

A new-born baby.

BABY CRIES

The biggest day for any new mum.

But do the dads get a look-in?

One in three young men in the UK feel left out of the pregnancy

and sidelined at the birth.

The main part I've taken in this pregnancy is getting her pregnant

and that's about as far as it's gone so far.

But all that is about to change.

This whole pregnancy is happening to me as well, I'm not pregnant

but I'm in a sense going through it.

In this brand new series, first-time dads-to-be will get a crash course

to hopefully become the perfect birthing partners.

I haven't got a clue at the minute.

I don't think I'm prepared at all.

It's such an unknown to me. And that really scares me.

Taking on this unique challenge are midwives with years of experience.

So you tell me what you can feel.

We've not done anything like this before, working with the father.

It's going to be really different for us.

And with each other for moral support...

Thank God you're here.

..these men will get closer to the delivery action then

they could have ever imagined.

Mum, didn't I tell you not to be in here?

Did I say come in here?

I think it's time to see baby now.

But when push comes to shove...

Push, come on.

Keep going.

..will these dads deliver?

It's the hardest thing I've ever done, this.

This programme contains some strong language.

Tonight, two first-time dads need all the help they can get.

Childhood sweethearts 26-year-old Adam

and his wife, 25-year-old Lucy, are expecting their first child.

-We can't wait to be parents.

-Yeah, we can't wait.

We can't wait.

But there's a problem - gas engineer Adam doesn't have a clue

when it comes to babies and the birth.

HE LAUGHS

I don't know what to expect at all. What's this do?

Being in the delivery room, wouldn't have a clue.

All I know is that we're going to have a baby at the end of it.

And there's a real chance Adam could lose it

on the biggest day of their lives.

-What is going on here?!

-Don't break it.

What is it with these prams? Supposed to be easy, aren't they?

Adam can kind of be a bit of a flapper and...

-Stress-head.

-And stress-head. Yeah, a big stress-head.

I can't get this bar off.

I need to deal with it a lot better, I know.

Even Adam's family are desperately worried about how he'll cope

with the delivery.

It's going to absolutely traumatise him.

He's going to be like, on edge.

He'll be scared. I know.

He's an old hen, he is definitely going to flap.

With just five weeks till the birth, can this stressed out dad-to-be

learn enough from the midwives to keep his cool in the delivery room?

Come on!

I would say I'd like Adam to learn more so about the labour, really.

I think if he is learning about that then I think he'll be

so much more confident to be there

and to be that birthing partner that I think he really wants to be.

If it didn't work out, main of all, I'd be letting myself down,

it'll be, it'll be heart-breaking really.

120 miles away in Portsmouth,

another dad-to-be in desperate need of the midwives' attention.

I think the main part I've played in this pregnancy was getting

her pregnant, that's about as far as it's gone so far.

Just one week after moving in together, 19-year-olds Callum

and Laura found out they were expecting their first child.

We weren't trying for a baby at all.

-Just one of those, just happens.

-It was an accident.

But amateur footballer Callum is shooting blanks

when it comes to support.

We've done an antenatal class and all the other dads were proper like

ohh, let's do this, I'm involved and I was sat there just like...

HE SNORES

Yeah, like falling asleep.

You know, I would like a bit more support there, really.

And with just over a month till the birth, even Callum's dad is worried.

Oh man, that is...

He's got to grow up, and he's got to grow up overnight and

take his responsibilities on the chin like a man.

And to make matters worse, Callum can't stand the sight of blood.

Would you watch your girlfriend give birth?

-I'd probably pass out.

-Would you?

-Yeah, I don't do well with blood.

I actually thought it was just me.

I'm just worried that the labour will be quite

mucky down the business end.

-No, it's upside down, Cal.

-Oh.

But Callum desperately wants to be at the birth,

though if he doesn't overcome his fears in time,

he might not even make it into the delivery room.

The reason I want to do the midwife sessions is to get over

the issue of being a bit squeamish with the blood.

I honestly think Laura thinks that I'm going to wimp out

and probably faint on the floor but on the day I'll prove her wrong.

So one squeamish dad...

They're stuck together.

.and one clueless and stressed out...

-You can do it, oh there you go.

-Moved then, didn't she?

-Yeah.

..have signed up to the biggest challenge of their lives.

See you later.

In just five weeks, experienced midwifes will attempt to

transform these fathers-to-be

from boys into super-dads in the delivery room.

The clock is already ticking.

-It says here...

-Yeah.

"The delivery of our new daughter was miraculous to watch but seeing

"her emerge from my wife's vagina seems to have turned me off sex."

Yeah, exactly, that's what I'm worried about.

-I think that's well out of order.

-I can't help it.

Taking on this huge challenge are experienced midwives with

three years of training behind each of them and over 30 years

of experience between them all.

At Portsmouth hospital, Callum's team is led by Kate Finch,

who knows exactly how to fix dads in need.

Knowledge is power and the more knowledge they have, the more

skills they will have to become an integral part of the birth process.

Adam's team work at the North Middlesex Hospital

and are led by award-winning midwife Fiona Laird.

You're doing great.

I think the dads,

when they come into hospital with their wives in labour,

it can be a really scary place because they're not in control.

We're trying to arm them with knowledge to help them have a

good transition into fatherhood.

In Portsmouth, it's lesson one for Callum. Today is all about labour.

Callum's fear of blood makes failing to turn up

to his baby's birth a real possibility.

