Emma Willis: Delivering Babies (2018) s02e01 Episode Script

1
Last year TV presenter and mother
of three Emma Willis
spent ten weeks working on the
front line
of the Princess Alexandra
Hospital's maternity unit.
Well done!
It's something I always,
always wanted to do -
and thank you
for letting me live it.
Now Emma is returning to finish
her training
Really got hook with us,
haven't you?
Yeah! I love it. I love it.
..to become a fully qualified
maternity care assistant
that could work in any hospital
in the country.
I feel like there's so much
to learn.
She'll be more independent.
Aah! You're one of us! It's real!
Across high risk wards
..and in theatre
Hello!
Just got a bit broody for a second,
then.
..supporting a dedicated
team of midwives
That's it. That's really good.
Keep that going, keep that going.
Push it away.
Push it away.
Push, push, push, push, push.
That's the one, that's the one.
..Emma will share the pressures
..the fears
I'm scared!
..and the joys
You're going to have a baby.
Oh, I love you, little lady.
..of helping to bring new life
..into the world.
Oh, my God!
Oh! I'm gonna be a wreck
by the end of this.
It's my first day back.
Slightly terrified!
But I'm ironing my uniform -
so even if I mess up the rest
of the day, I will arrive correct.
After a nine month break,
television presenter Emma Willis
is returning to work
on the maternity unit
to finish her training.
I'm excited to go back
and see everyone,
but I'm nervous at what they're
gonna expect of me on day one.
I'm really hoping we'll all kind
of say hi again
and maybe we'll have a cup of tea
and a bit of cake.
Just a general catch-up.
That's what I'd like.
The reality probably is, I will get
there and my shift will start.
Emma will be working up to
40 hours a week
to become a fully qualified
maternity care assistant.
It had always been what I thought
I would do growing up.
So, to go and live out
that experience
..in my life, that I never
thought I would end up doing,
was, like, above and beyond.
PHONE RINGS
Hello, Labour Ward.
The maternity unit at the Princess
Alexandra Hospital in Essex
assists with the delivery
of over 4,000 babies a year
Happy birthday!
..at a time when there's
a shortage of midwives.
Baby, at the moment,
looks quite happy.
Emma will play a vital role
as she works as a
fully independent MCA.
How are you? I'm all right!
I know how to do it, but I'm rusty -
and it's not like I've had
years of practice.
I've had 12 weeks
Yeah? Look at this do! I know!
Beautiful. Thanks!
..with a nine-month gap
in the middle!
It feels like I've never
Never left? ..never left!
Oh, you're all here, still!
Hi, blondie!
I've thought I'd copy you!
How are you? I'm good!
So, this time I think the stakes
are just as high,
if not slightly higher account.
You've started! I can't wait.
Oh, good!
I'm a little bit nervous.
You'll be fine.
I don't have the excuse
of "I've never done this before,"
because I have.
I'll see you in a bit.
Before she starts her first shift,
Emma checks in with practice
development midwife Mandy.
Knock, knock!
Hello! Welcome back. Hi!
Thanks for having me back.
How are you? It's lovely
having you back. I'm great.
Are you all right? Yeah.
I was quite nervous on the way in
Uh-huh.
..but the minute I walked
through the door
I felt like I'd never left.
It doesn't take very long
to get back into it.
Do you know what I mean?
I know exactly what you mean.
This time you're doing things
for yourself a bit more.
Taking on that little bit of extra
responsibility. Less handholding.
You'll still have handholding
if you need it,
but I would say ask and ask and ask,
as many times as you need to.
Yeah. We'd rather you asked
a million times
than you didn't ask and
made a mistake. Yeah. OK?
Doing the baby checks and things
you'll be able to do on your own.
Observations you've got
to do on your own. Yeah!
It's starting to come back now? Yep.
Venipuncture you'll be able to do
on your own. Ooh!
You know what? I'm like,
"Obs is a walk in the park,"
but put a needle in my hand again
and I'm a bit like, "Argh!
"Can I remember? Do I still know?"
You'll remember. It will come back.
Right. I'm going to go
and get changed.
I'm ironed Gosh Mandy.
Not like your first day last time,
when you were a little bit crumply.
I wasn't about to let myself down
the minute I walked through
the door again. Absolutely not.
I can understand why Emma
would be nervous.
