Emma Willis: Delivering Babies (2018) s02e04 Episode Script
Season 2, Episode 4
1
BABY CRIES
BABY COOS
BABY SNEEZES
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
You've really got hooked
with us, haven't you?
Yes!
I love it, I love it.
..to become a fully qualified
maternity care assistance
that could work in any hospital
in the country.
I feel like there's
so much to learn.
She'll be more independent
Ah!
You're one of us!
It's real.
..across high-risk wards
BABY CRIES
..and in theatre.
Hello! Felt 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.
Argh!
Push it away.
Push, push, push, push, push,
push, push. That's the one.
That's the one.
Emma will share the pressures
ALARM WAILS
TANNOY:
'Emergency meeting.
'Please go to Labour Ward Theatre.'
..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
Congratulations.
..into the world.
Oh, my God!
BABY CRIES
SHE SIGHS
I'm going to be a wreck
by the end of this.
OK. Come in.
Every year, around
4,000 babies are born
at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
BABY CRIES OU
10% of those will depend on
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,
known as the NICU, to stay alive.
He's ready for his food!
I know, he's hungry.
And for the first time,
Emma will be joining the team.
Oh!
It's always kind of this,
like, mysterious place
that I see the babies go
but I don't know what happens
when they get there.
So that will be quite terrifying,
because, you know,
you know they're coming
but you don't know
what state they're in
and what help they're going to need,
and how poorly they are.
So it's a whole new
learning curve, isn't it?
It's a totally different
set of skills.
Before Emma's first shift,
practice development nurse Katie
will be teaching her how to
care for critically ill babies.
Hello!
Hi, are you all right?
I'm fine.
For Emma to spend time on NICU
is going to be a really
challenging thing for her.
She's going to really
need to step up.
You're wide awake, aren't you? Eh?
'She's going to need to
take the role seriously.'
Knowledge is power.
It is.
Yeah.
'Because, at the end of the day,
'the skills and the things
that she's going to learn
with us on NICU can be applied'
to the care of premature babies
all over the country, or anywhere.
So I just thought I'd give you
a sort of a heads-up
about what to expect
when you're out on the floor.
While you're here, you'll be
completing a lot of competencies,
which are basically
new skills for you,
such as how to record
in the red notes
Right.
..how to do observations and record
those on the appropriate charts,
as well as passing
nasogastric tubes.
What's that?
The feeding tube
that goes from there.
What do you mean, pass
the feeding tube? Put one in?
Yeah.
SHE GASPS
My first child had to have one
when she was born.
Did she?
Oh, God, and watching them do it,
I felt like the worst
human being in the world.
I don't think I could I know
it's for the good of them, but
Oh I don't know
if NICU is for me!
It is! You'll love it.
So I've just kind of had,
like, my pre-induction
to intensive and special care units
and I feel like
my brain's going to explode.
Birth weight, 1lb 2oz.
Yeah.
Oh.
I feel like I've got
years of Katie's knowledge,
like, given to me in half an hour,
and I'm a bit like
please don't tell me
I'm expected to remember
all of this.
Come on, let's get you out there.
I'm trying not to panic, because
I panicked a little bit last year
when I got so much
information in one go,
so I am not going to panic
You're in safe hands!
..and I'm going to
watch, observe, learn
and I'm going to
use my poker face.
The neonatal unit
Emma will be working on
cares for premature babies
born as early as 24 weeks.
BABY CRIES OU
Many are dependent on the feeding
tubes she will learn to administer.
Hey, mister.
One of them, baby Rocky, has been
in the unit for seven weeks.
Oh, look at that facey.
It's coming, it's coming,
it's coming.
Born almost three months early
to parents Claire and Rob,
he's fed by a tube
providing milk to his stomach.
Rob, he can't wear that -
that's massive.
It's really big!
How are you doing, you all right?
Yeah, I'm not bad, not bad.
Getting there slowly.
Oh, look at him.
He's so diddy.
BABY COOS
Oh! Oh, his little noises.
Was it like immediately after
he was born
when you ended up
kind of in NICU?
The first time I walked into NICU
it was very, very daunting
seeing all these babies
in incubators,
seeing all these machines bleeping,
not knowing what they were.
You're panicking every time
a machine made a noise,
thinking, "Is that him?"
I mean, if it wasn't for the nurses,
he wouldn't be here
and, you know, you can't say thank
you enough to them for saving him.
And what happened with him?
It was kind of because of me.
My platelets and liver function
levels kept dropping,
so it got to the point where
it was either deliver him now
or lose us both.
EMMA GASPS
So they had to deliver him.
Oh, my god. Yeah.
To think that, at one stage,
you might not have either of them,
and this way we've got both
of them.
Now you've got both.
So it was the best decision.
Yeah.
Well, he seems very happy now.
How about you, Rob?
I'm all right!
Obviously the main thing is
that Claire and Rocky are OK.
Just want him home now, really.
Yeah, I bet.
He' such a little did.
He's so little.
Feel his little hands.
My son was in intensive care for
about five days after he was born,
so it just brings it back,
I suppose,
and it gives you those memories
of seeing your little baby
covered in tubes.
You know, not being able
to hold them properly
and being scared of knocking wires
or doing something wrong.
I don't think I've
seen one so little.
SHE GASPS
Got a little hold. Yay!
He's quite strong for
how old he is as well.
He's lovely.
I hope you get him home soon.
But, until he can feed
without a tube,
Rocky must stay in intensive care.
She's GDM. So probably
She's type 2 diabetic.
Oh, type 2.
Mums with pre-existing
medical conditions
Baby still moving well?
..are at greater risk
of seeing their babies
transferred to the NICU.
Ah, ah, ah-ah, ah.
On the antenatal ward
Hello.
..Emma is ending her day doing
observations on 20-year-old Tamie
Hello. How are you?
..whose first child with husband
Frazer needed intensive care
after she developed
gestational diabetes.
I'm Emma. Nice to meet you.
I know who you are!
I know who you are as well.
How many weeks are you?
I'm 37 and 4.
Right.
But she's my second.
I've got a little boy at home.
Oh. And now you're having a girl.
Complete family.
Yeah.
You're like,
"This is it - last one."
Do you remember having a CO2 reading
done when you were booked in?
Yeah.
Are you all right to have it
done again?
Yeah, course.
Tamie was closely monitored
throughout her pregnancy
and was once again
diagnosed with the condition.
How come they were monitoring you?
My blood sugars have been
quite high as compared to
What they should be.
Yeah, beginning
of my pregnancy they were OK.
So, to reduce the risks,
she's being induced
three weeks before her due date.
It's a catch-22, isn't it,
because you want them to stay in
as long as possible,
but then if it's the right thing
to do to kind of get them here
See what happens.
Tamie and Frazer have
been married a year.
Ever since I first met her
I knew that I was going to
be with her. I had to be.
Great.
Went round to hers for the
first Christmas with her family.
Perfect.
I ended up buying the ring
but I was going to wait until April,
which was going to be
our anniversary.
So I gave it to her as a present,
she looked at it, looked at me,
and then I just thought,
"Right, I'll ask the question now."
And then she just burst into tears,
said yes, ran downstairs to her mum,
her mum was just so over the moon
and everything else with it.
Well, let us know
if you need anything.
You need the loo, don't you?
Yeah, I do.
I'll leave you to go to the loo
and I'll see you in a bit.
OK.
Thank you.
Nice to meet you.
See you later.
The thing I love
about Tamie and Frazer
is that they are so in control.
When I was that age,
I couldn't even make pasta,
let alone raise two children.