My issue with the birthing pool is I'm worried about seeing

blood and guts floating around in the pool.

OK, you don't tend to see guts, I'm glad to say.

I think maybe that's my fear really,

is actually seeing the baby like coming out.

I know it's natural but I dunno, I just don't really want to see it.

OK, Callum, if you want to come sit down

and then lie down on the bed then, please.

To help Callum overcome his fears, midwife Hayley has come up

with an urgent plan to help him confront them, head on.

How would you feel about if I showed you some photos,

different stages of the labour?

Possibly, I'll have a go. See how I get on. OK.

Some deliveries can be quite messy

and for someone that's not seen it before

then it can be quite scary for them.

So I'm hoping that by showing the photos today it might relieve

some of his anxieties regarding what he may see at the delivery.

OK.

Oh, fucking hell! I didn't want to see that, sorry.

-This is just the head coming out.

-Oh, that's horrid!

-Can you see, this is a baby.

-Oh yeah.

OK, but that is just a baby's head.

It's a head sticking out someone's arse! That's what it looks like.

-It's not because her bottom's up here.

-I know but...

-Shall we try another one?

-Er...do we have to?

Oh, go on...what, go on then.

Oh, my God! No, no, that's disgusting.

What is that? Eurgh!

It's natural.

I know it's natural but it's horrible.

How do you feel about those photos?

Oh, it's disturbed me now. I can't look at a woman properly.

We're going to have to work with this, aren't we?

Just give me and injection or something, I'll be fine.

I can totally understand how some of this really scares

and freaks you out, but the more positive you are,

it's going to be more beneficial to Laura.

We've got a lot of work to do to try and get

Callum more relaxed about the delivery itself.

It could be any time she goes into labour, and you know,

I think that time, it is up against us at the moment, to be honest.

Up to 14% of men aren't able to attend the birth of their child.

After today, the midwives are no more confident about Callum's chances,

and sadly, neither is he.

I saw the head coming out, the midwife showed me the pictures.

How did you feel?

Erm...it put me off a bit, to be honest.

It's a bit like, weird, I may have to leave the room.

-You might have to leave the room?

-Yeah.

Don't, don't...that's not funny, I don't want...I need you to be there.

Take it seriously.

But if I see a head coming out your arse, I might be a bit...

It's not going to come out my arse! It'll be fine.

But if I see a head coming out of that region.

It's not very nice for you to say, "I'll just leave the room,"

because you can't cope with it.

I'm the one that's going to be the most uncomfortable.

I don't like the blood and the muckiness.

Well, it's not going to come out all erm, spring chicken, is it?

No, exactly. See, I don't mind helping you,

I just would rather not see it, do you know what I mean?

-You're being a complete arsehole.

-Why?

Because of the way that you're acting, it's really frustrating.

I'm going to be there for you.

I've told you how I feel, so what's the issue?

I hope you can sort it out for the labour.

It upsets me more than anything that he can't understand where I'm

coming from, but I'd still like some sympathy from him.

With Callum heading backwards, Adam is only just getting started

and midwife Fiona's got a monumental job on her hands.

-Hiya, I'm Adam.

-Hi, nice to meet you. Congratulations.

-Thank you very much.

-I'm Fiona, take a seat.

So if I was to ask Lucy what she would be worried about

with you in a labour room, what would she say?

-I kind of flap about, I get very stressed quite easily.

-OK.

And when I get stressed, everything just goes out the window.

And I don't know whether I'm coming or going, really.

Hopefully, if we give you the knowledge to make you feel like

you know what you're going to do, you won't get that flapping.

Fiona's strategy is, the more Adam knows, the less he'll panic.

Most men feel their partners are given more

information during the pregnancy.

The question is, just how much does Adam really know?

I wrote down a few questions, in my pocket,

-just to kind of see how much you know.

-Right.

Now, no pressure. So, how many stages of labour are there?

Two?

OK, that's...not so good. What is a cervix?

HE LAUGHS

It's...what is it again? I have heard of it.

It's something to do with downstairs.

OK. What stage should a woman come into hospital?

How often should her contractions be?

I don't know.

Before long, it's clear to Fiona Adam has no idea about anything.

Do you know what a baby is?

-Yes.

-Excellent.

OK, maybe one thing.

I think Adam's level of knowledge is erm...very limited.

I think if Adam went into a delivery room now,

he would be really scared, he would, he would flap,

and get very anxious, and that's not what we want.

With just over a month till delivery,

Adam's wife Lucy is under no illusions about the task ahead.

So she's also pitching in.

I've even got an app on here that's a contraction counter,

-Ad, I was meant to tell you.

-Really?

It kind of logs them all, so rather than you having to

write down or something, you know what I mean?

-So it's quite good, I thought.

-Idiot proof.

-Yeah.

-For me.

-This is for the man.

I definitely do want Adam to learn as much as he can, just

cos there is so much that goes into it. So I think him then gaining the

knowledge that he is now from his classes I think will really help him.

Four weeks to go till their babies arrive and Callum

and Adam have had their first lessons.

Now, the midwives feel the first-time dads-to-be

are ready for a crash course in responsibility.

I would like you to meet Adam Junior. Here he is.

Will stress-head Adam be able to cope with

the pressure of caring for a newborn robo-baby?

The surprise is, that on Sunday morning,

this baby is going to become a live baby.

And he's going to cry, and he's going to scream, and you,

for 24 hours, are going to be the sole carer of this baby.

I didn't see this one coming, but yeah.

