Life and Birth

Channelle is determined to have an intervention-free birth, Jodie's baby arrives eight weeks early, and childhood sweethearts Ashleigh and Luke are expecting their second child together.

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.

Preena and Neet are expecting their second child. Preena has polycystic ovaries, so the couple didn't think they'd ever be able to have children. Fortunately, Preena gave birth to a son and she's now pregnant again and this time due to have a girl. Almost at term, she is told she may have to have her labour induced as she has been experiencing bleeding throughout her pregnancy. Junior doctor Rich and yoga teacher Roo have their hearts set on a water birth at Birmingham Women's Hospital.

Melissa didn't have her first son until she was in her early forties, so was elated to find out she was expecting again. But early in her pregnancy, she discovered that her unborn baby had Down's syndrome. She has taken the diagnosis in her stride, and has been eagerly preparing for baby Bertie's arrival. Although Melissa is no longer with the father of her baby, she is unphased by the prospect being a single mum.

There's tension at Birmingham Women's Hospital foetal medicine centre, as 19-year-old Billie-Joe has surgery to save her baby daughter while she is still in the womb. Billie-Joe's twin pregnancy has developed TRAP sequence, which means one of the twins hasn't developed properly and has no heartbeat. We also meet first-time mum Mini, who is less then five feet tall, and her partner Connor, a six-foot powerlifter.

Mother-of-two Danisha has come to Birmingham Women's Hospital to have her labour induced. She is with her best friend and birth partner, Yolanda. The pair were childhood friends in Jamaica and both came to the UK in search of a better life. Christina and husband Steve are also having their third baby - a boy who will be born by planned caesarean section. Christina also experienced severe postnatal depression following the birth of her first son.