You know, it's a full-on job.
You know, I say being a parent
is a job, it is
If I could only have one job,
I would take that one
any day of the week.
I absolutely love it.
Erm, but it is hard work
and, you know, again,
I just kind of take myself back
to being that age.
Responsibility?
I could barely be
responsible for me.
20 hours after being induced
That's it.
Good girl.
..with her mum now by her side
Are you having a contraction?
Push out.
Push!
Tamie is being supported
by midwives Claire
Little pushes, OK?
..and Wendy.
Everybody in the whole
maternity department,
from the doctors to the
maternity care assistants,
we all know how important it is
for every single baby
to be born healthy and well.
Please. Please.
So, women with gestational diabetes
are watched a lot closer
..because there can be a whole range
of birth complications.
TAMIE SCREAMS
So women do get frightened,
and I think it's
understandably frightened.
Little push.
But you can reassure them and say,
"It's OK, I'm here,
"I will talk you through it.
This is what we're going to do."
TAMIE SCREAMS
I need you to listen
to me, sweetheart.
When you're pushing,
I want you to actually push down.
20-year-old Tamie is in
the final stages of labour,
with mum Sarah and husband Frazer
by her side.
Lean into your chest and push.
Push.
Chin into chest, darling,
and push.
TAMIE MOANS
You can do it, you can do it.
Gestational diabetes
has caused dangerous fluctuations
in her sugar levels,
putting the baby at risk.
TAMIE MOANS
So, when that next contraction
comes, I want some little pushes,
and when I say, "Stop"
Tamie, can you hear me, darling?
When I say, "Stop",
I want you to stop, OK?
Does that sound OK?
And we'll have a beautiful baby, OK?
All right, so, little push.
Beautiful. Little push.
Little push.
Lovely.
Little That's perfect.
Right. Another little push.
OK? Beautiful.
Good girl.
We've got the baby's head.
Well done.
Good girl.
Good girl.
Girl, boy - do we know?
Girl.
Just 15 minutes after
her first push
ALL:
Ooh!
..Tamie's baby girl is born.
Right. Hello, gorgeous!
Hi, beautiful!
Oh, my God.
You've got your baby. Shall we
give her a little bit of a rub.
Oh, my God, that was so quick.
It was so quick!
But the baby is unresponsive.
I'm scared.
Is she OK?
When they come that fast,
they just get a little bit shocked.
She's all right, sweetheart, OK?
Baby, cry, please.
Right, so she's just going
to go over with Wendy.
She's taken for
immediate resuscitation.
TAMIE SOBS
TANNOY:
'Obstetric Emergency
'to Labour Ward Recovery.'
Was fine for about
the first three minutes.
When I came back in,
heart rate was fine,
it was just when
I got her over here,
she was blue.
So, when babies first come out
and don't respond,
your adrenaline kicks in.
Sometimes it is frightening
feeling that you're responsible
and you're in control of situations
that maybe are not
going the right way.
What's wrong with her?
Baby needs to be checked
because she came out really shocked.
SHE SOBS
After four minutes
BABY CRIES
..Tamie's baby finally
lets out her first cry.
I'm so glad that's all over.
I didn't think it'd happen
after the waters were broken.
Can I hold my baby?
That's that bit done.
SHE SOBS
BABY CRIES
My little baby.
My baby.
She's tiny.
She's so small.
Your mummy's going to
love you so much.
I just feel everything.
Like every emotion
that you've ever felt
has just come out all in one hit
and it's just
I don't know what, to smile, cry -
I don't know what to do!
You are so beautiful.
I don't need any more children now.
I've got my little boy, who's two,
I've got Tamie,
I'm not putting her
through that again.
She don't want to
go through that again.
But one hour later,
Lyra's blood-sugar levels
drop worryingly low.
She's separated from her mum
and taken to
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
..under the care
of Dr Ajeet Singh
When mummies have diabetes -
even if they have diabetes before
being pregnant or during pregnancy,
it doesn't matter -
babies have low sugar sometimes
and it doesn't autocorrect
by feeding or anything.
So, as of now, we will not feed the
baby, we'll just give her fluids,
till then, the baby
needs to be here.
How's it been?
Horrible.
I felt useless.
She's looking up at me
with all of her little tubes
and everything coming down her face,
but we need her
to get off of the fluids,
we need her blood sugar
to be perfect again.
I just keep thinking, as soon
as she comes out of there,
and then we'll be able to give her
a proper cuddle and everything else
without having to worry,
"If I move like that,
"is that going to pull that wire?
Lyra will stay in
the Intensive Care Unit
until her blood sugars stabilise.
BUZZER
Hello, can I help you?
Come in.
Today is Emma's second shift
in the NICU.
Hello, Emma.
And she is going
to learn to feed a baby
that's too small
to suck and swallow for itself.
Oh, my God, that baby just moved.
It's not even real!
So what we're going to do is
theoretical training
about how to put down
nasogastric tube on a baby.
Practice development nurse Julia
will guide Emma through
her first attempt on a dummy
So that's her, we call her baby Sim.
..before Emma has to feed
a real baby later today.
So if we're putting the tube into
a baby's nose and down their throat,
we don't want it to go to the lungs.
Yeah.
It doesn't want
to go to the lungs,
it wants to go to the stomach,
but it can go to the lungs,
and that's what
the safety aspect is today.
Right, OK.
Now, don't worry.
Don't worry.
You're not
filling me with confidence!
This training is vital.
An incorrectly inserted tube
could have fatal consequences.
So, not up - back and down.
Up and back, yeah.
That's it, and then feed it in.
Lovely, lovely.
Nasogastric tube-fitting.
SHE GASPS
Is it going in?
Just keep moving it
My big worry is I fixate on
the one thing that could go wrong,
which is putting a tube
down a baby's lung
instead of its stomach.
Is that in the throat
or has that gone down?
What you can see is where it's going
down the back of the throat,
so that's fine.
Whereas before,
it coiled up in the throat?
Yeah, yeah.
And even though she's said
she's never seen it,
I will be the one to do it.
That's what I'm scared of.
I'm like, "What, I don't want to
put it in her lung!"
Thank you.
Today, after being
in the NICU since birth,
baby Rocky is finally
being discharged.
Bum!
Yeah, Mummy's got to
change the bum.
Parents Claire and Rob have come to
collect him with big brother Jenson.
We're going home after three months
of being in intensive care.
We're excited,
because it's finally
It's finally come, after seeing
so many parents come and go.
You just kind of sit there and get a
bit disheartened, because you think,
"When is it going to be my turn?"
But when it is really your turn,
it just makes
that moment extra special.
He's now successfully breast-feeding
but still needs 24-hour oxygen.
So this is his fortifier.
Yep.
Put one sachet in about 25ml.
Yep. And do I wait for that to go up
a big amount for the weight?
I know I won't sleep tonight,
because it's that first night at
home, it's going to be watching him.
Have you got any questions
before you go,
anything that wasn't covered?
I think I'm excited
to just be his mum finally.
Good to go.
Thank you.
And start sort of
growing as a unit, really.
After so long of being separated.
They will be supported
by daily home visits
from the neo-natal community team
for the next four weeks.
As one family ends their time
on the neo-natal unit
..for others it's just beginning.
BABY CRIES OU
Research scientist Suruchi
had her twins Zoya and Aaniah
at just 28 weeks
after she started contracting early.
The first time they give you a baby
in your hand and they're tiny,
they give you a bundle of wires.
You wouldn't even know
where to start,
what's wrong with your baby,
because there are so many things.
Born before they could
fully develop,
the twins are being kept alive
by milk fed through a tube.