With Adam Junior comes all the tools you'll need.

Adam's worried about staying calm under pressure,

so having a newborn baby is actually really stressful.

This robo-baby will be a test of that.

And in Portsmouth, with his very own robo-baby to care for,

can 19-year-old Callum prove he's ready for fatherhood?

-Hey, babe.

-What, what have you got?

A baby.

Now support his head, support his head.

I know how to hold a baby.

Basically, this is like, this is meant to be a breast.

Isn't this your homework? Why are you giving it to me?

I'm just showing you, this is what you have to do.

When the real baby comes, most of that will be down to me.

Breastfeeding and taking care of it and all that stuff, but for now

I'm going to sit back, put my feet up

and watch him deal with the fake one.

But Callum's got other ideas.

Basically, this baby on Sunday, I'm working all day

so you're going to have to have the baby.

But this is your homework

and it's for you to learn about the baby, not for me.

I know I've got to learn about it but if I'm not here...

The first day it gets turned on is Sunday and you're

expecting me to do it.

Can you look after the baby for me in the morning?

Then I'll look after it for the rest of the day.

-OK, just for the morning.

-Just for the morning.

That's the only time I'm helping you out, just the morning.

-That's all right, OK.

-And then the rest is down to you.

OK, that's fine.

24 hours of fatherhood is about to begin.

Adam's robo-baby is about to come alive.

Bottle.

Nappy, muslin.

I can't just pass the baby over to anyone.

It's totally, the whole of today the baby's my responsibility.

I'm not really good under pressure

so er...hopefully I don't get under pressure.

BABY CRIES

Here we go.

For the next 24 hours, new dad Adam has to look after baby

all by himself.

And he's got it all to do.

This baby won't stop crying until he works out if it needs feeding,

changing, or burping.

The burping didn't seem to be working

so I've tried to fed the baby, which isn't working either.

At the moment, I have no idea what to do and how to do it.

Callum's robo-baby has also come to life.

-See you, Laura.

-Bye.

But with Callum off to work,

a heavily pregnant Laura is left holding the baby.

BABY CRIES

I don't know what to do. I don't like dollies,

they really freak me out, and this one's making noises.

As part of their crash course, the midwives want the dads to meet up.

So today Adam is travelling to Portsmouth to see Callum.

But there's just the small matter of a car seat.

I've literally not got a clue of how to put this on.

That's definitely not it.

I'm getting a bit stressed at the moment.

Not a Scooby Doo.

I can't do this. Very, very stressed.

Very stressed at the moment.

HE SIGHS

After all that, Adam may need a shoulder to cry on.

Good job he's visiting Mr Sympathy himself.

Little does Adam know that

so far Callum is yet to take over the care of his baby.

I hope the other dad's having a more stressful time cos this

is constantly crying, the baby, or wanting something.

It's a good insight though.

I hope he's getting a lot out of it, as much as I am.

-How you doing, all right?

-Yeah, not bad.

-How you finding this thing?

-Yeah, interesting.

-My girlfriend's only just given it to me so...

-Oh.

I haven't actually had any contact with it all day.

Oh, really? Interesting. You will do, that's for sure.

-Has it been crying and stuff?

-Yeah.

Has it done it a lot or...?

Yeah, earlier, I couldn't stop it crying.

It just constantly cried and cried and cried.

I started getting stressed out this morning.

I think I'd say I'm the opposite to that,

I don't think I'd be, have a problem with it at all.

Yeah?

Yeah, I'd just, well..I say that now

but when it actually comes to it I'll probably be like,

screaming my head off.

He seems to think it's a doddle.

And it's not a doddle at all and he's going to have a shock

when he's got to look after the baby later on

and you realise how hard it is.

BABY CRIES

And sure enough, it's not quite as easy, as Callum thought.

I didn't think it would go on for this long.

Bouncing the baby, bouncing the baby.

Whereas Adam's taking it all in his stride.

That's it - you're a natural, Ads.

I'll keep going until there's a different noise.

-Happy sound?

-It's a happy sound.

I think he's done quite well, actually. I'm impressed.

From what I've seen, he's changed the nappy, undressed the baby

so I think it's really good homework.

But there's a long night ahead.

Laura and baby are fast asleep.

Good night, baby, hope you don't make a sound tonight.

No doubt it probably will.

And after a 14-hour shift at work, all Callum wants to do is join them.

BABY CRIES

After just 20 minutes, Callum gets his first wakeup call.

Just shut my eyes and get kicked out of bed cos the baby's started.

As does Adam.

BABY CRIES

Here we go. It's 12.00 now.

HE GROANS

Knackered.com.

There will be no rest for these two dads-to-be.

This baby, it's just ridiculous.

Even the hamster's pissed off, he's woken up.

BABY CRIES

Might actually have to get a screwdriver in a minute

and sort something out because this is pissing me off.

By 4.00 in the morning, Callum has been woken up by his baby

almost every half an hour.

And with the 24-hour challenge almost up,

thanks to the midwives, Callum is starting to see things differently.

It's definitely not a walk in the park.

A baby's not as easy as I thought it would be.

Adam may have exceeded expectations caring for his baby...

Hello.

But with time running out,

Fiona's worried about how little he knows about the birth.

Lesson two for Tottenham fan Adam is...labour. With a kick.

I'm so rubbish.

I'm better at delivering babies.

I'm hoping that by relating midwifery to football

it will stick in his memory to make him feel more confident

and less stressed and he will be a much better birthing partner.

