One Born Every Minute

The Bafta Award-winning One Born Every Minute returns for a new series from its new home at Liverpool's Women's Hospital: the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Liverpudlian humour takes centre stage in the first episode a soon to be dad tries to keep his partner laughing through the contractions of a baby they thought they would never have, while another couple must pull together when their baby's life is in danger. Midwife and shift leader Delia keeps everyone's spirits up through the tough moments and the good. 'Laughter is the best sound in the world,' she says. First time mum Yvonne, who's 41, and her partner Gary, who's 48, thought the opportunity to be parents had passed them by. Yvonne describes herself as 'vintage' so the couple couldn't have been happier when they discovered Yvonne was pregnant. 'Not bad for an old bird' Gary jokes. Gary has used his big personality to woo Yvonne from the word go - on an early date he got the whole pub singing along to his karaoke - but can his jokes keep Yvonne smiling as the pain kicks in? Jennifer, who's 25, and her partner Darran, who's 26, were told at the 20-week scan that their baby had a heart defect but it won't be until she's born that they know how badly it might affect her. All they can do is wait and hope that the first cry their baby gives is a healthy one. Darran is desperate to be a dad but during the labour he struggles with not knowing what they will face when she's born: 'My worst fear is for her to not pull through, because she has got that chance of not pulling through.' Midwife Delia supports Darran through some of the toughest hours of his life.

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute settles into its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. First impressions aren’t quite what they seem on Delivery Suite tonight – a 16 year old has to grow up very quickly to cope with the life threatening illness of not just her mum but also her unborn baby, a dark glasses wearing woman reveals the sad truth behind her shades and glamorous best friends share a secret passion for Morris Dancing. Reve (16) had only been going out with Keiran (22) for two weeks when she discovered she was pregnant – with someone else’s baby. Reve fully expected her new boyfriend to leave but Keiran stood by her side and has been there for her ever since. And she certainly needs the support. At her twenty week scan Reve discovers that her unborn baby has a heart condition that could leave him cronically ill and soon after that her adored mum, Deborah, is diagnosed with cancer. Unwilling to be beaten by her illness, Deborah believes that she and the baby with survive “If he can fight on then I can fight on” she says. Midwife Nichola, who was also a young mum, quickly bonds with the young teenager, but is amazed at Reve’s maturity “My daughter’s 16 and she can barely put her packed lunch together” she says. Meanwhile, 43 year old Dawn has arrived at the hospital in her signature outfit – dressed head to toe in black, a studded neck colour and her signature dark shades. She admits that the affect can be quite intimidating but reveals that it’s her protective armour. Dawn has lost two children previously and is terrified of history repeating itself. Laura (28) and best mate April (25) have known each other for 15 years. There’s little the glamourous duo won’t share and that includes their passion for Morris Dancing. The moves come in handy as Laura’s labour slows down dramatically.

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute settles into its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Danika, a health care assistant with big plans and even bigger brows, describes herself as a midwife side-kick but has ambitions to be a fully-fledged midwife herself one day. She’s a huge hit with the labouring mums and always greets them with a big smile and a perfect Scouse brow “It’s all about the arch. If you don’t get that right you’re finished” she says. Three sets of parents join Danika at the Liverpool Women’s hospital tonight – Becky and Colin wait anxiously for their first baby who after taking over six years to conceive and doesn’t seem to be in any rush to be born, Matt and Milly are preparing for the birth of their child with the same precision and dedication that they put into marathon running whilst Gary is in danger of missing the birth of his child altogether. Becky (30) and Colin (33) are childhood sweethearts and have been together for 13 years. Colin proposed after six months but although he’s bought Becky a ring, the wedding seems to be taking it’s time – as does their first child. According to Colin, Becky has always been ‘A mother without a child’ and as family and friends around them started getting pregnant second time around, the couple realised that something must be wrong. The doctor told Colin he had low mobility ‘In respect of football. You’ve got sperm like West Brom’ At times, Colin felt that the best thing to do would be to leave Becky so that she could have the baby she longed for. After three goes at IVF the couple finally conceived but the baby who took so long to get in doesn’t want to come out and after two days in labour Becky is rushed to theatre for an emergency section. Gill (35)and Gary (35) both felt like love had passed them by but when reformed alcoholic Gary fell in love with Gill’s bright red hair Gill decided to follow her heart and the couple got together. Although they both have other children, this baby feels like a second chance for Gary to be the best father he possibly can but as the moment of birth creeps closer, Gary’s nerves get the better of him and he pops out for a phone-call and a cigarette. Will he make it back into the room in time? Meanwhile fitness fanatics Milly (29) and Matt (28) rely on their marathon training to get them through the birth of their first child. The highly competitive couple are used to training for endurance races, but will Milly’s high levels of fitness mean that this is a sprint rather than a marathon?