And just a few hours after
practising on the dummy,
it will be Emma's job
to insert one for the first time
Hello.
Hello.
How are you?
..guided by nursery nurse Ying.
Right. Today, we're going to
get you to put tubes down.
Yes.
We've got two to put down
on the set of twins
that we've got here.
So, it's up to you whether I put
one down and you watch me do it
Yes, please.
..and then
the second one, at one o'clock,
you can do it with me,
supporting you, doing it together.
Maybe.
OK. That's fine.
When I woke up
this morning, I thought,
"Oh, I'm going to see so many cute
little babies today in the NICU
"and maybe kind of help feed them."
I didn't think I would get asked
to literally put a tube up
their nose and into their tummy.
Like, monkey-close-your-eyes emoji.
PHONE RINGS
Good afternoon, Neonatal Unit.
On average,
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
has eight new admissions a week.
You're going to wake up, sweetie.
Today, Emma's nursing skills
will be tested
as she helps Ying change the
feeding tube for two new arrivals,
twins Aaniah and Zoya.
So what we're going to
need to do is gown up.
Apron and gloves on.
Yep.
And then we get
the bits that we need.
Can you remember what sort of things
we would need to put a tube down?
We need a tube.
Mm-hm.
Erm tape.
Yep.
Syringe.
Scissors.
Yep.
And, erm
test strips.
That's it.
Is that everything? Whoo!
33-year-old Suruchi had her twins
almost three months premature
after she went into labour early.
It's all right. It's all right.
They were delivered
by emergency caesarean section
and, at just over 2lbs each,
they have struggled to survive
outside the womb.
Does she have to be with her?
It helps.
They had problems
regulating their heartbeats
and one of the senior nurses said,
"Let's try putting them
in the same incubator,"
and it just did what
medicines couldn't -
they just regulated
each other's heartbeats.
So they do really do
so much for each other.
BABY MOANS
It's all right, Zoya,
she's right here.
Aw.
Earlier today, Emma learned to
tube-feed a baby on a special dummy.
These tubes stay in for seven days
and then we change them.
Yep.
And now, for the first time,
she'll be changing the tube
on a real baby.
What you need to do is
just gently take the tape off -
they don't ever like it, OK?
And then when you take it out,
it's a quick
Ooh!
Don't do it slowly.
Oh, it doesn't feel right.
I'm going to swaddle,
because it makes it easier.
Yeah.
What I'm going to do is put her head
in the neutral position,
and if you hold it nearer to the
tip, you've got more control, OK?
You'll put it in
and then you'll push it up
against the top of the nostril
and it will go over, OK?
So it will go down.
So then we're going to test.
Oh, it's so unfair.
I know.
BABY SNEEZES
Oh! Bless you.
Yeah? So we've got
an aspirate in there.
Oh, great.
OK?
Ying takes an acidity sample
to make sure the tube
is in Zoya's stomach.
5?
4.5.
It could be 4.5, yeah.
So we know we're in
the right place, not in the lungs.
Yeah.
Yeah?
You make it look so easy, Ying.
Right, then, Zoya,
you going to come to Mummy,
have a cuddle with Mummy?
BABY CRIES OU
It's OK, I've got you.
Can we now put Aaniah's tube down,
change her tube?
OK. Yep.
Oh, you're just staring at me!
You've got a cool test.
This is the cool one.
So, this is Aaniah.
So we're going to take this off.
I know, I'm sorry.
Talk to the hand.
So, tuck right underneath.
BABY CRIES OU
I know!
I want you to come this side.
And do the whole thing?
Yeah.
Oh, her eyes are all open!
She's, like,
"What are you doing, you joker?"
That's it. Let me hold her head.
Yeah.
Right, up the nose,
and then when you go in,
you're going to push it up and over.
Keep going.
Oh!
Excellent.
Now we're going
That's fine. You're there.
Oh!
No, you're fine. Well done.
All right, and then
you're going to test the pH.
And then pull back.
Now the feeding tube is in,
Emma must make sure
it's in the right place.
Now what do I do?
Unscrew it and put the lid back on.
That's a good one.
It is, isn't it?
2.5?
2.5.
Yep. That's brilliant.
That's a good one.
OK.
OK.
SHE GASPS
Well done. First tube passed.
Thank you.
Well, not on my own.
All right, come on, then.
She's like, "What?"
Let's give you back to Mummy.
There we go.
So we're going to do
the tube feed now.
Yeah.
Now I suppose it's just,
"Keep doing it, keep doing it,
keep doing it."
What would you do
if she starts being sick, Emma?
I would drop this
really low down here.
Yeah, that's it.
When you do things like inserting
a tube up a baby's nose
and into its belly to help it feed,
because it's so new
and young and premature
that it can't do it itself,
it's like,
that's amazing - I can't believe
that I've achieved that today.
To some people, I know,
that do it every day,
it probably feels like,
"Oh, it's just part of your job,"
but to me, I think that's
I think I've done
something incredible!
I love it.
PHONE RINGS
Hello, Samson Ward, can I help you?
Just come through.
Today Emma is working
on the antenatal ward.
Good morning. Hi.
Looking after mums-to-be
whose babies are more likely
to need intensive care.
You all right?
Yeah, good, how are you?
I'm fine.
I think I've done four.
41-year-old Victoria
has preeclampsia,
a condition that could be
life-threatening
to her and the baby.
She's here with
her husband, Colin.
How are you?
I'm good.
You OK if I do your obs?
To reduce the health risks,
Victoria's labour will be
induced four weeks early.
How long have you been in?
I was induced today.
Oh, OK.
My blood pressure.
OK.
It's all been fine
until last week, really,
when the doctor picked up that
the blood pressure has been high.
Apart from that, I've had
a really easy pregnancy,
so, yeah, bit of a shame
that I'm in here, but hey-ho.
Victoria and Colin
met online six years ago.
So every day they used to
send you an email
with your matches for the day.
And while zooming in,
I clicked on the Interested button.
Didn't know I'd done it.
Couple of hours later,
I got this massive email from him,
and the first thing it said was,
"Thank you for clicking
on the Interested button."
I thought,
"What's he talking about?"
So that's how it started -
I didn't even mean to do it
and now I'm married to him!
THEY LAUGH
Do you have children already?
Yeah.
We have two each.
Right, OK.
This is our first together.
Right.
So five in total.
Yeah.
And how were
your previous pregnancies?
Pretty straightforward, yeah.
No high blood pressure?
No, no. No.
'We're just compatible.
We bounce off each other,
'we're best mates,
we can talk about anything.'
Obviously there's
the attraction there as well.
So here we are
and it's nearly D-Day.
How are you normally
on these machines?
Are they all right, or do
you normally have it done manually?
I normally have the manual one.
I'll try that.
At 41, Victoria had a higher
risk of developing preeclampsia.
It's because
I'm geriatric, probably.
No, you're not!
No way!
You're certainly not geriatric.
I feel like it.
You won't do, once that
little thing's out, you'll be
Yeah, I'll be fine.
In a year,
you'll be sprightly again.
Yeah.
I had my third at 40.
Oh, did you?
Yep.
I see nervous anticipation
from Victoria
because of everything
that's going on with her body.
Preeclampsia, you've really
got to keep an eye on it
because it can be really dangerous,
so, you know,
she's in the right place.
..Being in here.
Worried?
No, I'm all right at the minute.
Yeah? Good.
Right, I'm going to go and tell them
what your blood pressure is.
Thanks.
But I'm sure
everything is fine.
Thanks.
See you in a bit.