So what do you think is the most important thing

about being a football fan?

Well, my main one's just loyalty.

So that means if they're winning, losing, no matter what happens...

-Always support them.

-Always support them.

So what do you think you're going to be in the labour room?

Always supporting Lucy.

Number one fan, you've got it absolutely right.

If you remember how you would feel at different times in football

matches, especially important ones.

-Spurs V Arsenal, yeah.

-Yeah, Spurs V Arsenal.

That's how you're going to feel in the delivery room. OK.

But you've got to try and remember to stay calm and focus.

-Would you say that's the same in football?

-Yeah.

-For the players?

-For the players, they have to be focussed, yeah.

WHISTLE BLOWS

And just like football, the right position is key for the best result.

I'd like you to sit on this birthing ball,

and I want you to kick it into goal.

THEY LAUGH

Right, now kick it.

Having a baby lying flat on your back is not, it's not easy.

OK. Because you wouldn't push that way.

It's really, really, really much better to be upright,

because the baby is coming out like this.

It's given me a big insight.

The main thing I've learnt is obviously supporting my wife

Lucy during labour, and helping her out as much as I can.

I see a difference now in Adam already

but there's still a chance that he could get stressed if he

doesn't think about what he's learnt and take it in and remember it.

There's not much time till Callum and Adam have to prove themselves

at the births of their own real babies,

and so the midwives decide step it up a gear.

What do you think they're for?

-Cutting her open? If you need to stretch her a little bit.

-No.

Erm, I don't really know.

This is a bit more home from home room

so you can actually stay over with her.

Oh wow, it's like a bedroom.

-That's it. Oh, that's good.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

While confident Adam considers making Lucy's birth

experience a little more interesting.

Floating in this is just really lovely.

-Heaven, maybe.

-Heaven.

SQUEALS

Every week with the midwife I'm actually,

I'm actually learning different stuff so it's good.

I see a difference. I mean, he's not an expert by any means

but I think he's starting to feel, do you know what, I can do this.

Oh, now I'm scared.

Callum makes a brave attempt to dive right in at the business end.

You all right there, Laura? ROBOT SCREAMS

Oh, yes, she's pushing well, good girl.

-I can see the head starting to come.

-Eurgh! I don't want to see that!

You don't want to see that?

It definitely helped me, I'm pleased I've seen that now,

cos that gives me more of an idea.

But I don't like blood, it's just a preference of mine

and I don't really think seeing it on a sheet with a baby coming

out of it's going to make me like it any more.

Hopefully for Laura's sake he will be appropriately supportive.

Yeah, hope so.

Yeah, I'm sure he will.

Callum is desperate to make it to the birth,

even though it looks like he'll never get

over his fear of the red stuff.

In a last-ditch attempt to man up,

Callum turns to a man whose seen it all before,

his dad, and father to five.

Were you in the delivery room like, or when we were born?

Yes, I saw you being born.

How was it, having to look at it when it comes out?

Cos obviously, for me, it's a bit worrying, seeing it all come out.

How did you find that?

It's a beautiful experience, especially

when the baby gets cleaned up and they bring him back,

put her in your arms, make sure everything's OK, Laura's OK.

What about the blood and everything, did you see all that?

Yeah, you see everything.

Did it put you off going there again, having seen it?

No, not at all. As the sex had dried up for a few weeks beforehand,

I felt like giving her one there and then.

I mean, it had been a few weeks since we'd had sex

because the baby was getting closer and closer.

So obviously, when she's laid down, just as it's starting to happen,

I just got a bit horny.

HE LAUGHS

What, are you really worried about...?

I'm worried about...

I'm worried about seeing her, with the baby coming out,

like half way out and thinking that's disgusting.

No, it would never, it would never put you off.

That's what I'm worried about.

You read stories, don't you, so I'm worried about that.

Everybody's different.

Callum's heard lots of these stories.

He plays a lot of football and there's a plenty of banter.

I think that's just got the better of him

and made him worry a little bit.

Having a chat with my dad's definitely helped me.

I was actually surprised that he was there for all of them

and that he enjoyed them cos I thought he was a bit like me.

A bit like - eurgh, I don't want to see that.

But knowing that he can do it, I feel like I can do it now.

Finally, there are signs that Callum will try

and hold it together in the delivery room.

The question is,

will he be able to focus on supporting Laura through her labour?

Hey, babe.

With his baby due any day now, the midwives need him to prove it.

I hope Callum demonstrates that he's taking things seriously now.

That he's learnt some of the skills that I've managed to teach him

and that's he's able to support her in an appropriate way at the

appropriate time, especially while she's at home in those early stages.

-Hello.

-Hi, Callum. How are you?

-How are you? Come in.

-Thank you very much.

Laura, what we were hoping you would be able to do is

to pretend that you are having contractions and we'll

see what Callum can do to relieve that discomfort for you.

She's going into labour,

it's exciting and scary and you're here to help support her.

There's nothing wrong with doing some nice, big sweeping massages.

-Yeah.

-So have a go.

Sweeeeeping.

You're digging your thumbs in too hard.

This is how they massage people in real life.

How's that?

No, that is just really uncomfortable.

-OK. That's awful!

-What about that?

Yeah, but don't...don't poke your thumbs in too much.

How's that?

Yeah, that's OK.

Do you feel that this is going to help you at all?

Or do you feel it's more annoying

because he's not quite getting it right?

