• Clip
• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 56 >> Describes how she and her partner felt about the responsibility of deciding to have a baby.

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 31-33 >> Interview 12 >> They had been trying on and off to get pregnant but not very seriously, so they felt a bit taken aback when it happened.

Normal first pregnancy. Premature labour and birth at 33 weeks. Had to transfer to another hospital because no neonatal intensive care places were available locally.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 32 >> She never thought she would have children, but once she was told she did not have multiple sclerosis after all she and her husband decided to try for

Mother who uses a wheelchair. Antenatal care from a special pregnancy unit because of her condition. Emergency caesarean. Serious complications following a mistake in managing her medication.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> Reading a lot about donor insemination helped her to accept the idea. She wanted her husband to feel it was a positive step for them. (Read by an acto

Initial miscarriage followed by second pregnancy, when a scan revealed baby was affected by tuberous sclerosis. Late termination. Subsequent pregnancy by donor insemination led to birth of a healthy child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> They considered carefully how having an unknown genetic parent would affect them and their children. (Read by an actor.)

Initial miscarriage followed by second pregnancy, when a scan revealed baby was affected by tuberous sclerosis. Late termination. Subsequent pregnancy by donor insemination led to birth of a healthy child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 01 >> At nine weeks, she experienced bleeding and severe pain, and an ectopic pregnancy was suspected. A scan showed the baby was fine and the pain went awa

Normal pregnancy apart from episode of severe pain (suspected ectopic) and high blood sugar. Caesarean birth. Was not able to breastfeed. Recovery from caesarean took longer than expected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 58 >> Her GP assumed she was happy to be pregnant, so it was difficult to discuss her anxieties.

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 56 >> She had an excellent midwife who supported her in making informed choices about her own care.

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 34-36 >> Interview 14 >> She enjoyed both NHS and NCT antenatal classes. The NCT in particular gave her information to make her own choices about care.

Required treatment for thrombophilia and a streptococcal infection but pregnancy otherwise normal. Labour involved more intervention than she had wanted.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 30 >> Her mother gave her some useful advice, but she also relied on information from parenting classes. (Read by an actor.)

Normal first pregnancy. Found antenatal classes useful, but felt a women-only class might be useful for South Asian women. Chose to have an epidural for the birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 06 >> She considered trying a vaginal birth after her previous caesarean, but decided to have another caesarean.

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 46 >> She had a forceps birth after a long and exhausting labour. She was surprised she let staff make decisions for her but she trusted them.

Two normal pregnancies; some bleeding early in second pregnancy. First labour was very long and painful, and ended with a forceps delivery. Epidural for pain relief. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 09.

• 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 01 >> The baby was quite large compared to her pelvis size. She decided on a planned caesarean and was happy with her choice. (Read by an actor.)

Normal pregnancy apart from episode of severe pain (suspected ectopic) and high blood sugar. Caesarean birth. Was not able to breastfeed. Recovery from caesarean took longer than expected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 40 + >> Interview 09 >> After a long, tiring labour, she felt calm and relieved making the decision to have a caesarean.

First pregnancy normal, emergency caesarean after long labour. Next two pregnancies ended in early miscarriage. Now pregnant again and planning vaginal birth. (Interviewed again after vaginal birth).

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> It was demoralising to be told she was only just in established labour when she had been having contractions for thirty hours. (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 11 >> She went into labour early and had both babies by emergency caesarean. She did not like the sound of forceps.

Multiple miscarriages and a late termination due to reciprocal balanced chromosome translocation. Healthy twins born using pre-implantation genetic diagnosis.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 42 >> Bleeding in late pregnancy suggested she might be in preterm labour. She was worried about taking steroids for the baby's lungs.

Normal first pregnancy. Gestational diabetes was suspected but ruled out. Had to spend time in hospital late in pregnancy for investigation of bleeding. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 01.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 40 + >> Interview 09 >> She was not sure at first if she'd want to return to work, but she loves her job and decided to go back.

First pregnancy normal, emergency caesarean after long labour. Next two pregnancies ended in early miscarriage. Now pregnant again and planning vaginal birth. (Interviewed again after vaginal birth).