Nine hours later,
Victoria's labour has progressed.
She is transferred to
the consultant-led labour ward
to receive specialist care.
That changed quickly, didn't it?
She's already 4cm dilated.
Do you want to hold on
to my hand or anything?
Ah
MIDWIFE:
Has anyone spoken to you
about pain relief?
Ow.
Ow.
Oh.
Experienced midwife Claire
will be looking after them.
Did you want some gas
and air, Victoria?
Did you have it last time?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Did it make you a little bit sick?
It made my chest feel
like it was going to explode.
OK, well, that doesn't sound good.
I'm starting to panic.
OK. Just take some
slow, deep breaths.
That's it.
Relax your shoulders down.
Oh!
What's worrying you?
That there's something wrong.
OK.
I don't think I can do it.
Victoria's baby starts
showing signs of distress.
We've been having little dips
with the baby's heartbeat.
It's now even more vital
she delivers as soon as possible.
The plan is to do an examination
and see if we can break your waters
just to see if we can move this on,
is that OK?
Yeah.
Yeah?
Ow.
Is that sore?
No, it's the contraction.
Oh! Can't deal with this.
You're doing so well, Victoria.
You're doing really, really well.
Hi, good evening.
Midwife Vicky has been called in
to help speed up her birth.
SHE MOANS IN PAIN
OK, sweetheart.
Is it OK if I check you down below,
break these water, yeah?
Is that OK?
Yeah.
If preeclampsia is left untreated,
the woman will become
very, very unwell.
SHE CRIES OUT IN PAIN
So it's just a case of really
picking it up early
and acting on it,
because it can be fatal.
The exact cause is unknown,
but the way to treat it is really
to aim to deliver the baby.
Ow!
Feeling some pressure there,
now, Vicky?
No.
No.
No pressure.
All right, sweetie.
Ow.
I think he's coming.
Bring that leg up for me.
That's brilliant.
Ow!
Right. Open your legs for me
Vicky pierces the amniotic sac
with a small hook.
SHE CRIES OUT IN PAIN
Right.
Ow.
OK.
Breathe. Breathe.
Give me a push, cos baby's coming.
Ow!
Good girl, go on. And again.
Oh, my God!
Oh!
Oh!
What you need to do now is listen to
what your body's telling you.
You're going to have
a baby, my love, OK?
41-year-old Victoria
has preeclampsia,
a condition caused
by high blood pressure
which can lead
to fatal complications.
Oh, oh. I can't do this.
You can. You can.
You're nearly there.
Nearly there, sweetie.
You're nearly there.
After being induced
four weeks early,
she is now in
the final stages of labour.
SHE MOANS
She is being supported
by husband Colin
and midwife Vicky.
SHE CRIES OUT You got pressure?
Vicky, look at me, sweetheart.
SHE HOWLS
Look at me. Give us a push,
then, my lovely.
Oh Oh, my
Well done.
Look at me, look at me.
Breathe, nice and slow.
Nice and slow.
Relax your shoulders a bit.
Slowly breathing.
Slow right down.
OK, right down.
It's coming. Head.
Blow, blow, blow. Blow.
Just three and a half minutes
after her waters were broken
Way! Hello.
COLIN:
There we go - done it!
..a baby boy is born.
He's wearing his cord like
a little star, sweetheart.
There you go, my darling. Well done.
You've done amazing.
Oh, it was awful.
Hello, little one.
That was quick. Excellent.
You've done it.
Pretty fast, wasn't it?
Very fast, weren't it?
Babies born more prematurely
do have a high risk
of going to special care.
Can we just pop that hat
straight back on to him, please?
Oh, yeah, where's it gone?
There you go.
They're always given a red hat
to highlight to staff
that these babies need
to have a little more care
than perhaps the next baby
that's quite robust
and can manage
on his own or her own.
He's got to go away?
Not necessarily.
Oh.
Just depends
on how well he does. Yeah?
We just need
to monitor him closely.
Can I cut the cord when it's time?
Course you can, yeah.
Thanks.
Welcome to the world.
There you go, Dad,
for you to cut the cord.
That's lovely.
Just between the two pegs there.
Yeah.
That's it.
It's like dry pasta, isn't it?
I know, yeah.
Bit tough sometimes
but there you go.
Right, my lovely.
In there?
Yes.
No wonder you were kicking
so much - another boy!
It's my third son,
it's our first son together,
and it'll be
the third son that we've got
between the two of us,
so, yeah, it's complicated
but I think I've got it right.
No, it isn't.
It's not the third son between us,
it's the fourth.
Don't say that bit.
What? We haven't got four sons.
I've got one and you've got two
and we've got one - that's four.
Oh, yeah, it is.
All right, yeah. Oh!
THEY LAUGH
If you don't know, we don't know!
We've got quite a lot, yeah.
I've got a lot of boys.
Beautiful.
Hello.
Overnight, Jude's
condition deteriorates.
He's admitted to the NICU
and placed in an incubator.
Back on shift, Emma checks in
on the couple and their baby boy.
BABY CRIES
Cutie.
His temperature and stuff
and everything was going downwards,
and they said, "They're going to
bring him up here
"just for a check-up,"
and they've picked him up
and whisked him off.
So, yeah, it was scary
and we literally all ran up,
up here, with him.
It's been a long night.
Because everything happened
so fast last night,
I feel like I haven't actually
just sat and held him
and looked at him and
I think I would be so fearful
that if I disturbed him
something might start to change
again, do you know what I mean?
You've got that conflict,
haven't you?
You want him to have the cuddles
but then you realise
that's the best place for him.
But the staff are amazing.
We walked in here and everything's
like panic, but they're, like,
just calm, they've got their arms
in there, they're going,
"Right, OK, get this cable,
get that cable,"
you know, all this, like
It's like an amazing dance
they do, isn't it?
It's choreographed
and happens just so in synch.
Yeah.
Aw.
Well, congratulations.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Well, I'm next door.
Give me a shout.
Yeah.
There's nothing I can do,
but, you know
I'll rub your feet if you want.
Oh, you wouldn't want to do that!
Or I'll him while you sleep.
Oh, yeah. That's a good idea.
I'll see you in a bit.
Thanks.
Bye.
Victoria and Colin,
such a lovely couple.
Everything was going fine
and then suddenly
he just went downhill.
Bless him. But he's looking like
he's on the mend
and he's looking really healthy
and he's looking really well,
so she needs to
go and get some sleep.
Whilst Jude spends his first day
on the intensive care unit,
for twins Aaniah and Zoya,
it's their last.
Well, you'll see them soon.
After two months in special care,
mum Suruchi and dad Raja
are finally taking them home.
You going to be good girls at home?
Thank you so much for everything.
Thank you so much.
You're very welcome. Keep in touch
and come to our reunion.
So going home today is just
an amazing feeling.
Hello, monkey.
An it's unreal for me.
It's just overwhelming
at this point.
You can come back
and visit us any time.
I'm really excited.
Their nursery is waiting for them.
It would be nice, because
we've been telling the girls,
on difficult days, "This is
not your life, we have a home.
"We'll take you out there,
"you'll have your own room,
you'll see sunlight,
"not just the lights
that are on the ceiling,"
so, it's just overwhelming.
You made it, munchkin.
So did you.
You're just
She's just dozing off.
Say bye-bye.
She's fast asleep.
Thank you. See you, guys.
Hey.
It is nice to see a kind of
full cycle of a baby.
That they come in,
they're looked after,
they go and they get strong,
and then finally
the babies go home,
which is what we want - we want them
to go home and be well.