Yeah, I do actually, now you've said it.

More annoying cos he's not getting it right?

Maybe use the whole of your hand.

I can't because of the way you're lying. Can you turn around?

No, she can't.

I'd turn around and slap you if you asked me to do that.

And I feel really wet.

I think something's happened down below.

-There you go.

-My waters have broken.

-There you go.

Are you concerned her waters have broken? You don't seem bothered.

-Does it matter?

-Um, yeah, sort of.

-Should we go to hospital now?

You haven't shown me anything that you can do yet that helps Laura

when she's going through her contractions or anything.

And this could all happen at 3.00 in the morning, Callum,

when you will be tired.

It'll be different on the day though.

I know, I know what you mean but we do need to practice.

Today has left midwife Kate with big concerns.

Callum may not realise Laura could go into labour at any stage now.

And she's going to want him to be the supportive partner,

helping her, suggesting things,

guiding her through her early stages of labour.

And I'm not too sure he's given me enough evidence that he's

going to be the man to do the job at the time.

I think Callum needs to get a bit of a reality check.

This is going to be happening very soon.

And things are happening sooner than expected over at Waltham Forest.

On her way in to a midwife routine check,

Adam's wife Lucy thinks her waters may have broken.

And she's calling her stress-head husband to let him know.

Right before I come out, I just had a erm...

I dunno, like a bit of a pop before I come out.

And sort of a bit of water or something coming out of me,

and I've kind of been leaking a little bit while I've been driving.

Well, while I'm in the car sort of going to the hospital to see

the midwife. Yeah, so obviously I'm in the best place.

I'm going to speak to the midwife and see what she thinks.

Can you step up on here, sweetheart.

Is that too high for you?

If Lucy's waters have broken,

she'll be giving birth in less than 48 hours.

All lovely, nice lovely head down there so...bottom.

-Cool.

-Back.

-Yeah.

-Head.

-Good girl.

And the head's quite down, ready for take off.

-Oh, my God!

-OK. So I'm going to...

-So she's engaged, is that?

-Yes.

-She is, yeah? Wow.

Yes, it sounds like you might have broken your waters. It's exciting.

-That's mad.

-That's great.

She said that basically it sounds like my waters have broken

and that the head is engaged.

So very much so that I could be going into labour, basically.

At the moment, I'm texting Adam what to bring,

and then I've put after, "Because I think I'm going into labour."

SHE LAUGHS

So yeah, that's a nice way to put it for him, isn't it?

He'll probably have heart failure while he's driving.

The news that his wife is in labour comes as a shock to Adam,

but he needs to stay calm to be able to offer Lucy the support she needs.

After five weeks with the midwives, Adam's run the course,

got the know-how, but can he stay calm when it counts

in the delivery room?

Didn't know it was going to happen now.

Excited and stressed at the moment.

-You all right, babe?

-Hello.

-Hiya.

-How are you?

-I'm all right, I'm here, there, and everywhere at the moment.

-Good.

-That come out the blue, didn't it?

-Don't, tell me about it

Bloody hell. I've been like Lewis Hamilton.

Can't say that on camera!

Don't go mad, you know you're not allowed to go mad.

THEY LAUGH

It's really exciting.

It is, it is exciting. What happens now is contractions, yeah?

-Chill. Big breaths.

-Yeah.

What you've got to do is keep calm,

cos I can hear you getting like ahh ahh.

I've gone through a pack of fags already.

I haven't got any more left.

While Adam's life is about to change for ever, in Portsmouth,

so is Callum's.

I think I've just had another one.

While visiting Gran,

Laura thinks she may be having her first contractions.

Do you feel as if somebody's doing that to you?

-It feels like there's pressure.

-You look a little bit pained.

I just don't know what to think.

Don't panic, don't, just don't panic.

It's happening again.

It's happening again? OK. So that's one, two, three...

Seven contractions since 12.00.

I personally think this is the beginning of something fantastic.

'Hello?'

Hi.

'You all right?'

Yeah, we need to just let you know I've been having a few like,

funny feelings and they're all about like seven minutes apart.

'Seven minutes apart?'

Erm, well near enough, about that.

-'That's miles.'

-Is it?

'Yeah, you've got nothing to worry about.'

Why, is it too far?

'It's fine, it's miles apart. How long are they lasting for?'

Oh, I dunno. About 30 seconds.

'30 seconds every seven minutes.'

About.

'That's ages but I'll be there in a minute anyway.

'I'm still in the office, I'll be leaving in a minute.'

What, are you coming to Nan's?

'Yeah.' OK.

-'Bye, babe.'

-Bye.

He seems to think it's all OK.

He kind of knows a lot more than I do anyway at this stage.

So after weeks of learning, Callum's called in to action

and his birthing partner skills are about to be put to the test.

Hey, how you feeling? I got you some chocolate.

How's your contractions?

-Not very nice.

-No?

-Look, here it is.

Is it actually started? Oh, these are the timings of them.

Yeah, that's the timings.

Have you wrote how long they were for?

How long they lasted?

Er, not really because they were momentary.

We need to time them.

-You've got one now. Look, she's...

-Are you having a contraction?

I think so.

OK, let me get the timer sorted.

What, it's like half way through it now, it's a bit late.

Is that a contraction? Is it that bad?

It's right uncomfortable.

Maybe the baby's ready to come. Has your waters broke or anything?

-No.

-Have you had the show?

-No.

-No.

-That's weird, isn't it?

