Life and Birth
The six-part series reveals what it really takes to deliver Britain's next generation, through the eyes of parents and staff at three of Birmingham's busiest maternity hospitals. With unprecedented access across two NHS trusts, from the antenatal clinics and nationally renowned Fetal Medicine Centres, to the delivery suites, emergency operating theatres and Birmingham Children's Hospital, the series gives an extraordinary and privileged insight into the places where cutting-edge medicine meets the miracle of birth every single day. "Life and Birth" goes beyond the stories of the labour ward and meets parents at every stage of their pregnancy, showing maternity care in a way that it has not been seen before. From intricate lifesaving surgical procedures on babies in the womb, to specialist care for women who have had multiple miscarriages, to births which go as planned, this programme captures the incredible work of NHS midwives, doctors and surgeons, who are dedicated to supporting families as they bring new life into the world. 33-year-old Channelle is expecting her first child. No longer in a relationship with her baby's father, she's left behind a jet setting career as a DJ and moved back in with her mum, Barbara. 'We're BFFFs…we've got so close…as soon as I found out I was pregnant, my mum moved into my bed. She's like my comfort blanket at the moment' remarks Channelle. However, when Channelle first told her mum she was pregnant, she didn't take the news well, 'I was thinking oh my god my mum is shaking. I've broken my mum!'. Barbara comments, 'I went home and I was so mad. What's people gonna say? Who's the father? I just wasn't happy about the whole situation. I had to kind of quickly readjust my thinking to think, this is a gift.' Channelle is determined to have an intervention free birth but with a larger than average baby now overdue, doctors have decided to induce her. Channelle jokes "the birth plan is to get through it alive!" Her mum Barbara is by her side through the fifteen-hour labour. 'Channelle likes kind of a soft environment so I've got little lanterns, candles, flicker candles, smellies, affirmation statements.' But doctors are called to assist the birth as it begins to look like an intervention free birth might not be possible. As baby Elari-Keziah is born, Channelle reflects that 'this really is the greatest gift I've ever been given, so I feel very blessed.' Childhood sweethearts 22-year-old Ashleigh and her partner Luke are expecting their second child together. Ashleigh comments, 'A lot of people do try to make out like pregnancy is full of rainbows and magic. And it's really not. It's not this big bubble of glitter and magic that everybody makes out. But you are over the moon when you are handed that baby at the end. That's the part that makes everything worth it.' Their first born, Roman Rae, struggled to breathe when he was born and spent time in neonatal intensive care after he went on to develop sepsis. Four hours after being induced, Ashleigh's labour begins and the couple hope that everything will go smoothly this time around. The couple want to "just do what every other parent does. Have the baby, get them checked and be able to settle in at home." But they experience a scare during the birth where it begins to look like history might repeat itself. Mother of two Jodie first discovered there were complications with her pregnancy at her 20-week scan. Doctors suspect her unborn baby has a heart condition but scans so far have been inconclusive. An appointment with Consultant Cardiologist Anna Seale, eventually confirms that the baby has a narrowing of the aortic arch, a condition that will require surgery. Jodie is told that it's imperative she carry her baby girl for as long as possible so that she's big enough to cope with surgery. 'To know that once she's born, when she's still really small, she's gonna have to have surgery, and quite major surgery, it's hard to see past it.' However, at just 32 weeks Jodie is rushed to hospital by husband Dave and gives birth prematurely. Jodie and Dave begin a bedside vigil as they anxiously wait to see if Phoebe will pull through. Dave comments, 'I just have an overwhelming sense of I've got to be strong, even though it's hurting me as well. I've got to be strong to keep her together.' Jenna has been on the antenatal ward for almost two weeks, 'I'm the only one in here that's trying to keep my baby in. Everyone else is trying to Date Created : 15-April-2020 09:27:08 SM : PAC FORM ID : 20504711 Page 2 Commissioned Series Title: Life and Birth Commissioned Episode Title: Life and Birth, 2 (2) Billed Series Title: Life and Birth Billed Episode Title: (2) SM UID: 20504711
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