Their parents must be so happy
to finally get them home,
they've been in there
for such a long time.
Yay!
BABY CRIES
BABY COOS
BABY SNEEZES
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
You've really got hooked
with us, haven't you?
Yes!
I love it, I love it.
..to become a fully qualified
maternity care assistance
that could work in any hospital
in the country.
I feel like there's
so much to learn.
She'll be more independent
Ah!
You're one of us!
It's real.
..across high-risk wards
BABY CRIES
..and in theatre.
Hello! Felt 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.
Argh!
Push it away.
Push, push, push, push, push,
push, push. That's the one.
That's the one.
Emma will share the pressures
ALARM WAILS
TANNOY:
'Emergency meeting.
'Please go to Labour Ward Theatre.'
..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
Congratulations.
..into the world.
Oh, my God!
BABY CRIES
SHE SIGHS
I'm going to be a wreck
by the end of this.
OK. Come in.
Every year, around
4,000 babies are born
at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
BABY CRIES OU
10% of those will depend on
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,
known as the NICU, to stay alive.
He's ready for his food!
I know, he's hungry.
And for the first time,
Emma will be joining the team.
Oh!
It's always kind of this,
like, mysterious place
that I see the babies go
but I don't know what happens
when they get there.
So that will be quite terrifying,
because, you know,
you know they're coming
but you don't know
what state they're in
and what help they're going to need,
and how poorly they are.
So it's a whole new
learning curve, isn't it?
It's a totally different
set of skills.
Before Emma's first shift,
practice development nurse Katie
will be teaching her how to
care for critically ill babies.
Hello!
Hi, are you all right?
I'm fine.
For Emma to spend time on NICU
is going to be a really
challenging thing for her.
She's going to really
need to step up.
You're wide awake, aren't you? Eh?
'She's going to need to
take the role seriously.'
Knowledge is power.
It is.
Yeah.
'Because, at the end of the day,
'the skills and the things
that she's going to learn
with us on NICU can be applied'
to the care of premature babies
all over the country, or anywhere.
So I just thought I'd give you
a sort of a heads-up
about what to expect
when you're out on the floor.
While you're here, you'll be
completing a lot of competencies,
which are basically
new skills for you,
such as how to record
in the red notes
Right.
..how to do observations and record
those on the appropriate charts,
as well as passing
nasogastric tubes.
What's that?
The feeding tube
that goes from there.
What do you mean, pass
the feeding tube? Put one in?
Yeah.
SHE GASPS
My first child had to have one
when she was born.
Did she?
Oh, God, and watching them do it,
I felt like the worst
human being in the world.
I don't think I could I know
it's for the good of them, but
Oh I don't know
if NICU is for me!
It is! You'll love it.
So I've just kind of had,
like, my pre-induction
to intensive and special care units
and I feel like
my brain's going to explode.
Birth weight, 1lb 2oz.
Yeah.
Oh.
I feel like I've got
years of Katie's knowledge,
like, given to me in half an hour,
and I'm a bit like
please don't tell me
I'm expected to remember
all of this.
Come on, let's get you out there.
I'm trying not to panic, because
I panicked a little bit last year
when I got so much
information in one go,
so I am not going to panic
You're in safe hands!
..and I'm going to
watch, observe, learn
and I'm going to
use my poker face.
The neonatal unit
Emma will be working on
cares for premature babies
born as early as 24 weeks.
BABY CRIES OU
Many are dependent on the feeding
tubes she will learn to administer.
Hey, mister.
One of them, baby Rocky, has been
in the unit for seven weeks.
Oh, look at that facey.
It's coming, it's coming,
it's coming.
Born almost three months early
to parents Claire and Rob,
he's fed by a tube
providing milk to his stomach.
Rob, he can't wear that -
that's massive.
It's really big!
How are you doing, you all right?
Yeah, I'm not bad, not bad.
Getting there slowly.
Oh, look at him.
He's so diddy.
BABY COOS
Oh! Oh, his little noises.
Was it like immediately after
he was born
when you ended up
kind of in NICU?
The first time I walked into NICU
it was very, very daunting
seeing all these babies
in incubators,
seeing all these machines bleeping,
not knowing what they were.
You're panicking every time
a machine made a noise,
thinking, "Is that him?"
I mean, if it wasn't for the nurses,
he wouldn't be here
and, you know, you can't say thank
you enough to them for saving him.
And what happened with him?
It was kind of because of me.
My platelets and liver function
levels kept dropping,
so it got to the point where
it was either deliver him now
or lose us both.
EMMA GASPS
So they had to deliver him.
Oh, my god. Yeah.
To think that, at one stage,
you might not have either of them,
and this way we've got both
of them.
Now you've got both.
So it was the best decision.
Yeah.
Well, he seems very happy now.
How about you, Rob?
I'm all right!
Obviously the main thing is
that Claire and Rocky are OK.
Just want him home now, really.
Yeah, I bet.
He' such a little did.
He's so little.
Feel his little hands.
My son was in intensive care for
about five days after he was born,
so it just brings it back,
I suppose,
and it gives you those memories
of seeing your little baby
covered in tubes.
You know, not being able
to hold them properly
and being scared of knocking wires
or doing something wrong.
I don't think I've
seen one so little.
SHE GASPS
Got a little hold. Yay!
He's quite strong for
how old he is as well.
He's lovely.
I hope you get him home soon.
But, until he can feed
without a tube,
Rocky must stay in intensive care.
She's GDM. So probably
She's type 2 diabetic.
Oh, type 2.
Mums with pre-existing
medical conditions
Baby still moving well?
..are at greater risk
of seeing their babies
transferred to the NICU.
Ah, ah, ah-ah, ah.
On the antenatal ward
Hello.
..Emma is ending her day doing
observations on 20-year-old Tamie
Hello. How are you?
..whose first child with husband
Frazer needed intensive care
after she developed
gestational diabetes.
I'm Emma. Nice to meet you.
I know who you are!
I know who you are as well.
How many weeks are you?
I'm 37 and 4.
Right.
But she's my second.
I've got a little boy at home.
Oh. And now you're having a girl.
Complete family.
Yeah.
You're like,
"This is it - last one."
Do you remember having a CO2 reading
done when you were booked in?
Yeah.
Are you all right to have it
done again?
Yeah, course.
Tamie was closely monitored
throughout her pregnancy
and was once again
diagnosed with the condition.
How come they were monitoring you?
My blood sugars have been
quite high as compared to
What they should be.
Yeah, beginning
of my pregnancy they were OK.
So, to reduce the risks,
she's being induced
three weeks before her due date.
It's a catch-22, isn't it,
because you want them to stay in
as long as possible,
but then if it's the right thing
to do to kind of get them here
See what happens.
Tamie and Frazer have
been married a year.
Ever since I first met her
I knew that I was going to
be with her. I had to be.
Great.
Went round to hers for the
first Christmas with her family.
Perfect.
I ended up buying the ring
but I was going to wait until April,
which was going to be
our anniversary.
So I gave it to her as a present,
she looked at it, looked at me,
and then I just thought,
"Right, I'll ask the question now."
And then she just burst into tears,
said yes, ran downstairs to her mum,
her mum was just so over the moon
and everything else with it.
Well, let us know
if you need anything.
You need the loo, don't you?
Yeah, I do.
I'll leave you to go to the loo
and I'll see you in a bit.
OK.
Thank you.
Nice to meet you.
See you later.
The thing I love
about Tamie and Frazer
is that they are so in control.
When I was that age,
I couldn't even make pasta,
let alone raise two children.
You know, it's a full-on job.