This next stage of her training
is a big step up for her.
By the end of her time here
she'll be fully qualified
and able to work
in any hospital in the country.
OK. All ready? Yes!
Uniform all sorted. Lovely.
All sorted. Yep.
Does your swipe card work?
Let's just check,
make sure it works.
BEEP
Yes! Yes, it does.
I'm officially allowed back.
So we'll go and get you
straight into it.
We'll go round to
the post-natal ward.
Straight into it! Straight into it.
Really? Yeah. Already? Yeah. OK. OK.
Let's go.
As Emma's had a break, she'll be
having a few refresher shifts -
but after that she'll be like
any other member of staff.
This is a working hospital,
and she'll have to play by the rules
like everybody else.
BABY CRIES
Listen to that sound of babies.
It's lovely, isn't it?
It's like my life has never
been any different!
It is just like coming home,
isn't it? It is!
Mandy has arranged for Emma to
assist with the newborn baby checks,
shadowing one of the hospital's
longest serving staff members,
Debbie.
Hello!
Hi!
How are you? I'm fine, thank you.
Good! Happy anniversary.
Thank you. 40 years in the hot seat!
Yes, absolutely. Yes.
We've got cake if you want to
help yourself. 40 years here,
looking after those little babies.
40 years today.
I have
I'm all embarrassed now!
Would you like to come with me and
weigh the twins? I would love to.
Right, let's see how much you've
remembered.
Oh, don't put me on the
spot like that!
It's like riding a bike.
I've come back and I feel
self-conscious and nervous
and I'm like I've got a lot
of learning to do again.
You check the head and you check the
eyes and you check the skin and
So it would be great now to spend
four months here
and at the end of it not have
any self-doubt in my brain
about whether I could do it.
Look at these two!
Alfie and Olly - and Tanya and Carl.
Tanya and Carl's twins were born
by Caesarean section
five weeks earlier.
How are you? I'm fine now.
Better than I was!
Getting back on your feet again?
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
And hopefully, fingers crossed,
going home today.
So, they've done extremely well.
In two days. They look pretty good
in size, as well. Yeah, yeah.
Right, let's crack on,
then, shall we? Yes.
Can you remember what to check?
So, you check the head to make sure
there's no usual lumps and bumps.
Mm-hm. Check their eyes to see
if they're yellow, for jaundice.
Inside their mouth, if you can.
Check they've got
ten fingers and ten toes.
Your mum and dad have done that!
Ooh! Now he's peeing!
Now he's peeing on the other one!
Oh, no!
Oh, dear.
Happy anniversary, Debbie!
Thank you! Happy anniversary!
Thank you very much.
You've just been christened!
In the beginning, last time,
I got quite broody,
and two weeks in,
that was kind of gone -
but now I see these
little babies again,
I'm like,
"Oh, look at the little cute feet!"
DOOR BUZZES
SHE MIMICS BUZZING
Well done. Congratulations.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
I'm feeling like I'm almost ready.
Good! Well done. Almost.
One of the roles of the maternity
care assistant
is to prepare the beds for new mums
on the antenatal ward.
This afternoon Emma
is helping fellow MCA Amy.
That was the thing that I found
the first time round,
was that on day one I wanted
to be like two weeks in.
Yeah.
So I felt like I knew something.
You knew where everything is.
It's like me, when I first started,
I felt nervous,
but after the
first week, I love it.
Yeah. Don't think I could do
anything else now.
I feel like this is the bit,
I'm like, Yeah."
I can't remember where anything is,
but I do remember how to flatten
a bed and wash it.
Once you start getting back
into it, you'll be fine.
Do you want to chuck that out
for me?!
As Emma's first day draws
to a close,
she bumps into an old friend.
Oi!
Oh, my God!
Midwife Naghmeh.
Look at you!
You look beautiful.
So do you!
But you're going home now? I know.
I'm just glad that I get
to come and play again.
Play! Work. Work and play.
You really got hooked with us,
haven't you? Yeah!
I love it. I love it.
It's a pleasure to have you back.
Yay!
Morning! You OK?
It's 7:30 in the morning
and Emma is starting another eight
hour shift
at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Hiya! You all right? You OK?
Today she's working on
the birthing unit
where 800 babies are born each year.
SHE GROANS
It's here that 26-year-old Josie
has chosen to have her second child,
with partner Luke by her side.
