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Why will the doctor see you now?
The intervention of medicine in births is a recent development. How and why has childbirth become a medical procedure?
Every mother dreams of a perfect birth, but the reality is often quite different. For mum Jane, a traumatic delivery 11 years ago has made her understandably apprehensive about her second birth. She is not the only one distressed, after being induced, there are problems with her baby’s heart rate and the baby needs to be pulled out with suction or delivered by emergency caesarean.
Meanwhile, pregnant teenager Becka goes to a “young mum’s group” to learn what to expect when she comes into hospital. It’s a particularly daunting time for Becka. Without a partner, her mother will be providing support, but otherwise, Becka is facing childbirth alone.
Midwife Liz looks after a couple who have struggled to get pregnant for four years and are now expecting their first child through IVF treatment. The labour proves to be a challenge as well. It takes much longer than the couple expect, and when mum Sarah calls for an epidural, midwife Liz cannot get hold of the anaesthetist…
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Content last updated: 16/05/2005