You know, I say being a parent
is a job, it is
If I could only have one job,
I would take that one
any day of the week.
I absolutely love it.
Erm, but it is hard work
and, you know, again,
I just kind of take myself back
to being that age.
Responsibility?
I could barely be
responsible for me.
20 hours after being induced
That's it.
Good girl.
..with her mum now by her side
Are you having a contraction?
Push out.
Push!
Tamie is being supported
by midwives Claire
Little pushes, OK?
..and Wendy.
Everybody in the whole
maternity department,
from the doctors to the
maternity care assistants,
we all know how important it is
for every single baby
to be born healthy and well.
Please. Please.
So, women with gestational diabetes
are watched a lot closer
..because there can be a whole range
of birth complications.
TAMIE SCREAMS
So women do get frightened,
and I think it's
understandably frightened.
Little push.
But you can reassure them and say,
"It's OK, I'm here,
"I will talk you through it.
This is what we're going to do."
TAMIE SCREAMS
I need you to listen
to me, sweetheart.
When you're pushing,
I want you to actually push down.
20-year-old Tamie is in
the final stages of labour,
with mum Sarah and husband Frazer
by her side.
Lean into your chest and push.
Push.
Chin into chest, darling,
and push.
TAMIE MOANS
You can do it, you can do it.
Gestational diabetes
has caused dangerous fluctuations
in her sugar levels,
putting the baby at risk.
TAMIE MOANS
So, when that next contraction
comes, I want some little pushes,
and when I say, "Stop"
Tamie, can you hear me, darling?
When I say, "Stop",
I want you to stop, OK?
Does that sound OK?
And we'll have a beautiful baby, OK?
All right, so, little push.
Beautiful. Little push.
Little push.
Lovely.
Little That's perfect.
Right. Another little push.
OK? Beautiful.
Good girl.
We've got the baby's head.
Well done.
Good girl.
Good girl.
Girl, boy - do we know?
Girl.
Just 15 minutes after
her first push
ALL:
Ooh!
..Tamie's baby girl is born.
Right. Hello, gorgeous!
Hi, beautiful!
Oh, my God.
You've got your baby. Shall we
give her a little bit of a rub.
Oh, my God, that was so quick.
It was so quick!
But the baby is unresponsive.
I'm scared.
Is she OK?
When they come that fast,
they just get a little bit shocked.
She's all right, sweetheart, OK?
Baby, cry, please.
Right, so she's just going
to go over with Wendy.
She's taken for
immediate resuscitation.
TAMIE SOBS
TANNOY:
'Obstetric Emergency
'to Labour Ward Recovery.'
Was fine for about
the first three minutes.
When I came back in,
heart rate was fine,
it was just when
I got her over here,
she was blue.
So, when babies first come out
and don't respond,
your adrenaline kicks in.
Sometimes it is frightening
feeling that you're responsible
and you're in control of situations
that maybe are not
going the right way.
What's wrong with her?
Baby needs to be checked
because she came out really shocked.
SHE SOBS
After four minutes
BABY CRIES
..Tamie's baby finally
lets out her first cry.
I'm so glad that's all over.
I didn't think it'd happen
after the waters were broken.
Can I hold my baby?
That's that bit done.
SHE SOBS
BABY CRIES
My little baby.
My baby.
She's tiny.
She's so small.
Your mummy's going to
love you so much.
I just feel everything.
Like every emotion
that you've ever felt
has just come out all in one hit
and it's just
I don't know what, to smile, cry -
I don't know what to do!
You are so beautiful.
I don't need any more children now.
I've got my little boy, who's two,
I've got Tamie,
I'm not putting her
through that again.
She don't want to
go through that again.
But one hour later,
Lyra's blood-sugar levels
drop worryingly low.
She's separated from her mum
and taken to
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
..under the care
of Dr Ajeet Singh
When mummies have diabetes -
even if they have diabetes before
being pregnant or during pregnancy,
it doesn't matter -
babies have low sugar sometimes
and it doesn't autocorrect
by feeding or anything.
So, as of now, we will not feed the
baby, we'll just give her fluids,
till then, the baby
needs to be here.
How's it been?
Horrible.
I felt useless.
She's looking up at me
with all of her little tubes
and everything coming down her face,
but we need her
to get off of the fluids,
we need her blood sugar
to be perfect again.
I just keep thinking, as soon
as she comes out of there,
and then we'll be able to give her
a proper cuddle and everything else
without having to worry,
"If I move like that,
"is that going to pull that wire?
Lyra will stay in
the Intensive Care Unit
until her blood sugars stabilise.
BUZZER
Hello, can I help you?
Come in.
Today is Emma's second shift
in the NICU.
Hello, Emma.
And she is going
to learn to feed a baby
that's too small
to suck and swallow for itself.
Oh, my God, that baby just moved.
It's not even real!
So what we're going to do is
theoretical training
about how to put down
nasogastric tube on a baby.
Practice development nurse Julia
will guide Emma through
her first attempt on a dummy
So that's her, we call her baby Sim.
..before Emma has to feed
a real baby later today.
So if we're putting the tube into
a baby's nose and down their throat,
we don't want it to go to the lungs.
Yeah.
It doesn't want
to go to the lungs,
it wants to go to the stomach,
but it can go to the lungs,
and that's what
the safety aspect is today.
Right, OK.
Now, don't worry.
Don't worry.
You're not
filling me with confidence!
This training is vital.
An incorrectly inserted tube
could have fatal consequences.
So, not up - back and down.
Up and back, yeah.
That's it, and then feed it in.
Lovely, lovely.
Nasogastric tube-fitting.
SHE GASPS
Is it going in?
Just keep moving it
My big worry is I fixate on
the one thing that could go wrong,
which is putting a tube
down a baby's lung
instead of its stomach.
Is that in the throat
or has that gone down?
What you can see is where it's going
down the back of the throat,
so that's fine.
Whereas before,
it coiled up in the throat?
Yeah, yeah.
And even though she's said
she's never seen it,
I will be the one to do it.
That's what I'm scared of.
I'm like, "What, I don't want to
put it in her lung!"
Thank you.
Today, after being
in the NICU since birth,
baby Rocky is finally
being discharged.
Bum!
Yeah, Mummy's got to
change the bum.
Parents Claire and Rob have come to
collect him with big brother Jenson.
We're going home after three months
of being in intensive care.
We're excited,
because it's finally
It's finally come, after seeing
so many parents come and go.
You just kind of sit there and get a
bit disheartened, because you think,
"When is it going to be my turn?"
But when it is really your turn,
it just makes
that moment extra special.
He's now successfully breast-feeding
but still needs 24-hour oxygen.
So this is his fortifier.
Yep.
Put one sachet in about 25ml.
Yep. And do I wait for that to go up
a big amount for the weight?
I know I won't sleep tonight,
because it's that first night at
home, it's going to be watching him.
Have you got any questions
before you go,
anything that wasn't covered?
I think I'm excited
to just be his mum finally.
Good to go.
Thank you.
And start sort of
growing as a unit, really.
After so long of being separated.
They will be supported
by daily home visits
from the neo-natal community team
for the next four weeks.
As one family ends their time
on the neo-natal unit
..for others it's just beginning.
BABY CRIES OU
Research scientist Suruchi
had her twins Zoya and Aaniah
at just 28 weeks
after she started contracting early.
The first time they give you a baby
in your hand and they're tiny,
they give you a bundle of wires.
You wouldn't even know
where to start,
what's wrong with your baby,
because there are so many things.
Born before they could
fully develop,
the twins are being kept alive
by milk fed through a tube.
