Emma Willis: Delivering Babies

Today is her first day, and once Emma is given her uniform and ID card she realises just what she's let herself in for. After a brief tour of the ward, Emma is put straight to work; making tea, cleaning rooms and learning how to do baby checks.

Three days in to life as a Maternity Care Assistant, and Emma has yet to see a birth, but that could be about to change when she meets company director Laura who is expecting her second child. Laura goes in to labour, but not until after Emma's shift finishes and Emma has to come to terms with missing the birth.

Two weeks in to her role as a Maternity Care Assistant, Emma has yet to see a natural birth in the hospital, but she's hoping second time mother Carly will be her first. Five days later, Carly is still waiting to give birth.

Emma meets Michelle who is 33 weeks pregnant with her second child. Michelle has been in and out of hospital for the past month, suffering with heavy bleeding. If she continues to have bleeds, doctors will need to deliver her baby prematurely.

It's the start of another 13 hour shift for Emma. Her first job of the day is observations and her first patient is experienced mother Julie, who is in with her husband Kevin and their four children. Julie's previous births have all happened quickly, but will it be the same this time round?

Every week Emma is trained in different aspects of the job. This week she will receive bereavement training, one topic she hasn't been looking forward to. While Emma prepares for the training, veteran Maternity Care Assistant Val shares a personal story.

Next through the doors are Tara and her partner Lloyd, who have had had thirteen unsuccessful pregnancies over the last eight years. Tara has been given a cervical stitch to ensure that this baby is carried to term.

However, once in labour Tara suffers a cord prolapse, one of the most high-risk situations in child birth. The midwives and surgeons must act quickly to ensure the baby survives.

Emma has been working as a Maternity Care Assistant for seven weeks now and today she's on the lab our ward, a consultant led maternity unit for higher risk mums-to-be. 41-year-old Nicola and her husband Gavin are Emma's first patients of the day.

Nicola has chosen to be induced and is hoping for a straightforward birth, but the midwife team is keeping a close eye on her because of her age. Nicola goes into labour as planned, but her baby is in no hurry to come out. Doctors must decide whether or not to intervene.

After ten weeks, Emma's time as a Maternity Care Assistant comes to an emotional end. Unbeknown to Emma, her colleagues at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow are planning an emotional send-off. Before then, it's business as usual for Emma and she's now at the patients every beck and call.

Vicky, who is expecting her first child with her partner Ben, has been admitted with a significant bleed. The midwife team decide to induce labour, but another bleed forces them to take Vicky to theatre to deliver the baby by caesarean section.

Katherine and Aaron come in after Katherine's waters broke at home. The couple met online and are expecting their first baby. Katherine's hoping to have a natural birth, using just gas and air, but after little progression doctors decide to assist with the delivery. After trying to help Katherine deliver the baby with forceps, the medical team take drastic action. Katherine is given a general anaesthetic, a last resort, in a bid to bring the baby into the world.