One Born Every Minute

Plus Size Mums. Almost one in five pregnant women in the UK is clinically obese. Obesity during pregnancy puts both mother and baby at greater risk of almost every medical complication in the book. One Born: Plus Size Mums follows three morbidly obese pregnant mothers as they, and the professionals who care for them, do all they can to bring their children safely into the world. But not all runs smoothly. The film follows super-morbidly obese, Lucy, and husband, Barry, who have been trying for seven years to have children.

Tracy is 37 years old and is in labour with her fourth child. Accompanied by her husband Steve - who is in a jovial mood - and her middle son Liam, who’s 18, Tracy is calm and upbeat about her labour until the heart rate of her baby slows and the midwife needs to deliver her baby quickly. Suddenly the humour of the situation is gone, Tracy is exhausted and a much more serious Steve becomes the labour coach as the midwife races to get the baby out. As the staff cope with an increasingly busy shift, 22-year-old Lisa is also in labour, with her first child. Despite the calm words of the midwife, Lisa’s nervousness quickly turns to fear when she learns the baby must be delivered by caesarean section. As she is taken into theatre to give birth, Lisa and her partner are told that once their baby is born it will be taken immediately to an incubator. The first few days of its life are going to be critical.

Sam is in labour with her first child and is finding the pain too much to bear. Her boyfriend Ed, mum and the midwife team are doing everything they can to make her more comfortable, but she becomes increasingly upset. Ed is feeling the pressure too: he knows he has some real responsibilities to face once the baby is born and is worried about their finances. When the doctor decides that Sam needs a Caesarean, Ed’s nerves get the better of him and, although he wants to be with Sam in theatre, he decides her mum will be of more help. Another mum-to-be, Joy, is bored as she waits to go into labour. A diabetic, she has been induced but has been in hospital for four days and it’s a slow process. She’s hungry, tired and sick of waiting, and her frustration is heightened when her lunch doesn’t arrive on time. The idea of a piece of chocolate cheers her up although her husband Fabio would prefer she had a banana. Conversation turns to their garden, which distracts Joy for a bit, but she is soon feeling frustrated again and starts to wonder whether motherhood really is for her. ‘I love my independence’, she says. Meanwhile, Sister Kay Duggan - one of the midwives - is pondering her career after learning that she delivered Ed many years earlier. ‘There are many moments of pure joy in midwifery and many moments of absolute stress… I find work is the most important part of my life’.

Lisa’s baby Jack has been born with his bowel outside his body. The first few days of his life are critical as he faces serious medical procedures. Lisa is forced to cope with waiting weeks before she can take him home, and confesses to feeling jealous of the nurses who are feeding him before she can even hold him. Meanwhile, Sarah is expecting her second child. Midwife Dominique does everything she can to make sure she can have the natural birth she always wanted. Sarah’s first labour was very difficult and she had to have a caesarean. But as she finally goes into labour and the hours start to drag by, Sarah and dad Darren begin to worry that it will be the same as last time, and Darren feels impotent, thinking that no-one’s listening to him and there’s no point in him being there. And 25-year-old Andreia comes in to the hospital for a water birth, with the cameras catching her baby’s breathtaking entrance to the world

In this opening episode, two sets of expectant parents are waiting to meet their babies, including teenage sweethearts Ralph and Janet, who fell in love on their last day at school together, and Paul and his wife Stephanie, who warns “I’m a real wimp when it comes to pain!”

For Lydia (22) and Phil (22) a surprise pregnancy caused the couple to think long and hard about what they should do next. After finally telling her mother, whom she feared would frown on a baby born outside of marriage, Lydia is now looking forward to being a mum and has a natural water birth planned. Boyfriend Phil was at first reluctant to be a dad – he lived a party lifestyle and initially felt sad about saying goodbye to it. When the baby is due to arrive, Lydia’s squeamish elder sister Anna joins her and Phil in the birthing room. Soon, one of the women begins to feel nauseous, and it’s not the one you would expect.

Julia (31) and her partner Dean (29) are expecting their first child. After meeting online they exchanged phone numbers and became Facebook friends. Dean says he thought Julia was “lush”, adding, “it was the attraction that got me, her legs.” Julia says for her the draw was Dean’s personality although he maintains that it was his Swindonian accent that “knocked her bandy.”

New series. Fly-on-the-wall documentary observing the lives of staff and patients on a busy maternity ward in Leeds. This first edition features a soldier who may miss the imminent birth of his daughter, as he only has 48 hours before returning to the Army. Another man is determined to put his wayward days behind him and be present when his son is born, but after his partner experiences complications during labour, she must decide whether her boyfriend or mother accompanies her into the operating theatre.

Two women are approaching the pain of childbirth in very different ways. One mum, who experienced a traumatic first labour, is terrified of what the second will bring, while another refused to attend any antenatal classes, feeling that - for her - ignorance will be bliss.