And just a few hours after
practising on the dummy,
it will be Emma's job
to insert one for the first time
Hello.
Hello.
How are you?
..guided by nursery nurse Ying.
Right. Today, we're going to
get you to put tubes down.
Yes.
We've got two to put down
on the set of twins
that we've got here.
So, it's up to you whether I put
one down and you watch me do it
Yes, please.
..and then
the second one, at one o'clock,
you can do it with me,
supporting you, doing it together.
Maybe.
OK. That's fine.
When I woke up
this morning, I thought,
"Oh, I'm going to see so many cute
little babies today in the NICU
"and maybe kind of help feed them."
I didn't think I would get asked
to literally put a tube up
their nose and into their tummy.
Like, monkey-close-your-eyes emoji.
PHONE RINGS
Good afternoon, Neonatal Unit.
On average,
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
has eight new admissions a week.
You're going to wake up, sweetie.
Today, Emma's nursing skills
will be tested
as she helps Ying change the
feeding tube for two new arrivals,
twins Aaniah and Zoya.
So what we're going to
need to do is gown up.
Apron and gloves on.
Yep.
And then we get
the bits that we need.
Can you remember what sort of things
we would need to put a tube down?
We need a tube.
Mm-hm.
Erm tape.
Yep.
Syringe.
Scissors.
Yep.
And, erm
test strips.
That's it.
Is that everything? Whoo!
33-year-old Suruchi had her twins
almost three months premature
after she went into labour early.
It's all right. It's all right.
They were delivered
by emergency caesarean section
and, at just over 2lbs each,
they have struggled to survive
outside the womb.
Does she have to be with her?
It helps.
They had problems
regulating their heartbeats
and one of the senior nurses said,
"Let's try putting them
in the same incubator,"
and it just did what
medicines couldn't -
they just regulated
each other's heartbeats.
So they do really do
so much for each other.
BABY MOANS
It's all right, Zoya,
she's right here.
Aw.
Earlier today, Emma learned to
tube-feed a baby on a special dummy.
These tubes stay in for seven days
and then we change them.
Yep.
And now, for the first time,
she'll be changing the tube
on a real baby.
What you need to do is
just gently take the tape off -
they don't ever like it, OK?
And then when you take it out,
it's a quick
Ooh!
Don't do it slowly.
Oh, it doesn't feel right.
I'm going to swaddle,
because it makes it easier.
Yeah.
What I'm going to do is put her head
in the neutral position,
and if you hold it nearer to the
tip, you've got more control, OK?
You'll put it in
and then you'll push it up
against the top of the nostril
and it will go over, OK?
So it will go down.
So then we're going to test.
Oh, it's so unfair.
I know.
BABY SNEEZES
Oh! Bless you.
Yeah? So we've got
an aspirate in there.
Oh, great.
OK?
Ying takes an acidity sample
to make sure the tube
is in Zoya's stomach.
5?
4.5.
It could be 4.5, yeah.
So we know we're in
the right place, not in the lungs.
Yeah.
Yeah?
You make it look so easy, Ying.
Right, then, Zoya,
you going to come to Mummy,
have a cuddle with Mummy?
BABY CRIES OU
It's OK, I've got you.
Can we now put Aaniah's tube down,
change her tube?
OK. Yep.
Oh, you're just staring at me!
You've got a cool test.
This is the cool one.
So, this is Aaniah.
So we're going to take this off.
I know, I'm sorry.
Talk to the hand.
So, tuck right underneath.
BABY CRIES OU
I know!
I want you to come this side.
And do the whole thing?
Yeah.
Oh, her eyes are all open!
She's, like,
"What are you doing, you joker?"
That's it. Let me hold her head.
Yeah.
Right, up the nose,
and then when you go in,
you're going to push it up and over.
Keep going.
Oh!
Excellent.
Now we're going
That's fine. You're there.
Oh!
No, you're fine. Well done.
All right, and then
you're going to test the pH.
And then pull back.
Now the feeding tube is in,
Emma must make sure
it's in the right place.
Now what do I do?
Unscrew it and put the lid back on.
That's a good one.
It is, isn't it?
2.5?
2.5.
Yep. That's brilliant.
That's a good one.
OK.
OK.
SHE GASPS
Well done. First tube passed.
Thank you.
Well, not on my own.
All right, come on, then.
She's like, "What?"
Let's give you back to Mummy.
There we go.
So we're going to do
the tube feed now.
Yeah.
Now I suppose it's just,
"Keep doing it, keep doing it,
keep doing it."
What would you do
if she starts being sick, Emma?
I would drop this
really low down here.
Yeah, that's it.
When you do things like inserting
a tube up a baby's nose
and into its belly to help it feed,
because it's so new
and young and premature
that it can't do it itself,
it's like,
that's amazing - I can't believe
that I've achieved that today.
To some people, I know,
that do it every day,
it probably feels like,
"Oh, it's just part of your job,"
but to me, I think that's
I think I've done
something incredible!
I love it.
PHONE RINGS
Hello, Samson Ward, can I help you?
Just come through.
Today Emma is working
on the antenatal ward.
Good morning. Hi.
Looking after mums-to-be
whose babies are more likely
to need intensive care.
You all right?
Yeah, good, how are you?
I'm fine.
I think I've done four.
41-year-old Victoria
has preeclampsia,
a condition that could be
life-threatening
to her and the baby.
She's here with
her husband, Colin.
How are you?
I'm good.
You OK if I do your obs?
To reduce the health risks,
Victoria's labour will be
induced four weeks early.
How long have you been in?
I was induced today.
Oh, OK.
My blood pressure.
OK.
It's all been fine
until last week, really,
when the doctor picked up that
the blood pressure has been high.
Apart from that, I've had
a really easy pregnancy,
so, yeah, bit of a shame
that I'm in here, but hey-ho.
Victoria and Colin
met online six years ago.
So every day they used to
send you an email
with your matches for the day.
And while zooming in,
I clicked on the Interested button.
Didn't know I'd done it.
Couple of hours later,
I got this massive email from him,
and the first thing it said was,
"Thank you for clicking
on the Interested button."
I thought,
"What's he talking about?"
So that's how it started -
I didn't even mean to do it
and now I'm married to him!
THEY LAUGH
Do you have children already?
Yeah.
We have two each.
Right, OK.
This is our first together.
Right.
So five in total.
Yeah.
And how were
your previous pregnancies?
Pretty straightforward, yeah.
No high blood pressure?
No, no. No.
'We're just compatible.
We bounce off each other,
'we're best mates,
we can talk about anything.'
Obviously there's
the attraction there as well.
So here we are
and it's nearly D-Day.
How are you normally
on these machines?
Are they all right, or do
you normally have it done manually?
I normally have the manual one.
I'll try that.
At 41, Victoria had a higher
risk of developing preeclampsia.
It's because
I'm geriatric, probably.
No, you're not!
No way!
You're certainly not geriatric.
I feel like it.
You won't do, once that
little thing's out, you'll be
Yeah, I'll be fine.
In a year,
you'll be sprightly again.
Yeah.
I had my third at 40.
Oh, did you?
Yep.
I see nervous anticipation
from Victoria
because of everything
that's going on with her body.
Preeclampsia, you've really
got to keep an eye on it
because it can be really dangerous,
so, you know,
she's in the right place.
..Being in here.
Worried?
No, I'm all right at the minute.
Yeah? Good.
Right, I'm going to go and tell them
what your blood pressure is.
Thanks.
But I'm sure
everything is fine.
Thanks.
See you in a bit.
Nine hours later,
Victoria's labour has progressed.
