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• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> Having a written birth plan could be especially useful for people who do not speak English as a first language. (Read by an actor.)

Single mother. First pregnancy miscarried. Second pregnancy was normal and straightforward. She planned to have a natural birth, but after a long labour chose to have a caesarean.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 02 >> Ideally she wants to be able to move around during labour, but her birth plan is only a guide. The baby's health is the most important thing.

Normal first pregnancy. Additional scanning and care in specialist unit because of previous splenectomy. Mother has higher susceptibility to illness and infection.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 56 >> She was impressed by the way her midwife discussed evidence with her about clamping the umbilical cord.

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 06 >> The birth did not go as expected, but having a written birth plan was still useful.

First pregnancy through ICSI IVF. Experienced hyper ovarian stimulation. Induced at 42 weeks with birth by emergency section. Second pregnancy occurred naturally 7 months after birth of first child.

• 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 >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> She was unsure whether to make a birth plan and would have liked more discussion with her community midwife. The hospital midwives listened to her wis

Single mother. First pregnancy miscarried. Second pregnancy was normal and straightforward. She planned to have a natural birth, but after a long labour chose to have a caesarean.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 05 >> Her original plan to have a home birth changed when she found her baby had a heart defect. She decided to have a caesarean and has no regrets.

First child had heart defect detected antenatally and long period of critical illness after birth. Mother had reactive depression in response to his illness. Second child healthy. Mother had postnatal depression related to extreme worry about her health.

• 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 >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 58 >> She felt she was not given enough support and information in choosing which hospital to go to.

First pregnancy, unplanned. Does not feel she has been well enough informed and supported in choosing a hospital to have her baby. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 27.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 04 >> She was disappointed to have an induction and forceps birth, but it helped that staff explained afterwards why it had been necessary.

Normal pregnancy. Breech presentation resolved through successful ECV. Induction at 42 weeks. Forceps delivery. Difficulty with breastfeeding. Importance of managing expectations of pregnancy and birth realistically.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 15 >> The experience of labour improved once she was given continuous support by midwives and taken off gas and air, to which she reacted badly.

Confusion in early stages of pregnancy about whether or not it was viable. Unexplained abdominal pain. Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (pelvic pain) in latter stages.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 06 >> The decision to have an emergency caesarean happened very quickly when the baby became distressed. She felt it was the right decision.

First pregnancy through ICSI IVF. Experienced hyper ovarian stimulation. Induced at 42 weeks with birth by emergency section. Second pregnancy occurred naturally 7 months after birth of first child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 19 >> She had a planned caesarean because her baby was breech and she was told it was risky to turn the baby so late in pregnancy.

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.