We've been together
for about ten years now.
We met through - Josie's cousin is
one of my mates.
Josie made the first move, really.
I think it was Josie's other cousin
that text me
saying, "Josie likes you."
Yeah! It sort of moved on
from there.
SHE GROANS
Josie has been in the unit
for less than two hours,
but is already in the final
stages of labour.
Our first child, it was almost
three days of labour,
so everyone was saying the
second one would be faster,
but didn't really expect it to be
this fast.
Josie is being supported through
her contractions by Margaret,
a midwife with over 30 years'
experience.
The midwife, Margaret,
who's in there
has just ask somebody to go in
and help out for a second.
So I'm going in!
But it's a water birth.
Fingers crossed
..she'll need help
for the whole thing.
SHE SCREAMS
I didn't want to say a word!
I was like, "Oh, my God!"
Emma is halfway through
her third shift,
and is assisting a midwife.
It's the first time Emma
has seen a water birth.
Nice to meet you, Josie.
Amazing young lady.
You're so phenomenal.
Like, this is just ridiculous.
Margaret was my midwife
for first-born, as well, so
Very special. It is!
If there is anything I can do,
I'm more than happy to
It's the most wonderful experience
being in a room with a woman
when she's having a baby -
but I don't just want to
be there observing.
I mean, even though I do -
I want to be there with a purpose.
The pool temperature must be kept
above 36 degrees,
so Emma is given the job
of keeping Josie cool.
Do you want more Josie? Yeah.
Just take them off and re-cool them
and that's it. You just carry on.
LAUGHTER
OK! These have been by the windows.
They're really cold!
You're very
It's amazing to watch, actually,
you seem to be able to read
each other -
like, she does little signals
and you're like
I give him the eyes.
She wants that.
I give him the eyes. He knows.
Got a good connection going on.
Less than an hour after getting
into the pool,
Josie is showing signs
she's ready to push
SHE SCREAMS
Breathe, breathe, breathe.
..and it's Emma's job to prepare
the birthing pack.
Thank you. Well done, darling.
Well done, you're amazing.
The next contraction's going
to be the most difficult bit, OK?
All right? I need you to do little
pushes, all right, my darling?
Baby is beginning to crown.
Oh
All right, little push.
That's the girl. Nice and slowly.
SHE GROANS
Nearly there, nearly there.
It's going to be a tough bit now.
SHE SCREAMS
Well done. We're there. We're there.
The head is born. The head is born.
There we go. There we go.
As the umbilical cord is still
providing oxygen,
babies can safely stay in the water
until they take their first breath.
Keep it calm.
OK, that's the hardest bit done.
You'll remember that. OK?
Next contraction,
big push for us, OK?
SHE GROANS Lovely.
There we are.
Lovely. 12:44. Baby born!
Now, then, my love,
I need you to give that to Luke.
Just sit off your step for me,
my love.
Don't worry, the baby is going to
come with you.
Nice and slowly, nice and slowly.
Real water baby. There you go!
Congratulations!
Well done, munchkin.
Oh, my God.
How do you do this every day?
And not cry!
Hello!
Look at all that hair! Look at all
that rock star hair that daddy has.
Oh, he's so little!
No, he's not.
LAUGHTER
That's how I feel right now -
I just walked out of that room
and just went, "Whoa. What the hell
have I just witnessed?"
Even though I've already -
you know, I saw a handful of births
last time,
not loads, but a few,
the water bath was the one
I didn't get to witness
and I can't quite believe that we've
come back, and within three days
Oh!
I'm gonna go again!
I mean, watching a baby come
into the world is
That's the baby
we've just seen being born!
I can't deal! It's only day three!
I'm gonna be a wreck
by the end of this.
You're really clever!
You're really clever - and you're
a really good cooler-downer.
The rock star.
So chill throughout the whole thing.
You made a great combo. Yeah.
You worked really well together.
Brilliant team.
Most births at the
Princess Alexandra Hospital
take place on the Labour Ward
All the way out, there we go.
..a consultant-led maternity unit
for higher-risk mums to be.
The baby really picks its moments
to wedge the foot.
Wedges the foot under and kicks out.
So painful.
It's where 35-year-old Vicky,
who's already a mum of four,
will have her twins.
She's with her fiance, Owen,
who's about to become
a father for the first time.