She is transferred to
the consultant-led labour ward
to receive specialist care.
That changed quickly, didn't it?
She's already 4cm dilated.
Do you want to hold on
to my hand or anything?
Ah
MIDWIFE:
Has anyone spoken to you
about pain relief?
Ow.
Ow.
Oh.
Experienced midwife Claire
will be looking after them.
Did you want some gas
and air, Victoria?
Did you have it last time?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Did it make you a little bit sick?
It made my chest feel
like it was going to explode.
OK, well, that doesn't sound good.
I'm starting to panic.
OK. Just take some
slow, deep breaths.
That's it.
Relax your shoulders down.
Oh!
What's worrying you?
That there's something wrong.
OK.
I don't think I can do it.
Victoria's baby starts
showing signs of distress.
We've been having little dips
with the baby's heartbeat.
It's now even more vital
she delivers as soon as possible.
The plan is to do an examination
and see if we can break your waters
just to see if we can move this on,
is that OK?
Yeah.
Yeah?
Ow.
Is that sore?
No, it's the contraction.
Oh! Can't deal with this.
You're doing so well, Victoria.
You're doing really, really well.
Hi, good evening.
Midwife Vicky has been called in
to help speed up her birth.
SHE MOANS IN PAIN
OK, sweetheart.
Is it OK if I check you down below,
break these water, yeah?
Is that OK?
Yeah.
If preeclampsia is left untreated,
the woman will become
very, very unwell.
SHE CRIES OUT IN PAIN
So it's just a case of really
picking it up early
and acting on it,
because it can be fatal.
The exact cause is unknown,
but the way to treat it is really
to aim to deliver the baby.
Ow!
Feeling some pressure there,
now, Vicky?
No.
No.
No pressure.
All right, sweetie.
Ow.
I think he's coming.
Bring that leg up for me.
That's brilliant.
Ow!
Right. Open your legs for me
Vicky pierces the amniotic sac
with a small hook.
SHE CRIES OUT IN PAIN
Right.
Ow.
OK.
Breathe. Breathe.
Give me a push, cos baby's coming.
Ow!
Good girl, go on. And again.
Oh, my God!
Oh!
Oh!
What you need to do now is listen to
what your body's telling you.
You're going to have
a baby, my love, OK?
41-year-old Victoria
has preeclampsia,
a condition caused
by high blood pressure
which can lead
to fatal complications.
Oh, oh. I can't do this.
You can. You can.
You're nearly there.
Nearly there, sweetie.
You're nearly there.
After being induced
four weeks early,
she is now in
the final stages of labour.
SHE MOANS
She is being supported
by husband Colin
and midwife Vicky.
SHE CRIES OUT You got pressure?
Vicky, look at me, sweetheart.
SHE HOWLS
Look at me. Give us a push,
then, my lovely.
Oh Oh, my
Well done.
Look at me, look at me.
Breathe, nice and slow.
Nice and slow.
Relax your shoulders a bit.
Slowly breathing.
Slow right down.
OK, right down.
It's coming. Head.
Blow, blow, blow. Blow.
Just three and a half minutes
after her waters were broken
Way! Hello.
COLIN:
There we go - done it!
..a baby boy is born.
He's wearing his cord like
a little star, sweetheart.
There you go, my darling. Well done.
You've done amazing.
Oh, it was awful.
Hello, little one.
That was quick. Excellent.
You've done it.
Pretty fast, wasn't it?
Very fast, weren't it?
Babies born more prematurely
do have a high risk
of going to special care.
Can we just pop that hat
straight back on to him, please?
Oh, yeah, where's it gone?
There you go.
They're always given a red hat
to highlight to staff
that these babies need
to have a little more care
than perhaps the next baby
that's quite robust
and can manage
on his own or her own.
He's got to go away?
Not necessarily.
Oh.
Just depends
on how well he does. Yeah?
We just need
to monitor him closely.
Can I cut the cord when it's time?
Course you can, yeah.
Thanks.
Welcome to the world.
There you go, Dad,
for you to cut the cord.
That's lovely.
Just between the two pegs there.
Yeah.
That's it.
It's like dry pasta, isn't it?
I know, yeah.
Bit tough sometimes
but there you go.
Right, my lovely.
In there?
Yes.
No wonder you were kicking
so much - another boy!
It's my third son,
it's our first son together,
and it'll be
the third son that we've got
between the two of us,
so, yeah, it's complicated
but I think I've got it right.
No, it isn't.
It's not the third son between us,
it's the fourth.
Don't say that bit.
What? We haven't got four sons.
I've got one and you've got two
and we've got one - that's four.
Oh, yeah, it is.
All right, yeah. Oh!
THEY LAUGH
If you don't know, we don't know!
We've got quite a lot, yeah.
I've got a lot of boys.
Beautiful.
Hello.
Overnight, Jude's
condition deteriorates.
He's admitted to the NICU
and placed in an incubator.
Back on shift, Emma checks in
on the couple and their baby boy.
BABY CRIES
Cutie.
His temperature and stuff
and everything was going downwards,
and they said, "They're going to
bring him up here
"just for a check-up,"
and they've picked him up
and whisked him off.
So, yeah, it was scary
and we literally all ran up,
up here, with him.
It's been a long night.
Because everything happened
so fast last night,
I feel like I haven't actually
just sat and held him
and looked at him and
I think I would be so fearful
that if I disturbed him
something might start to change
again, do you know what I mean?
You've got that conflict,
haven't you?
You want him to have the cuddles
but then you realise
that's the best place for him.
But the staff are amazing.
We walked in here and everything's
like panic, but they're, like,
just calm, they've got their arms
in there, they're going,
"Right, OK, get this cable,
get that cable,"
you know, all this, like
It's like an amazing dance
they do, isn't it?
It's choreographed
and happens just so in synch.
Yeah.
Aw.
Well, congratulations.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Well, I'm next door.
Give me a shout.
Yeah.
There's nothing I can do,
but, you know
I'll rub your feet if you want.
Oh, you wouldn't want to do that!
Or I'll him while you sleep.
Oh, yeah. That's a good idea.
I'll see you in a bit.
Thanks.
Bye.
Victoria and Colin,
such a lovely couple.
Everything was going fine
and then suddenly
he just went downhill.
Bless him. But he's looking like
he's on the mend
and he's looking really healthy
and he's looking really well,
so she needs to
go and get some sleep.
Whilst Jude spends his first day
on the intensive care unit,
for twins Aaniah and Zoya,
it's their last.
Well, you'll see them soon.
After two months in special care,
mum Suruchi and dad Raja
are finally taking them home.
You going to be good girls at home?
Thank you so much for everything.
Thank you so much.
You're very welcome. Keep in touch
and come to our reunion.
So going home today is just
an amazing feeling.
Hello, monkey.
An it's unreal for me.
It's just overwhelming
at this point.
You can come back
and visit us any time.
I'm really excited.
Their nursery is waiting for them.
It would be nice, because
we've been telling the girls,
on difficult days, "This is
not your life, we have a home.
"We'll take you out there,
"you'll have your own room,
you'll see sunlight,
"not just the lights
that are on the ceiling,"
so, it's just overwhelming.
You made it, munchkin.
So did you.
You're just
She's just dozing off.
Say bye-bye.
She's fast asleep.
Thank you. See you, guys.
Hey.
It is nice to see a kind of
full cycle of a baby.
That they come in,
they're looked after,
they go and they get strong,
and then finally
the babies go home,
which is what we want - we want them
to go home and be well.
Their parents must be so happy
to finally get them home,
they've been in there
for such a long time.
Yay!