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The Midwives

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Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Following midwives who work in hospitals helping to deliver babies.

Following midwives who work in hospitals helping to deliver babies - a rewarding yet often very challenging job.

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

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Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

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The Midwives: Series 2

Rupert Houseman

Rosie Saunders

Joanne Timoney

Spencer Kelly

Tom McDonald

John Lemke

Liam Shanagher

Hannah Fairclough

Nicola Hill

Jackie McKinney-Dyer

Kate Walker

The Midwives: Series 2: Episode 8: Delivery on Demand

Delivery on Demand

Episode 8

Episode 8: Delivery on Demand

Series 2

BBC Two - The Midwives, Series 2, Delivery on Demand

Returning to the busy maternity ward of Birmingham Women's Hospital.

Series following the work of midwives. This episode returns to Birmingham Women's Hospital, which has just 21 beds to cope with the nearly 600 births that take place each month.

This episode revisits the midwives at Birmingham Women's Hospital, one of the country's busiest delivery units. With nearly 600 births a month and only 21 beds, it is a constant juggling act for the midwives coping with an increasing number of high risk mums. 

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.

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Following hospital midwives working in busy delivery suites.

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The Midwives

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Episode 8: Delivery on Demand

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