We went to school together
about 25 years ago,
and we met each other in our local
Wetherspoon's pub
probably about six years ago.
Owen rushed Vicky to the hospital
last night
because he was worried about her.
I started feeling sick quite a lot,
which I've had four children
previously, never been sick -
and then I started getting
flashing lights before my eyes,
and my whole bottom of my body just
swelled up. Just ballooned up, yeah.
I then started vomiting.
I knew something wasn't right.
So I phoned and I came in.
Tests revealed Vicky is suffering
from preeclampsia -
a condition that can have life
threatening complications.
Her twins will be born by emergency
Caesarean section five weeks early.
When we go into theatre,
you will have two teams,
we have, because there's
two babies there Mm-hm.
..but don't worry everything
will be under control. OK?
Everything is gonna be fine
all right. Thanks.
You put me at ease. Thank you.
Vicky is under the care of ward
manager and midwife Tilly.
So, if you don't see me for a little
while, I'm just in theatre
getting everything ready. OK.
Is that OK with you?
Brilliant. Yeah? Thank you so much.
Great. Thank you, Tilly.
That's all right.
Tilly qualified as a midwife
over 25 years ago.
It's her dream job.
I'm a premature baby - I was born
at 28 weeks, I weighed 900 grams.
This is why I always had a passion,
thinking, when I become
a grown up girl,
I want to look after babies.
Before Vicky is taken in for her
emergency Caesarean section,
her mum arrives.
I thought you were gone already,
I was in a panic,
thinking I was gonna miss you.
All right!
Calm down, Mum!
That's Monday.
My mum. Hello, there. Hello.
I'm Tilly, the midwife going
to look after your doctor.
Nice having you here.
She's please she's here.
I am happy, as well. Yeah! Yeah.
You know what, Victoria?
It's a pleasure looking after you -
and, Owen, there's no
stress in that room.
You seem very chilled. Yeah.
And that's what makes
everything right. Yeah.
As a senior midwife, I've looked
after quite a lot of women
but preeclampsia - and I don't want
to say it's a scary thing,
so that women don't get scared,
but until the baby is delivered
it can be quite dangerous
to the baby and to the women.
OK.
Shall we make our way now?
All right. Yeah.
Coming now. Coming in as a two,
going home as a four.
You won't fit through the door.
I'm just going to give
you some medication, here, OK?
Yeah. Just to help with your blood
pressure slightly.
Less than 24 hours after
being diagnosed with preeclampsia,
35-year-old Vicky is in theatre
with her partner Owen.
Her twins will be born
by emergency Caesarean section
despite being five weeks premature.
Getting a bit nervous.
Can you not feel nervous? Yeah.
I feel it. No pain.
I just can't wait for them
to be here now.
I'm very excited - it's gonna be a
magical but very expensive time.
All rolled into one.
Vicky has four children
aged from seven to 19
from a previous relationship
..but for Owen this is his first
experience of fatherhood,
and they've kept the sex
of the babies a surprise.
When was on the scan we saw one
of them's got a bit of a pug nose,
like myself, and my girlfriend,
she's got a bit of a flick,
so we do believe one's a boy,
and a girl.
Don't put no money on that, though!
Well done, you're doing very well.
Another 30 seconds, babe.
You'll be a daddy.
The first head is coming out.
As Vicky is behind a sheet,
it falls to Owen to see
if their prediction is correct.
It's a girl. Is it?!
I knew it. I knew it was a girl!
SHE CRIES
Sounds good. Sounds bloody
all right, doesn't she?!
Congratulations.
Now we're gonna go
for the second one.
Next one is coming.
Doing great, babe. A lot of pushing.
This baby is bigger, I take it!
Just eight minutes after the surgeon
made the first incision,
both babies are born.
Let's just see what we've got.
It's a boy!
It is a boy!
A minute apart.
11:01, 11:02.
Love you, baby.
Can't believe it! Boy and a girl!
Very lively already!
I know.
Good heartbeats. Yeah.
Despite being five weeks
premature,
their vital signs are normal.
The second baby is underweight,
but Tilly has decided not
to send him to intensive care.
She doesn't want to separate
the twins.
OK, in your baby's condition,
I'm just going to keep
them together.
I'm just going to make sure their
sugar's OK.
Feed them and look after them.
They're not going down there?
At the moment I'm not,
because they're very stable
and they're doing well
with their observations.
