Programme Two
Inner-city Derby midwife, Nerissa looks after teenage mums – like 15 year-old pregnant Jade, whose 13 year-old and 17 year-old sisters already have babies of their own. Nerissa has looked after all three sisters as they contended with the joy and pain of childbirth. Now she’s helping the family prepare for their third baby, and showing the teenage sisters what good parenting means.

On the labour ward, older mum Sam, who’s already got three children, thinks that her fourth will be quick and uncomplicated. Sam has a history of fast labours and one of her labours lasted just an hour. But in childbirth previous experience doesn’t always help and fast births can be both traumatic and dangerous. During labour her baby’s heart-rate plummets and if it doesn’t come quickly, Sam will be rushed into the operating theatre.

Meanwhile midwife Muriel helps teenage mum Hayley who faces difficult times ahead, even after her baby is born. Hayley is 17 and pregnant and has nowhere to live once the baby is born. Her boyfriend hasn’t even told his parents that he’s about to become a dad. Hayley internalises all her pain, concentrating on getting the baby out. For Muriel, the midwifery is as much about social issues as about the baby.

Please note this is a change to the episode listed in some TV guides.

  < previous   next > Page 2 of 10

Content last updated: 16/05/2005

Comments