This episode meets mums who break the rules, defy convention and arrive at motherhood in very individual ways, including One Born Every Minute's first Indian couple, who dated in secret when they were young and continue to break from tradition by having the dad present at the birth.

One Born Every Minute returns for a brand new series, with cameras now recording life on two busy labour wards in Leeds: Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and St James’s Hospital. Over the past year the LGI’s maternity ward has often had to close to new admissions, with expectant mums sent to St James’s across the city. Stacey is expecting her second child but it’s her first with her husband Lee. Stacey is desperate to give birth but every time she thinks she’s in labour, it turns out to be a false alarm and the hospital send her home. The to-ing and fro-ing gets frustrating for Lee who admits he had a troubled past until he met Stacey, who ‘saved him’. When Ramona last gave birth it was by an emergency C-section. This time, she wants to give birth naturally with her husband Marvin by her side, but when she goes into labour, Marvin is half-way down the M1. Meanwhile, the hospital is promoting ‘active birth’ and trainee yoga instructor Sara wholeheartedly embraces the idea. Sara endured a long induction during her last birth and this time round she’s determined to make the birth 100% natural, with her easy-going partner Billy by her side.

The stories of two strong women offering their daughters plenty of support during labour after unplanned pregnancies. Twenty-three-year-old Sam went off the rails as a teenager, running away from home and ending up sleeping rough, before meeting her partner Biaggio, and the couple are grateful to have Sam's mum by their side. Claire, 20, always knew she wanted her mother to be there in the delivery room, but deciding whether boyfriend Clint should be present wasn't as easy

Two strong-willed first-time mothers give birth at Leeds General Infirmary. Alexandra is 25 and left her native Latvia in search of adventure. She believes her child is the missing piece in her life, even though the father is not around anymore. Surbhi is from a warrior Hindu caste and knows what she wants, while her husband will do anything to please her, especially as he feels responsible for a motorcycle accident that left his wife paralysed in one arm.

The first episode of the fifth series introduces the straight-talking midwifery team in Bristol as an expectant father risks missing his daughter's birth and one of the team helps her next-door neighbour through an emotional labour. Michelle and Michael's parents are from different countries: hers are Chinese, his British. 'I was actually asked if I was a Thai bride when we were on our honeymoon!' says Michelle.

First time mum Lucy admits she's afraid of everything from roller coasters to sewing needles, so the thought of giving birth is completely terrifying. She says she's just little and wonders how on earth the baby is going come out. Doting boyfriend Sam has his proposal to Lucy all planned out and the rings are en route from eBay. But despite all the distractions, panic soon sets in. Amy and her naval engineer husband Paul arrive at Southmead Hospital for an induction. But after a quick examination, it becomes clear that Paul is far more squeamish than he expected... Meanwhile, Dianne is understandably concerned about giving birth as the last time she was in labour there were serious complications. This time Dianne and husband John have opted for an elective Caesarian, but nerves begin to get the better of them.

There's tension as a teenage mum asks her dad and boyfriend to both be present at the birth; a vicar's wife seeks divine intervention; and a young couple hope for a simpler labour second time around. When 18-year-old Charlie fell pregnant, her dad, Dean, wasn't pleased. Stern words followed for her boyfriend Ricky, who's also 18, and who was made to promise he would stand by her. Ricky is determined to prove he can be a good dad, but as the moment of baby's birth draws closer the atmosphere in the delivery room becomes tense... Meanwhile, vicar Adam's wife Sheona, who's 33, has reservations about becoming a mother for the second time, but with the help of Adam's support and humour, and the promise of a bottle of good Champagne afterwards, she hopes to find an inner strength. Chloe and Adam, who are both 20, are followed to Southmead Hospital by their neighbour's cat but the distraction of this additional birthing partner does little to put their minds at ease. They're both troubled by thoughts of the birth of their first daughter, who was rushed off to intensive care as soon as she was born, and as the night draws on exhaustion begins to get the better of Chloe.

In the first episode of the sixth series, fourth generation twins make an appearance on the delivery suite at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, a larger-than-life double act struggle to see the funny side of their extended labour, and an expectant father holds his breath hoping for a boy. Mel is an identical twin. Her father is also a twin, as was her grandmother, so it's incredibly rare that Mel herself would be pregnant with twins, but that's exactly what has happened. When Mel's waters break unexpectedly she has to choose whether her husband or her identical twin sister will be her birthing partner. Larger-than-life Su felt she'd hit the jackpot when she met younger man Dan, and they arrive at Southmead in high spirits. Their baby is in breech so they've been booked for a caesarean, but those plans are thrown out the window when baby decides to move, meaning that the couple are able to have a natural delivery. Finally, the race is on for Katy and Rob to make it to the delivery suite before their second child arrives, and Rob is praying this one's a boy.