Then we don't need to separate
them, they can stay together.
Great. All right?
Appreciate that. Thank you, Tilly.
Come on, Owen I've got work for you.
OK.
You'll be taking one baby,
I'll be taking one baby.
We'll show it to Mum
before we leave the theatre.
With the babies fully health
checked,
it's time for mum Vicky
to meet her newborns.
I love that smell.
Give a kiss to Mummy?
That little face!
OK, we'll see you in recovery
shortly, OK?
All right.
Thanks for all your hard work, guys,
really appreciate it.
You've all stars.
Thank you. Thank you.
Congratulations.
Twins - they like to be together.
They were together inside.
They wish they would stay
like that outside -
and it's nice for the family to see
both those babies there, isn't it?
There we go - the brother and
sister, you can watch each other.
Look at that!
Smiling already! I know.
They're so sweet.
OK. I'll be back with you shortly.
Appreciate it, Tilly.
Becoming a dad for the first time.
It's really It's hard
I'm just trying to get it all in -
but that's the first time you'll
ever see me speechless,
cos I am a chatterbox
and this is the first time
I actually don't know, really,
what to say!
Oh, I just!
I'm getting very choked up.
She's done very well,
my girlfriend, and to have got two.
Magical genius.
Back on shift, and Emma is working
on the post-natal world.
Her first job of the day is to check
in on Vicky, Owen and the twins.
Hi! Hello!
Need to do your obs now.
Is that all right?
OK. OK? Yes certainly.
Thank you, Tilly. That's OK.
How are you doing, are you OK?
Better. Better today.
Vicky is hoping to go home today,
if she's recovered
from her caesarean section.
I've had two C-sections -
and some people think of it as the
easy way to have a baby,
but, essentially, you are having
major abdominal surgery,
and the recovery after that
is far from easy.
I couldn't lift the babies,
I couldn't wind the babies,
so Daddy's had to
I'm very green as a father.
My girlfriend's already got
previous,
these are my first two babies.
Oh, OK.
He hadn't even changed a nappy.
Now he's a pro! I ain't too bad now.
Yeah. Getting there. Yeah.
And how have they been?
Luckily they've done really well.
I'm glad that I've got to 35 weeks,
because otherwise there could
have been a lot more complications,
and they probably would have been
in NICU.
You seem really bright in yourself.
You've got that new mum kind
of happiness coming out of you.
Yeah.
Right.
I will take this information
to Tilly.
Yes. Thank you very much, Emma.
It was nice to meet you.
I'll pop back a bit later.
Are you happy to go home today?
Yes, I'm happy.
We're ready to go now.
Prepared now? Yeah, yeah. OK.
Vicky's observations are all normal,
so Tilly is sending
the new family home.
Thank you so much, Tilly.
You've been amazing -
it's been like a home from home
here, hasn't it?
It was a pleasure
looking after you and Owen.
Never forget you.
I love spending that one to one
care with a woman.
Her journey from start to finish
and safely discharging them
from the unit
is the most happiest moment
in my life.
I'll miss you. Look after, OK?
Yes. Be a good girl.
We'll never forget you.
I just had a little tear,
by a happy, happy tears, you know?
I got my babies,
and we're going home today.
Ready for this?
Honey. You forgot one!
All the midwives here
have done a tremendous time,
and made us like family here.
Really happy to go home today.
Goodbye, my dear!
Take care! Thank you, guys!
All the best!
Thank you!
Bye-bye, hospital!
They're getting closer and closer
together, aren't they?
About two minutes -
between two and four, still.
On the Antenatal Ward,
a new couple have arrived.
25-year-old veterinary nurse
Paige and her husband Billy.
Most awkward time for me. I don't
know what I meant to be doing!
There's nothing I can do to help
you. Just not talk to me.
You're talking too much! I've been
talking to you, irritating
Just looking at me from a
distance is fine.
Paige and Billy are anxiously
awaiting the arrival
of their second child.
The couple have been together
since their teens.
Me and Paige went to school
together.
Didn't really speak at school
because she is two years
older than me.
When I was about 17
we bumped into each other
in a fast food restaurant!
It's not the most romantic,
but we just got chatting.
Now, seven years later,
married with one child
and a second on the way today.
Paige was induced four hours ago.
She's being looked after by midwife
Liz
OK, Paige?