-I think I'm having another one.

Oh, quick, time it.

You're too slow.

One, two, three, four. There you go, we'll go four from there.

How is it?

Really uncomfortable, I want to rip my cloths and just...

Yes, so it's getting a bit urgent.

Right, I think it's stopped now.

-You know what the answer to that is.

-That was about a minute.

Right, I don't think you're going to come any time soon.

I would like to get you home into a comfortable environment.

Maybe run you a bath, give you a couple of paracetamol

-if it gets worse and just basically chill out for a bit.

-OK.

But Callum's not as prepared as he'd like to be.

Oh shit, I need to put some oil in my car quick.

-Oh, for fuck's sake!

-Sorry. So give me a minute, all right.

What?! OK. I think I'm having another one.

-You're having a contraction?

-Yeah.

-Count.

Ohh! You're really taking your time.

Ah, can't get the fucking cap off!

I bet I could get it off.

Shit, I need water as well.

Even though Lucy is in only the early stages of labour,

the midwives have decided to keep her at the hospital

because of a history of fast labours in her family.

Do you want to lean over this chair? Here you are.

Lean on this chair. Lean over the top.

With the contractions coming thick and fast,

Adam must remember everything he's learnt.

I've got to be the calm one, I've got to be the one that's focussed.

I've got to try and keep it for the both of us.

If I'm going mad then she's going to get stressed and we don't want that.

I'm going to give it a good go, that's for sure.

If not for me, for my wife and my unborn child.

If Adam is ever going to lose it, it might just be now.

His mother, his mother-in-law and his sister have arrived.

And they're staying for the duration.

When he phoned me earlier he was really..erm...frantic.

Now he's got his head together and, you know, they're working together.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Lovely.

Keep your legs apart.

Yeah, blood pressure's fine, it's 128 over 77, which is normal.

But the pulse rate is 100, which is a little bit high.

But that's just because she's just come off her contraction.

What Lucy wants to do is, she wants to try,

go as long as possible and then have the gas and air

when she needs it and then she can still use the bath.

OK. He's brilliant.

I think Adam should train as a midwife.

I think he's doing really good though, train for a midwife.

Do you want me to do some rubbing or anything?

We've tested your rubbing skills.

It's awesome, look, I'll put it into practice, come on.

Callum's eventually got Laura home and it looks like his sessions

with the midwives may have actually paid off.

-How's that?

-That's actually all right.

See, I told you. On the day, I'll get in good positions.

But why couldn't you do it nicely the other day?

-How's that?

-That's fine, thanks.

-Do you need me to stop?

-Yeah, that's OK.

-All right, let me know when you get another one.

-Thank you.

In a really weird mood.

He's in, like, a happy good mood.

I'm feeling quite relaxed. I'm just going to run her a bath,

light some candles and just basically make sure she's all right.

This is probably the best he's been throughout the whole nine months.

These contractions are eight minutes apart.

I reckon I'm just actually about to have another one,

literally right now.

Do you want me to hold your glass?

Yep, right now.

Obviously, little things are stressing me out.

Obviously, it's quite a stressful time for her

and obviously I don't know what she's going through.

I'm just like, trying to be as supportive as I can for her.

By evening, Laura's contractions aren't getting any stronger

or longer, so Callum decides they should get some rest.

I imagine tonight will be like when we had the old electronic baby

cos Laura will probably be keeping me up all night

and basically the first night of the rest of my life.

I'm going to try and see if I can get comfortable in bed

and just maybe even see if I can sleep.

And just see how things go from there, really.

Are we almost close enough to do something yet?

You've got ages yet. Have the baby or go to sleep.

You're irritating me.

You're irritating me. Stop being an arsehole.

I'm not being an arsehole, I...

You just told me to either have the baby or go to sleep.

I can't just decide what to do.

You told me to wake you up when stuff happened.

-Yeah, but not...

-And then you get all arsey about it.

-Don't wake me up unnecessarily.

-I didn't wake you up unnecessarily.

Callum has been taught how to recognise when Laura is ready

to go to hospital, and using his new knowledge,

he wants the labour to progress a little further.

I'm going to go and have a look.

Yeah, go check to see if your waters have broken.

Maybe that's what that was.

Yeah, I think so.

It's brown and gooey and wet.

OK, shall I ring the midwife now your waters have broke?

OK.

You're contractions have,

you haven't had a contraction in ages though, have you?

You all right?

SHE SOBS

We'll get you down the hospital soon, all right.

Erm...yeah, basically, Laura's waters have broke.

Let me just ask her.

Did your waters go with a gush or a bit of a trickle?

Erm, something popped and then it was just really wet.

Something popped and it was just really wet.

You coping all right?

Yeah, she's coping all right at the moment.

It's 1.00 in the morning and Laura's very distressed.

She's in a bit of pain.

I think she's realising it's actually going to happen now.

It's quite weird, innit?

You all right, babe?

You all right? No?

All right, just relax, breathe, remember what we talked about.

Breathe. Relax.

Breathe. Relax. SHE MOANS

That's it, keep going.

Just breathing, breathing, remember what we talked about, breathing.

You all right? Keep breathing.

I didn't think it would happen today,

I thought they'd have to induce me.

It's really weird.

So Nan was right when she thought it was something then.

It's been eight hours since Lucy's waters broke

but she's still in early labour.

After his lessons with midwife Fiona, Adam knows

he must keep Lucy moving.

Being upright can be more painful

but it can also speed up labour by 50%.