A muscle-mad macho man struggles to keep his nerves in check, an expectant dad goes all out to make his wife feel comfortable in the birthing room and a same-sex couple are rushed into hospital 10 weeks early. Marion and Rachel are like any other couple in their early thirties trying to start a family, although as Rachel says, 'we can't just have an early night and make a baby,' so they shopped online for sperm. Using Marion's eggs they based their decision on which donor had the most similar attributes to Rachel and they ended up with twins. But at their 30-week hospital scan the couple are told that one of the twins is not growing properly and they need to return to Southmeads the next day for a C-section. Image-conscious Sarah and her husband, personal trainer Rob, arrive at the delivery suite to begin the induction process. Sarah's told she's only allowed one birthing partner and chooses her husband over her mum: a move she begins to regret as Rob shows signs of impatience. They pass the time by discussing baby names but have very different ideas. Sarah reaches a compromise: if the baby comes before midnight, Rob gets to choose but any time after it's her decision. Meanwhile, attentive husband Ollie and his wife Kate arrive at hospital and Ollie's armed with blankets, rugs and all the essentials to make sure Kate is as comfortable as possible. Kate wants to have a hypnobirth and Ollie is on hand to ensure everything runs to plan.

Southmead Hospital rolls out the red carpet for a celebrity 'baby': Baby Spice is coming in to support the maternity unit's charity and her arrival is causing quite a stir. Midwife Sacha in particular is giddy with excitement about meeting her idol, and brings in some treasured Spice Girl

A dad-to-be tries to keep his partner laughing through the contractions for the baby they thought they'd never have. Another couple help each other through a particularly traumatic labour.

Brazilian first-time mum Caia wants to send her partner Bernardo home when he has 'man flu', but she has to change her plans when her birth doesn't turn out as they'd hoped.

Sixteen-year-old Reve has to cope with her mum's and her unborn baby's life-threatening illnesses. Glamorous morris dancer Laura's labour slows dramatically.

Courtney, who's 16, is her mum Tara's birthing partner as she brings her brother into the world. And a fumble under the sheets leads to one couple leaving university with a baby as well as a degree.

A young couple worry about their premature baby after Mum's waters broke at 18 weeks, a couple cancel their wedding to have a baby, and a mum craves a more straightforward birth for her second baby.

A mum who has cystic fibrosis is prepared to risk her own life to have a big family. A single mum is determined to bond with her second baby in a way she couldn't when her first was born.

Nineteen years after becoming the first triplet to be delivered at Liverpool Women's Hospital Kirsty has returned to have a baby of her own. After unexpectedly becoming pregnant, Jo is now living at home with her parents, meaning a busy retirement for first-time grandparents Jean and John.

The midwives at Liverpool Women's Hospital face the mother of all shifts. With the maternity ward full, three couples manage to get a room, but have different experiences. Self-confessed princess Sarah and her devoted fiancé Chris arrive eight weeks earlier than expected. Chris pampers Sarah endlessly as a distraction from panicking, but complications during labour bring them face to face with their worst nightmare. Big kid Gary strives to grow up and become the responsible father and husband that his partner Claire demands. And Mormons Chloe and Daniel hope their new baby will bring them a step closer to the large and busy family they dream of.

The new series continues. First-time parents Rochalla and her unflappable partner Craig arrive ten days overdue. Rochalla's shock pregnancy defied medical odds as she conceived just weeks after an aggressive course of chemotherapy. But as the labour progresses, how do they feel about being back in hospital? Train driver Kieron, who's 44, and his wife Joanne, who's 42, like everything to run like clockwork and find it hard to kick their clockwatching habit during labour. And self-confessed ladies' man Michael has curbed his bad boy ways after meeting his perfect match, Natalia, who is having her fourth child by caesarean section.

It took 30-year-old Louise and her husband Andy six years to conceive. After such a long struggle, they're finally looking forward to meeting their longed-for baby and showing it off to their worried stepmum and health care assistant Olwen. Sammy, who's 23, is about to have her third baby. An undiagnosed condition drove a wedge between Sammy and her mum, when her bad behaviour was put down to teenage hormones, until a long-awaited diagnosis of endometriosis when she was 19 enabled them to build bridges.

Musicians Lucy and James are putting rehearsals on hold to have a baby. Laura and Mike fell in love in hospital when Laura was dangerously ill. They're expecting their second son.

Samantha, who's 25, was determined not to marry into the army, but when she met military man Tony, who's 29, love blossomed. Having had leukaemia as a child, Samantha struggled for years to conceive, and heartbreakingly the couple lost their first child at 25 weeks. They return to Birmingham Women's Hospital hoping to welcome their new baby in to the world, but, with Samantha's complicated medical history, the birth isn't without challenges. Meanwhile, 44-year-old Rav didn't plan to meet someone at work.

Sunny, who's 41, fell in love with 32-year-old Shay on the set of a Bollywood film but Shay's mother didn't approve of their relationship. Now, 14 years later, the couple are expecting their first child. And Ashley, who's 35, is determined to right the wrongs of his own childhood with a family of his own. He and Gemma, who's 30, are expecting their fourth child together.