..who met the couple during
the labour of their first child.
Any bleeding, or anything like that?
No.
You're quite chilled out about it.
Well, you've got to be, ain't you?
I'm gonna be calm this time.
Chilled out.
Can I have that in writing?
Yeah! Later on I might not be
so chilled, but at the moment
OK, shout me if you need me.
Thank you.
Paige will be giving birth three
weeks early, at 37 weeks,
as her baby's movements
have reduced - a worrying sign.
As midwives, we always say to women
to be very aware
of your baby's movements.
If it's not moving
like it normally does
it's probably because it's not well,
so we tend to induce,
because the worst case scenario
would be a stillbirth.
Do you want to sit down?
No, it makes it worse if I sit down.
There will just be a huge relief
of all the stress
once baby's here, not having
to worry about a lack of movement,
concern for baby's health,
just having her here and healthy.
Just be a huge sigh of relief now.
Midwife Liz is helping Paige's
labour progress
by using an amniotic hook
to break her waters.
Big, deep breath now.
I'm going to pause for a minute.
OK. It's just so tense, all right?
I'll try not to be.
It's not easy, when somebody's
rummaging around
Big, deep breaths.
Slower.
Slower, Paige. Slower.
You can do this.
Need me to stop?
No, it's fine.
I'm sorry, honey.
Nearly done. Nearly done.
Right, your waters have gone.
Just making a little hole in there.
Paige isn't the only one
finding the procedure difficult.
I hate going doctors, hospitals,
blood anything like that.
I'm the most squeamish person
in the world.
Taking my fingers out now, OK?
I know, it's horrible, innit?
So, contractions
will get stronger now.
It's all good, innit?
There you go. If you need anything,
let me know. OK.
Have you got any questions? No. No?
I'll try and recover from that.
I'll recover from that, an' all.
It's stressful for me, though!
Shut up!
Hello! Hello! How are you?
Emma is settling back into her role
at the hospital -
but her shift pattern means
there's one person in particular
she's yet to work with.
I can hear her voice.
Hi! Look who's here!
Hello, love!
Aww. Nice to see you.
Last year veteran MCA Val
took Emma under her wing.
The friendship they developed
has continued
since Emma left the hospital.
I've seen Val a lot, actually,
in between last time we were here
and this time we're here.
So, now, being back,
it feels weird seeing Val in a
hospitable environment
because I'm so used to seeing
her outside of it.
She does it to me every time.
Sorry, Val.
I've missed you.
When I'm here on me own,
and I've got, like,
six beds to do
Do you think of me?
Yeah, I do. I go,
"Where's Emma when I need her?"
Dream team.
You had a prime opportunity then,
Val, to flick me in the face.
I'm not like that. You missed it.
You're not like that on camera.
She reminds me
a little bit of my mum
in the fact that she's kind
of she's very honest.
She gives good advice.
I haven't made many baby cots, Val.
What's the trick?
Well, I must admit,
I don't worry so much.
Babies wee on them too quick, so
they're not usually on very long.
And she just makes me laugh.
She has no filter -
but in a good way.
Not in a mean way.
Perfect.
I love being back with Val.
Love it! We're like that.
That's Val, that's me.
WOMAN GROANS
It's 9pm, and second time mum Paige
is in the final stages of labour
with husband Billy by her side.
She's under the care of experienced
midwife Kerry.
I can't do this any more!
You're doing it, Paige.
You're already doing it.
Paige was induced because
of reduced foetal movement -
a sign that the baby
could be unwell.
I think baby's getting a
little bit tired, as well.
So, we need to meet her soon.
After pushing for almost
half an hour,
Kerry changes Paige's position
to help speed up her birth.
I want you to go up the bed,
so you're leaning
over the top of the bed,
and then open your knees
as wide as you can.
Big, long push, big long push.
Again, again
As long as you can.
Slow down. Breathe.
And within minutes
the baby's head is crowning.
Billy, do you want to see?
Again. Another one.
There's baby's head out!
OK? On the next contraction,
please
You all right, Billy?
Paige? In between your legs.
Hello!
Almost ten hours after being
induced, Paige's baby girl is born.
Say hello to your mummy, after all
that hard work she put in.
But although she's breathing,
she's unresponsive.
Just one big cry, that's all
we want. Give us one big cry.