SHE MOANS

Before long, Lucy's labour is progressing quickly

and her contractions are coming longer...

SHE MOANS

..and stronger.

He's pushing on you or what?

Yeah, tell her to come in, she needs to come in.

Lucy has a sudden urge to push, so Adam calls the midwife.

She's trying to push.

LUCY MOANS

Last time Lucy was examined, five hours ago,

she was just 1.5 centimetres dilated.

Fully what?

What? 10 centimetres dilated?

About. She's about 9 centimetres.

Baby, well done, well done, really well done, give us a kiss.

10 centimetres dilated means baby is ready to be born.

10 centimetres dilated.

-She's not!

-Yeah, ten.

-She's ready to go?

Yeah, she's ready to push. She's been trying to push.

I need to, I need to ring, I need to...

Nik, come in, please. Only Nikki.

You all right, darling?

This is exactly when Adam needs to stay calm,

but with so many family members to manage, he's starting to lose it.

-I'm acting like a baby.

-Didn't I tell you not to be in here?

-Did I say come in here? I said only Nikki, didn't I?

-Shh!

That's what I said.

While Adam struggles to keep it together...

You all right? You having another one? Just keep breathing.

..Callum, Laura and her mum have arrived at hospital

in the early hours.

You're doing really good, keep going.

Hello, I've got a pregnant lady.

Over the last month, Callum has had to face his fear of blood

and learn to put Laura's needs before his own.

He's made it into the delivery room,

can he now put all his knowledge into practice?

-It hurts so much.

-I know.

I know it does, sweetheart, just try and breathe it away.

The couple want a water birth,

and it's on the cards, as long as there are no complications.

That's fine, just pop your ankles together

-and then just let your knees go really floppy.

-Hold my hand.

But after a routine examination,

the midwife finds a problem with Laura's waters.

I think your baby's had a poo in your tummy.

-Where it's that greeny, yellowy colour.

-Is that bad?

It's not really bad but it can be a sign that

baby's been distressed at some point.

It means we might have to take you to labour ward

-and have the baby continuously monitored.

-OK.

Laura's baby might not be coping with the demands of labour,

so Callum must help keep her calm,

whilst the delivery team monitor the baby's heart rate.

We want the heartbeat to be between 110 and 160.

As the baby's heart rate keeps dipping,

the doctor is called to perform another examination.

When you can, just roll over.

Better to get it done now rather than later.

-Don't force me.

-I know, but you need the doctor.

Just rejig your bum for me. That's it, well done.

I'm just going to gently examine you.

Just relax, you need to relax, my dear.

SHE MOANS

Well done, sweetheart. Breathe it away. Take big deep breaths.

Good news here, you are fully dilated, OK.

-Fully dilated, babe.

-Laura, you with me?

When you have a contraction, you've to give me a good push, yeah?

I think it's time to see baby now.

SHE SCREAMS

That's it, go on, go on, push with all your might.

Well done.

Good girl.

-Really give it some welly, show us this baby.

-Ow!

-You can do it.

-Push.

-Push.

-Right down into your bottom, keep it going, breathe.

Push through it, sweetheart. You can do it.

-You really can do it.

-Push, push, push. Don't bite me!

-Go on, go on. You're nearly there.

-Push, big push, come on now, Lucy.

-It's nearly there, come on.

-Don't be scared, darling.

Bloody hell, it's right there.

-She's not far, Luce.

-Quarter of an inch.

-Push.

-Keep it going, right down into your bottom.

-Don't fight it.

-Go on, you can do it

-Just push it!

SHE SCREAMS

SHE MOANS

Lucy's been pushing for the last hour and Adam is starting to panic.

Push! Come on!

Shhhh.

I can't do it any more. I can't push it any more.

She's exhausted and her labour has stalled.

You all right? Yeah?

After learning about the importance of birthing positions

in his midwife lessons, Adam knows exactly what will help get baby out.

Gravity.

Grab hold of me round my neck and my shoulders.

Just hold on to Adam, that's it.

Just put your arms round. Just put it over.

You've got enough oomph.

The extra pressure of the baby's head on the cervix stimulates

hormones that will kick-start the contractions.

That's it. Come on, that's it. That's it, go on.

SHE GROANS

Come on, big push, come on.

Adam knows he needs to keep Lucy upright

and mobile for any chance of a natural delivery.

I know you're tired, baby.

Once this baby's out, you can sleep as much as you want.

Come on, let's get some movement in you, come on.

That's it.

Go on, everything you've got, come on.

Come on, that's it, come on

Laura's also struggling to push her baby out naturally,

so the emergency delivery team take over.

The doctor came in and it looked like a surgery room

because six people came in and it was proper like, you think,

oh shit, something could go wrong here.

The baby's heart rate has dipped to dangerous levels,

and it needs to come out as quickly as possible.

Just because baby is having dips in the heartbeat,

I can't let you carry on pushing.

What I'm going to do is apply the cup on the baby's head,

and I'm going to pull.

During the contraction, you push, I pull,

together we deliver the baby, yeah?

A suction cup, called a ventouse,

is used to clamp on to the baby's head to help get the baby out,

which could mean lots of blood.

This is exactly what Callum fears the most.

OK, Laura, now I've applied the cup on the baby's head.

Now when you have a contraction, you're going to give me a good push.

Everything down, OK?

Give me big pushes as if you are doing a big poo, OK?

And baby's not very happy

so I don't want to carry this on for a long time, OK.

