Programme Five
From excruciating pain one minute to ecstatic smiles the next, midwives see it all, undertaking one of hardest yet most rewarding jobs of all. Gaining unique access to the labour ward of Derby City General Hospital, BBC Three shows the reality of childbirth from the perspective of those who must deliver it in Desperate Midwives. Every mother wishes for a perfect birth but with hormones and emotions running high it’s the midwives job to take charge and a hard labour can be hard work.

“The pain is an all encompassing pain. You can’t think of anything else but the pain. Some people say its like grabbing your bottom lip and pulling it over the top of your head”. So says midwife Liz who is looking after second time mum Michelle who has been on the ward for 13 hours and first time mum Emma. Michelle suddenly goes into full labour and the pushing begins, but Emma’s baby is facing the wrong way. She’s given pethedine to numb the pain and has to wait for the baby to turn its head before she can start to push. “This is really hard work. They don’t call it labour for nothing you know” Liz says.

Out of the hospital community midwife Jill is doing the rounds. She helps mum, Marie, have a happy and successful homebirth. Its so beautiful even Jill is moved to tears, though she’s been delivering babies for nearly 30 years. Gill sees the women through the whole nine months up to the birth, “I like the caring side of being a midwife. I think you become quite a friend to the women you look after” she says.

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Content last updated: 16/05/2005

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