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute continues from its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Tonight a party girl prepares to have the child she thought she would never have, a teenage couple pull together to welcome a baby that wasn’t planned and an impatient Mum to be struggles when her birth plan goes wrong. Glamorous single Mum Paula (36) arrives at Liverpool Women’s with her doting Mum Tina (55). A reformed party girl, Paula can’t wait to have the baby that she and her Mum thought “would never happen”. The imminent arrival is made all the more emotional as Paula recently lost her father to cancer and he would have been “made up” to be a grand dad. A picture of him is right by her side throughout her labour…and when the taps to the birthing pool suddenly come on in the middle of the night Paula believes it’s her Dad letting her know he is there to help…”knowing he’s around will make me feel like I can do it”. Childhood sweethearts Paige (17) and Aaron (19) were planning on starting a career before having a family but after unexpectedly falling pregnant decide “to do things the opposite way round” and carry on despite worrying about parents disapproving. Paige “I didn’t tell my Mum until I was at least 4 months pregnant…I thought if I’d told people too early they would try and change my decision and judge me”.. After the initial shock Paige’s Mum Julie is won over by her daughters determination and desire to start a family and alongside Aaron supports her through a painful labour...Julie ”I’d never thought I’d be a Nanny so young – but now it’s settled in I’m very excited”. Self-confessed control freak Helen is determined that her second baby with husband Marc must be perfect as she has no recollection of their first baby being born after a particularly “horrendous” birth. But despite being fully focused on an idyllic delivery her baby isn’t coming out and the medical team advise her they will have to intervene, but single minded Helen refuses to give up on the natural birth she craves.

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute continues from its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Tonight an Iranian couple who recently moved to Liverpool are lost in translation during labour, a football mad dad channels his supporting on the terraces techniques to overcome his own squeamishness, and a devoted husband who never leaves his wife's side is in danger of missing the birth. Iranian couple Elhameh, 41 and Farbod, 41, arrive at Liverpool Women’s hospital for a planned Caesarean section. Back home men are not allowed to see their partners in the operating theatre and movie mad Farbod is determined to film everything so he has a permanent record...but his home movie is put on pause when a male interpreter turns up instead of the female one they asked for. David, 31 and Jenny, 28 are in race against time to get to the delivery suite. This normally inseparable pair are split up while David parks the car and as he wanders the ward looking for the right delivery room this one time loner reflects on how an unexpected office romance changed his life forever. Proud Liverpool fan and man’s man Peter, 32, is out of his comfort zone during his wife Emma’s labour, 33. The last time she had a baby he was so overwhelmed with squeamishness he threw up. This time he is determined to pull through and support her through the entire birth but as the contractions get worse he is in danger of scoring an own goal again….”it’s not all about you” he says to her but she fires back saying “right here, right now it’s all about me”.

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute continues from its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Tonight a teenager is shocked to find out she is 24 weeks pregnant, a proud Dad to be is eager for his fist born to be a boy so he can pass on the Greek family name he is so proud of and a self-confessed unlucky couple hope that a much-longed-for baby will turn their fortunes around. Teenage couple Elisha (17) and Dylan (19) didn’t even realise they were expecting until Elisha was 6 months pregnant. Once they got over the shock themselves, they then had to pass the news on to Elisha’s mum, Donna. Despite the shock Donna is determined to be her daughter’s birth partner – “I can’t believe my baby is having a baby” and is ready to stand alongside Dylan right by Elisha’s side through an emotional birth. Gemma (30) and proud Greek Kosta (30) are caught in a clash of cultures over their first baby. Gemma wants to name the baby after her Mum,while Kosta is hoping for a boy so the Greek tradition of naming the boy after his father can continue the family name into a 5th generation. Gemma fully understands "Kosta's worried that his family name will die with him". But the focus on the baby's sex takes a back seat when the birth has to be accelerated after an alarming change to the baby's heartbeat. Jenny (30) and husband Chris (30) have been through the mill in their quest to start a family. "They just said sometimes two human bodies just aren't compatible....you're not chemically matched". The unlucky couple expect the worst to happen after 7 long years of trying for a baby, which combined with Jenny's fear of being jinxed means she hits rock bottom while trying to deliver the baby.

