The Midwives

Lesley needs to closely monitor Neelam whose pregnancy is complicated by her diabetes.

Following the midwives in Birmingham who care for mothers at both ends of the age range.

Following the Birmingham midwives in the birth centre and the delivery suite.

Featuring the midwives of Saint Mary's Hospital, Manchester, who help mums and dads through high risk pregnancies or cases where mums and their babies need extra special care.

This episode features the midwives at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff - home to the busiest labour ward in Wales. Like many maternity units across the UK, Cardiff's midwives have seen the number of pregnant women asking for epidurals double over the last 20 years. Only a quarter of those women go on to have natural unassisted deliveries.

This episode follows student midwives as they get hands-on experience at Birmingham Women's Hospital - one of the busiest maternity units in the country.

This episode follows the midwives at the University Hospital of Wales as they look after mums who need additional medical support and care. Specialist midwife Sarah works in the antenatal day unit. Her patient, Lee, is 33 weeks pregnant and has been coming in to the unit for daily scans because her baby's growth has slowed down. Sarah's aim is to keep a close watch on Lee's baby and try to keep him in utero for as long as possible. A week later, Lee is admitted to hospital with signs of pre-eclampsia and the doctors and midwives have to act quickly.

Antoinette Connolly has been a midwife for over 20 years and specialises in multiple pregnancies. She is looking after Aman and Pete who are expecting triplets. It is a high-risk birth and Aman has been booked in for a c-section. As Antoinette helps prepare the theatre for the delivery with 'three of everything' it is evident what is at stake and how demanding it is on the maternity unit's resources. Over on the induction bay midwife Lisa is looking after Audrey, another high-risk mum expecting her second baby. Lisa is concerned that Audrey's baby is showing signs of restricted growth and is monitoring the situation to see if they should bring on Audrey's labour sooner. Having had a difficult first birth resulting in an emergency c-section, Audrey is anxious to have a natural birth in her own time. As the midwives juggle beds, another mum expecting triplets arrives. Midwife Antoinette shows Sarah around the delivery suite and explains the plan to help her deliver her three babies. Yet birth rarely goes to plan and when Sarah goes into labour in the early hours of the nightshift, it is all hands to the pump for the already swamped staff.