Sign language

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Life and Birth

Documentaries

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Following parents and staff at three of Birmingham’s busiest maternity units.

The miracle of birth meets cutting-edge medicine at three of Birmingham’s busiest maternity hospitals as parents and staff welcome the arrival of Britain’s next generation.

Series 1

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One West Midlands

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

BBC One Oxfordshire

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One Wales

Wales

BBC One North West

BBC One Channel Islands

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One London

London

BBC One Yorkshire

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

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

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Suranne Jones

Daniel Dewsbury

Olivia Baldwin

Rachel Harvie

Vicky Mitchell

Becky Casey-Ahmed

Meghan Just-Truelove

Simon Kerfoot

Tom Currie

Simon Ford

Richard Bond

Dragonfly Film and Television

Life and Birth: Series 1: Episode 2

Episode 2

BBC One - Life and Birth, Series 1, Episode 2

Sarah is having her fifth baby, while Jordan needs to support Sam as she has their first.

Kirsten’s high-risk pregnancy is being closely monitored. Jordan must step up as his partner Sam has their first baby, while Sarah has come in to deliver her fifth.

Sarah and Dale are the proud parents of four boys, and baby number five is now on the way. As an experienced mum and now regular visitor to Heartlands Hospital’s maternity unit, Sarah requires minimal help from the midwives to deliver her baby. It’s a different story, though, for first time mum Gabi and her partner Cip, who spend nearly a week in hospital waiting to meet their new baby. 

Twenty-five-year-old Samantha is worried that her mum Aminah won’t be by her side for the birth of her first child. A nasty bite from a friend’s dachshund has landed Aminah in hospital just across the road from her daughter. Sam’s partner Jordan can’t wait to become a dad, but at only 22 still has some growing up to do himself. When the baby’s heart rate starts to dip and doctors decide to perform a caesarean section, Jordan must conquer his own fear of surgery and step up for his partner and their son. 

Thirty-four-year-old Kirsten’s 20-week scan revealed that her baby girl’s oesophagus isn’t connected to her stomach. The rare condition will require corrective surgery once the baby is born, but it can only go ahead if she grows big enough. Kirsten needs to carry her daughter for as long as possible, but there is a very high risk of her going into premature labour. Kirsten and husband Mark have suffered six previous miscarriages before this pregnancy and had almost given up hope of ever having children.  It means everything to them to become parents, but they can’t help but feel daunted at the prospect of the difficult road that lies ahead.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Life and Birth

Series 1

Episode 2

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland

About BBC Two