It’s a case of 'sliding doors' in this week’s episode when for one couple a fumble under the sheets at University results in them leaving with a baby as well as a degree, and for another, a life threatening illness pulls everything into sharp focus. Young parents Brooke (23) and Tim (23) met in the first term of University when they quickly became inseparable and known by their friends as ‘Brim’. Brooke had always imagined that she’d conceive her first child in a romantic setting but instead of candles and flowers, she got pregnant “while stuffing my face and watching rubbish DVDs”. They wouldn’t change this for the world though, if they could only agree on a name for this baby. Will it be Dexter, Alexander or Forest? Meanwhile it’s teenage birthing partner, Courtney (16) who will be supporting her mum, Tara, (36) as she brings her little brother into the world. Courtney is excited, despite her reservations: ‘Obviously she’s gonna be pushing something out of her foo-foo which I’m not happy about and it’s gonna scar me for life!’ We’ll hear how mother and daughter overcame a difficult period in their past, but became stronger for it. Shift-leader midwife, Delia, continues to sprinkle positivity around Delivery Suite and reveals the reason for her upbeat outlook: “when you've hit rock bottom in your life, and you can’t hit any lower, the little things do make you happy”. New couple Hayley (40) and Nick (23) have been together just over a year, and in that time they've stared both life and death in the face. During Hayley’s pregnancy, Nick contracted pneumonia and septicaemia and became critically ill. While lying in intensive care it was the thought of his unborn child that gave Nick "something to fight on for and kept him going”. Having nearly lost the man of her dreams, Hayley is now petrified of being apart from Nick, so when things don’t go according to plan in theatre and they must be parted, how will she cope?

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute continues from its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Tonight childhood sweethearts worry about the welfare of their premature baby, a couple put their wedding on hold to have a baby and Mum craves a pain free birth for her second baby. Alyshea (18) and Maculay (19) met when they were 12 years old and have been inseparable ever since. Whilst being surprised to fall pregnant both were excited about becoming parents but their happiness was put on hold when Alyshea’s waters broke at 18 weeks leaving her baby susceptible to infection and lung problems. After careful monitoring at Liverpool Women’s Alyshea has made it to 28 weeks but the couple have to deal with the reality that their son may not have the strength to pull through. Alyshea “Once your told that your baby is probably not going to make it, it feels like you are not pregnant again. You can’t have baby showers, you can’t go baby shopping or get excited about thinking of names… it all becomes about worrying”. Kevin (25) and Emma (25) were not expecting to become parents quite so soon. Kevin “If you has asked me what we’d be doing next year I would have said travelling around Thailand or something…I never even thought about being a Dad”. But falling pregnant has taken control of their lives, forcing them to cancel their wedding and exotic travel plans. The normally nervous Kevin also has to put his squeamishness to one side and be strong for Emma whilst facing the daunting prospect of impending fatherhood. Samantha (33) and Paul (39) didn’t have a chance to enjoy the birth of their first baby after a complication during delivery meant Paul was more concerned with looking after his traumatised wife rather than bond with his son. This time they want it to be different – but their nerves are not helped by ending up in the same room on almost the same date. It’s left to midwife Hana to make them focus on the now and “get in the zone” rather than worry about history repeating itself.