Just going to take her here and have
a little look at her a bit more.
She's breathing -
I'm just gonna give her
a little bit of extra oxygen.
Not going to cry for me?
How many minutes after
birth are we now?
Seven minutes.
It's been almost ten minutes
since Paige gave birth
to her baby girl.
She is breathing, but is yet to cry.
Oi, you!
Just give us a nice cry.
That's all I want.
Then we'll leave you alone.
As midwife Kerry concentrates
on the baby,
trainee midwife Katie realises that
Paige also needs urgent attention.
Paige is bleeding heavily, and the
baby is still not responding.
The situation has become critical.
There's gonna be
a few people turn up,
because you're bleeding
a little bit.
We need more people, OK? Sure.
The quickest way to do
that is pull an emergency buzzer.
People come then.
ALARM BEEPS
Can we get a PPH trolley?
PPH trolley, please!
A haemorrhage could be life
threatening.
The team need to work fast.
Sorry about this, Paige.
Everyone's coming at you.
With a postpartum haemorrhage,
you don't want to wait until there's
really excessive bleeding.
We need extra help
because you need to find out
where the bleeding's from,
you need a cannula in
to give some medication.
We need to check
the placenta's complete,
because that would be the tissue,
if it's anything remaining -
and when you've got mum and baby
things needed at the same time
it's impossible for one person or
even two people to do all of that.
You know, you need
all hands on deck.
45 minutes later, and after losing
a litre of blood,
Paige's haemorrhage
has been stemmed
..but her baby still hasn't cried.
Oh, you're lovely and toasty.
We'd just all like it
if she gives a big cry,
because her lungs are full of fluid.
So when they do
that really big first cry,
it clears it out for them. Yeah.
SHE CRIES
An hour after baby was born
..she finally lets out
the all-important first cry.
That's the noises
we've all been waiting for.
Yeah. You done brilliantly.
It's incredible having a little
daughter,
I just hear a cry
for the first time.
I'm trying not to start
crying again myself.
Ooh, like a little doll! Ooh!
When baby was born
and everyone came rushing in,
it was, "Aah!" Scary, emotional.
I did get a bit upset.
Just worried for baby -
and for Mum, of course.
I'm squeamish anyway. It was a lot.
A lot of blood.
I've never seen that amount
of blood before! So
I don't know. They done a good job.
It's crazy, really.
It's all done,
everyone's happy now.
Ten hours later,
and Emma is back on shift.
She's been tasked
with checking how Paige
and baby Phoenix-Rose
are recovering.
Hi! How are you?
OK! As best I can be.
Can I come in?
Look at this little one! I know -
all she's doing is sleeping.
She feeding all right?
Yeah, she's not too bad,
but she's just so sleepy.
Yeah. Can't complain.
I always forgot how much they
sleep at the beginning -
to have another one, and then you
go, "Oh, yeah, they do sleep a lot."
Yeah, like, I was, "Oh, all I can
do is sit on the sofa and watch TV."
Why am I moaning about that? Silly.
Are you all right if I do a
baby check on her?
Yeah, of course you can. I'm just
going to go and wash my hands. Yeah.
Look at you!
Little lady.
How are you feeling?
OK? I feel absolutely fine,
to be honest.
Like nothing's happened.
Which is always good. Really? Yeah.
She looks great.
She's got a lovely round head.
Oh, that's a good grip.
Little one, I'm sorry
You holding yourself up?
Already!
There you go.
I'm sorry, little girl.
And she's feeding all right,
you think?
Yeah, she's actually
She's latched on well.
Oh, good. She's feeding, so Yeah.
Yeah, it's nice. Good!
OK.
I'm gonna go and put all that
in your notes,
but she looks really good.
Do you need anything else?
No, we're all good here.
Give us a buzz if you do.
See you in a bit. See you later.
To complete her job, Emma needs
to write down her findings.
Her eyes were clear,
her mouth was clear,
the cord was on -
and when I flipped her over,
she tried to push herself up!
She was good.
Despite Phoenix-Rose's post birth
difficulties
and Paige losing a litre of blood,
both have made a full recovery.
I can't quite believe how calm
and relaxed Paige seems.
I have huge admiration
for all women anyway,
but when you are in a department
like this
and you see the whole process
of what they go through,
I think the level of respect,
for me, is always at the highest,
because we're just brilliant
specimens.