One Born Every Minute

This week on One Born Every Minute, two mums want natural births - but will one petite young mum be able to push out a big baby and will an overweight mum suffer from the risks associated with weight during pregnancy? Oakley (18) has been with her partner Dave (33) for a year – she fell pregnant after they’d been together for a couple of months. Oakley was delighted and Dave says he immediately decided to turn his life around: “I’ve always been a bit of a loose cannon, I’m known for getting in trouble and I can’t have all that with the baby around.” Oakley’s parents think Dave has been a bad influence on their daughter, but Oakley hopes that, once the baby arrives, they’ll give Dave a chance. For now she’s asked them not to come to the birth because she’d prefer to avoid an atmosphere in the delivery room. When Oakley is nine days overdue she’s induced, but the midwives are concerned about how big the baby seems to be and whether she’ll be able to deliver it naturally, “I’m having nightmares over the size of that baby”, says one midwife. Also on the ward is Carol (35), who says she is “on the larger size” and was warned of the risk of health implications such as pre-eclampsia and diabetes. She’s relieved that the pregnancy has gone smoothly and she is “now just looking forward to meeting him or her”. But Kevin (36), who Carol met at school, is less relaxed - “You go through the pain, I go through the nervousness, the wait”, he says. The initial excitement about being a dad has given way to anxiety: “The only other time I’ve been nervous is Cup Finals,” he says, adding, “And then you can have a few beers to calm down.” That’s not an option here and when Carol is taken to theatre, Kevin’s too anxious to accompany her. Carol’s sister Jackie steps in, while Kevin paces the corridor, waiting for news.