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute continues from its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Tonight a brave mother of two is prepared to risk her own life to have the big family she has always craved, a single Mum relies on her Mum to help her bond with her second baby and a retired soldier has his reactions tested during labour. Rhiannon (26) and John (25) met at secondary school and have been inseparable ever since. However their life together is constantly under threat through Rhiannon having cystic fibrosis, a condition that gets worse during pregnancy. Despite the risks she is determined to have a third baby and leave a family legacy behind for John Rhiannon “ I want my children to have siblings and grow up close and support each other so John would constantly have me through them”. Single Mum and single minded SammiJo (21) arrives at Liverpool Women’s hospital to deliver her second baby. First time round she was so traumatised by giving birth so fast that she failed to make a connection with her daughter. SammiJo “I got post-natal depression, I rejected her, I just disowned her didn’t want to know her – I never got that Mum experience. I’m hoping and praying that this time round I get to hold her and be a Mum”. This time round SammiJo is determined that history won’t repeat itself and is relying on her Mum and birth partner Sharon to give her the support she needs. Ex-solider Ian (48) returned to his hometown of Liverpool to find a strong local girl to settle down with and raise a family. Eventually he found Kirsty (31) who soon pulled rank and took charge of him and their home, but an unexpected turn of events during labour requires Ian to step up and put himself on the front line.

With the massage oils at the ready, it’s the dads who take centre stage in this episode of One Born, when we see how different men approach the role of birthing partner. Midwife, Gill Houghton, doesn't think birth partners get enough credit for the role they play at the birth, “it’s tough going for a man, they often don’t know what to do… it’s my role to help them find their feet.” Super-organised couple Nadine (31) and Paul (40) are coming into Liverpool Women’s Hospital to have their second baby. Risk Manager, Paul, knows that birth is an unpredictable business. At the birth of their first child everything spiralled out of control, and it was “the most traumatic experience of (his) life”. This time he’s determined to give his wife Nadine a better experience, as he’s learned, “Happy wife, happy life”. Paul has attempted to remove all 'risk' by planning this birth down to the finest detail, from the music to the candles, to massage, hypnobirthing and aromatherapy. The midwives are impressed to say the least, “He looks like Gary Barlow... What a guy!” Young couple Bobbilee (19) and Frankie's (22) eyes met at their local bus-stop, and then he treated her to home-cooked beans and chips. A month after getting together, Bobbi found out she was pregnant. Dad, Frankie, has no experience with childbirth whatsoever but rather than reading up and doing his research, he’s decided he’s going to “wing it”. Armed with plenty of change for the vending machine, his plan is to keep Bobbi well fed with crisps and chocolate throughout the labour. But after 48 hours in the hospital, and still no sign of baby, will he be able to step up and support her when the going gets tough? Until a year ago, Linda (32) and Tony (42) were both single parents bringing up their kids on opposite sides of the same street. When their children started playing together, they decided to bring their two families together with a new baby. Linda is booked in for a planned C-Section but Tony won’t be going in to theatre with Linda, due to traumatic hospital experiences in his past, “I’ve never been in hospital with someone and they’ve survived”. Linda’s mum, Irene, will be stepping into Tony’s shoes as birthing partner in theatre, while Tony waits anxiously for news.

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute continues from its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Tonight Time is of the essence as one of our couples races to the finish line desperate to meet their baby, while another is savouring every second as dad’s brain injury means he may not remember anything about it. Super-organised midwife Nicola and her colleagues keep delivery suites running like clockwork but even she must concede that “Labour is as unpredictable as the weather, nothing really runs on time” Meanwhile Kate (29) and Pete (32) are having their first baby together, though they both have children from previous relationships. At the age of 22 Pete contracted meningitis and encephalitis which wiped his memory and left him with a brain injury that means he has very limited short term memory. With the help of family and his new wife Kate, he’s rebuilt his life and although they're are excited about becoming parents together for the very first time, there's still a question mark over how much he'll actually be able to remember in the future. Hayley (30) and Stephen (34) met at drama school when she was drawn to his long hair in a ponytail, “To me he was just a young meatloaf”. These days, says Hayley, the couple are travelling at different speeds; Stephen is a super-patient driver who stops to let everyone out, whereas she like to arrive early! Despite being in different time-zones the couple have created a big happy family together. After losing her mum as a child, Hayley has resolved to appreciate every small moment with her husband and children, as nothing lasts forever. Lisa (33) and Stephen (34) are coming into Liverpool Womens to have their third baby and they are already on the clock. Lisa prides herself on having quick labours - her first took six hours, the second only four - so she’s determined to have this baby within 2 hours. Laid-back “it can wait till tomorrow” husband Stephen, says, “If Lisa wants a 2 hour labour, chances are she’ll have a 2 hour labour” but when things don’t go according to plan how will she cope with a change to the schedule?

