One born every minute

*New* OBEM Series 3...

...starts on Wednesday 4th Jan!!!


With new lives beginning and others changing forever, the most emotionally-charged documentary series on British television, One Born Every Minute, returns. This time the BAFTA-Award winning series has moved to Leeds and is packed with drama from the North. There's a new team of characterful midwives, lots of new mums and dads and, of course, babies.

The first episode features two expectant fathers who desperately want to see their babies being born. But will circumstances conspire against them? "If you're not going to be there for the birth, what's the point of being a dad?" asks one father-to-be.

We also meet the dedicated team of midwives from Leeds, who drink giant cups of tea, run a list of alternative names for vaginas in their breaks - ‘monkle' anyone? - and have frequently been in the jobs they love for so long that they remember delivering whole generations of the same family.
The midwives think that "Yorkshire men can appear quite gruff and tough" but that with birth "it all crumbles away". Adding that for men it's an alien environment and can make them feel uncomfortable.

Soldier in the British Army Shuan (20) is about to start a six month tour of duty in Afghanistan. His daughter is due any day now. His partner Donna (28) is brought in for an induction at the earliest possible opportunity - they're both desperate for him to see the baby before he goes. When they first arrive the midwives tell them to make themselves comfortable and Shaun jokes "great, I'll hop on the bed then!". They listen to a labouring woman in another room which sounds like a cow, muses Donna adding "that'll be me later."

"We have to get this baby out", says the midwife, "no messing". "Go on" replies Donna "stick what you need to up there and break them waters". But nothing is hurrying this baby along - even Shaun offering to buy "every sausage roll in Greggs" for the midwives. Will baby arrive before her dad has to take up his posting?

Eighteen year-old Beth and her husband Kurt have been together for two years. Beth says she always knew when the right person had come along and Kurt chips in "and BOOM here I am!". Kurt is determined to put his ‘bad lad' ways to one side and wants to set a shining example for his son. And that includes being there when his baby is born. Beth is jolly and happy - but constantly hungry. Don't worry, the midwives tell her merrily, "you won't feel hungry when you're in constant pain!". Donna manages to keep laughing and has plenty of banter with Kurt - who is following Leeds vs Man United while Donna is being examined. While Donna giggles throughout Kurt warns "she's laughing but then the next minute you get tears. You never know what's coming next!" But it is a long and difficult labour and when complications arise, Beth must choose whether Kurt or her mum go into theatre with her. Will Kurt get to see his baby arrive?

http://www.channel4.com/info/press/programme-information/one-born-every-minute-winter-2012

Re: OBEM Series 3...

YEY! This and call the Midwife, spoilt for midwifery tele in 2012.