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• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 24 >> Having a home birth in familiar surroundings with good support was a very positive and fulfilling experience.

Became pregnant in a another country where care philosophy was very interventionist. Returned to UK at 7 months and had a successful home birth with an independent midwife.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 55 >> Her husband was not allowed to stay with her overnight after labour was induced - she felt disempowered and unsupported.

Persuaded to have induction in first pregnancy; felt unsupported by staff. Labour was long and painful. Second birth, refused induction, insisted on additional checks instead. A better experience, with a doula (birthing attendant). More of this interview can be seen on the DIPEX antenatal screening site as Interview 02.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 55 >> With her second baby she employed a doula. She went into labour spontaneously 15 days after her due date and the birth went well.

Persuaded to have induction in first pregnancy; felt unsupported by staff. Labour was long and painful. Second birth, refused induction, insisted on additional checks instead. A better experience, with a doula (birthing attendant). More of this interview can be seen on the DIPEX antenatal screening site as Interview 02.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 54 >> She was very afraid of birth after seeing a TV documentary as a teenager, and did not want her husband to see her giving birth.

After initial contact with NHS, had most antenatal care in France. Baby born 2 months early in England. Good experiences of hospital birth and Special Care Baby Unit. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 23.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 62 >> She went through a birth plan questionnaire with her midwife but could not make real choices.

First baby. Experienced sickness in pregnancy. Felt unsupported during labour (which was induced) and disappointed that some birth choices did not happen as she would have liked. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 34.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 07 >> Her birth plan was to be as natural as possible but to be open to everything. She got very tired and an epidural really helped. (Read by an actor.)

Unplanned pregnancy after graduating from university. Supported by partner but felt a lack of institutional support for young, unmarried women. Looking forward to balancing motherhood with a career.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 62 >> The midwives changed shift several times during her labour. She would have liked more continuous support.

First baby. Experienced sickness in pregnancy. Felt unsupported during labour (which was induced) and disappointed that some birth choices did not happen as she would have liked. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 34.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 19 >> During the caesarean the baby's position caused some problems, but it was generally a good experience.

Successful pregnancy after an early miscarriage and blighted ovum. Caesarean due to baby lying breech. Lack of support for breastfeeding in hospital due to pressures on staff.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 56 >> She considered a home birth for her second baby but her water birth in hospital had been so good she decided to do the same again.

Two normal pregnancies. Felt well supported by midwives in making birthing choices. First birth was a water birth in hospital; hopes to have the same for second birth. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 25.