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute continues from its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Tonight a Mum takes her son's place to welcome a grandchild she has only just found out about, a Dad turns poet to help his panicking wife through the birth of a baby he never realised he wanted so much, and an emotional Mum can’t stop laughing during her daughter's labour. Heidi (16) is rushed to Liverpool Women’s by ambulance. By her side is her Mum Jo (44) and Adele (34), the mother of her ex-boyfriend and father of the baby, who is shocked to find out she is going to be a grandmother so young. Adele, “I never imagined being a grandmother at 34, I didn’t know until a couple of weeks before Heidi was due to have the baby”. Adele’s son has learning difficulties and she thinks he would not cope with the birth so wants to be there in his place instead. Despite being almost a total stranger, she wants to forge a bond with Heidi, Jo and the baby. Adele, “I feel right now I need to take on his(my son's) responsibilities, I feel part of my journey now is not just to be a grandmother but to help my son become a Dad”. A jittery Michelle (31) is wheeled in by her husband Gavin (36) for her second baby, a moment she thought would never happen after he told her he never wanted children. Gavin, “I could tell pretty early on in our relationship that having a baby was really important to Michelle but I was honest with her and told her that having kids wasn’t something I saw myself doing in the future”. Michelle, “I was head over heels with him, and knew I needed to choose between children and Gavin, and I chose to be with Gavin. I was in pieces thinking he would never change his mind to have children”. But eventually Gavin could not bear to see Michelle so upset and gave in, and is now determined to be totally supportive in the delivery suite. Gavin “I wasn’t supportive when Michelle said she wanted children, so there is going to be a big step up during labour”. As Michelle begins to lose control, Gavin calms her down by reading out a surprise piece of poetry he has written about how happy he now is to be a father. Louise (29) arrives at Liverpool Women’s for her third baby, and a precious first daughter. Right by her side is her Mum Jane (46) who hides her stress by continuously laughing through the contractions. Jane, “When I’m nervous I laugh.. At the end of the day I can’t really show what I’m feeling to my daughter because I don’t want her panicking in case something happens”. Louise is relying on Jane to get her through labour as her husband is in prison for a first time offence. Louise, “14 years my partner and I have been together, and when he went away if felt like my right arm had been cut off, my whole life was turned upside down and I was forced to do everything.” This gives Jane an opportunity to make up for the guilt she still feels about leaving Louise aged 16 behind in Liverpool when she refused to come with her to pursue a life in Scotland for a few years. Jane, “Being at this birth is something special, it’s a way of making it up to Louise. I don’t ever want to separated from my daughter ever again – I’m going to be here until the day I die”.

The BAFTA award-winning One Born Every Minute continues from its new home at Liverpool Women's Hospital - the largest and busiest maternity unit in Europe. Tonight a Mummy’s boy has to put down his cuddly toy and face fatherhood for the first time, a self-confessed baby machine arrives to deliver her fifth child and childhood sweethearts can’t wait to take their baby home to their first house. Gina (27) and James (27) met at university when Gina was on an exchange programme from her hometown Shanghai. They survived their long-distance relationship by talking to each other through their cuddly toys over the internet. James’ mum Carol admits “I often wondered whether James would find anyone who had the same silliness as him, so when he did meet Gina, I was made up because the two of them can be just as silly together.” With a baby on the way however, the couples’ maturity will be put to the test. Meanwhile Margy(38) and Christos(33) are in Liverpool Women’s to have their fifth child. The couple met on a football chat-room and if Margy had her way she would have enough babies to form an entire team. Her husband thinks she may be addicted to having babies, “when she has a baby in her lap she’s probably the most complete in her life that she can ever be” but with Christos threatening to have a vasectomy, will Margy be able to stop having babies and learn to enjoy watching the ones she has had grow up. Childhood sweethearts Sarah (27) and Craig (27) met at school when a 15 year-old Craig plucked up the courage to kiss Sarah, “one of the fitties of the year” But falling pregnant young meant living with with her parents and so starting their own family home has had to wait, until now.