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• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 07 >> She worried whether smoking and drinking before she realised she was pregnant had harmed the baby. (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 27 >> She had heard conflicting advice about drinking alcohol in pregnancy. It can be difficult to know what to believe.

Had problems getting pregnant because of polycystic ovary syndrome. Conceived after taking Clomid; also used acupuncture. Now 16 weeks pregnant, and pregnancy is progressing well.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 11 >> It was in some ways a relief to discover her previous miscarriages were caused by a genetic condition, not something she had done.

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

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> It was hard leaving hospital after the termination and seeing other people with babies. She felt like a bad mother. (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 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> She was shocked to learn her husband had the same genetic condition as the baby, but relieved she had done nothing to cause it. (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 37-39 >> Interview 11 >> When she discovered her next pregnancy was affected by the same genetic condition, she felt guilty. She knew she wanted to end the pregnancy.

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 04 >> Some pregnancy books set unrealistic expectations about the perfect natural birth. Women who need medical help should not feel they have failed.

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 34-36 >> Interview 65 >> A midwife upset her by saying she was not coping well with the pain. At one point it was discovered the pump on the epidural had stopped working.

Third pregnancy, after two miscarriages. Baby diagnosed antenatally with heart problems. Baby born by emergency caesarean after a long and painful labour. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 07.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 54 >> Staff in the special care baby unit were wonderfully supportive and there was a family atmosphere. It was hard to say goodbye to them.

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 31-33 >> Interview 12 >> She stayed in hospital for five weeks while the baby was in special care. The nurses were very supportive, but she missed being at home.

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 60 >> She did not want to blame anyone for the stillbirth, but sometimes felt guilty herself.

After four miscarriages, baby in fifth pregnancy diagnosed with heart condition. Mother (who is diabetic) had pre-eclampsia and emergency caesarean. Severe sickness in every pregnancy. Interviewed during sixth pregnancy, and again after a stillbirth at 36 weeks. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 29.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 04 >> She believes there is unrealistic pressure from society and women themselves to conform to an ideal image of birth and feeding. The pressure does not

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.