-OK.

-One coming in now?

-Yep.

-Right into your bottom, push again.

-Big push, keep pushing.

SHE SCREAMS

Keep it going.

Yes, you can, you can do it.

Laura, everything down, all your energy down, come on, push.

-That's it. That's it.

-Push down, right into your bottom.

-Push down, I need you to push down.

-Right into your bottom.

-That's it, well done.

-Well done, good girl.

-Oh, my God!

-Good girl.

-You're doing beautifully.

Keep it going, sweetheart. This is your baby's head.

-Well done.

-Keep going.

Keep it going, keep it going, you're doing brilliantly,

keep it going, keep it going.

Beautiful, beautiful. Well done, sweetheart.

That's your baby's head, sweetheart. Beautiful, well done.

-Well done, Laura.

-Well done.

Big, big, big push. Big, big, big push.

-Darling, look down.

-Well done.

Congratulations.

Oh, my God. It's a baby.

Well done, well done, now you're going to cry, aren't you?

After 19 hours of labour, Callum and Laura have a healthy baby girl.

And Callum has supported Laura to the very end.

SHE SCREAMS

And when push comes to shove,

Adam puts all his problems of old to one side.

One big push.

She's there, she's there. Oh, look at her!

Do you want to take baby, Adam? Take baby, take baby.

Oh, my God!

After 14 hours of labour, their daughter is born.

Look at your head. Look at your head.

-Hello, it's Daddy.

-You're a bit squashed.

-That's it.

-Hello.

-Let's just get her a nice, dry towel.

-Look at you.

-Do you want to cut the cord?

-So just in between there, darling.

-Is she sucking her thumb, Luce?

-That's it.

-She's sucking her thumb!

Lovely. Well done, well done, well done.

Hello, my darling.

Well done, darling.

I love you. Hello, beautiful.

I think Adam was completely fantastic and the way that they

were supporting each other was just wonderful and Adam was really calm.

Really calm.

That was the most amazing experience that I've ever

encountered in my life.

I think I've done exactly what I was supposed to do,

what my trainers taught me.

So I'm very happy with that. I didn't flap.

Oh, is she allowed a flash?

-No.

-Bless you, darling.

5lb 8.

-Nine.

-5lb 9?

-5lb 9.

-I was so close!

-5lb 9.

My heart just grew twice the size. It's amazing, absolutely amazing.

Just by that bit there, between my finger and the bit.

Yep, bit chewy. Well done.

-Definitely a girl?

-Yep, yep.

I think Callum did prove that dads have an important role

in deliveries and supporting their partners.

He was there for Laura and she needed him.

Oh, she's opening her eyes and she's got blue eyes, I think.

You're so cute. I love you.

I think I surprised myself as well, like, seeing the baby come out

because obviously it's something I never thought I'd do.

Yep, oh, she's disgraced herself! Look at the state of that.

-Oh, lovely!

-Oh, goodness me.

-She's been to the toilet already.

So much poo.

And even after the birth is over,

Callum continues to put his knowledge into practice.

As he is able to help Laura and his daughter Layla

with their first breastfeed.

Let her have a little play. Nipple to nose, remember.

Aw, she found it.

It's an unbelievable moment.

Until it actually happens to you, it's hard to describe

but when you get that moment, you'll just know.

It's the perfect moment.

Cal, I think she's got a smelly nappy.

Seriously, all you do is make me change nappies.

It's like all you do.

You've fed her and now you want me to change the nappy.

-I haven't fed her yet.

-What a joke.

-I would have done it.

It's two weeks after the birth of their daughter Layla,

and Callum and Laura are settling into a new life as parents.

If you don't wee when I'm changing you

then it wouldn't take so long, would it?

No. Shhhh.

Cal's much more, like, responsible.

I was thinking in my head, OK, once we've had the baby it's going

to be like a complete joke to him, which I found hard.

But now we've had the baby, he's like a completely different person.

It's just a big change. It's surprised me a lot.

I'm definitely over the fear of gore and blood, without a doubt.

It's natural.

You've just got to remember what it was for, like the baby coming out.

And that bit is special.

And now she's here, it just makes it all seem worthwhile.

Ready for our life to begin now.

Here you go, Daddy's little princess.

For Adam and Lucy,

the arrival of daughter Lexi has seen some welcome changes at home.

Here you go, wake up, wakey-wakey. Come on.

Here you go, darling.

Adam definitely can be as calm, cool,

collected as he wants to be.

Do you want to wipe under her chin, babe?

In the beginning,

there were a few things that Adam probably did get a little bit...

I suppose he felt a bit frustrated that he couldn't do it or he

felt he couldn't do it with Lexi but he's very confident with that now.

The other day he said to me,

"I'm quite, you know, I'm quite proud of myself, Luce."

Well done.

Obviously, at the birth, I was quite emotional but now it's just,

I'm in such deep love with our child.

It's...it's beautiful.

All done.

She could cry and cry and cry and I could still have a smile on my face.

I can relax and not get stressed when I'm doing stuff with Lexi.

Having a child is just the best feeling ever, ever.

Next time...

In their quest to be the perfect birthing partners,

will clueless boy band wannabe Ashley bottle the biggest

performance of his life?

It's the hardest thing I've ever done, this.

And can clumsy Don put his heavy hands to good use

when push comes to shove?

Keep on going, baby girl, keep on going, baby girl.

He's still going to need a little bit of a...a reality check.

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