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• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 03 >> She expected to have problems conceiving because of endometriosis (problems with the lining of the uterus), but conceived naturally after surgery.

Apparently normal pregnancy, after problems with endometriosis. Vasa praevia discovered during labour. Baby needed resuscitation and intensive care, but recovered well with no long-term problems as originally feared.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 04 >> She wanted to have her children close together so she planned an 18-month gap.

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 08 >> Having had a miscarriage made her very keen to get pregnant again to prove to herself she could have a healthy pregnancy. (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 >> Aged 40 + >> Interview 09 >> The first symptom of pregnancy was a strange taste in her mouth, before she knew she was pregnant.

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 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 31-33 >> Interview 33 >> Because she has epilepsy she talked to her neurologist and a genetics counsellor before trying for a baby.

Mother who has epilepsy, cared for during her first pregnancy by a Special Pregnancy Unit. Developed pre-eclampsia and had induction with epidural at 37 weeks.

• 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 37-39 >> Interview 60 >> Before every pregnancy they stopped taking precautions but have never said they were actively trying for a baby.

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 37-39 >> Interview 31 >> It took fourteen years to get pregnant, but the baby had a genetic condition and was stillborn. She gave up hope but became pregnant again. (Read by a

Her first, long awaited baby was stillborn at 25 weeks. Her second pregnancy was normal, but an accident at 20 weeks made it an anxious time. Birth was induced, with epidural.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 16 >> After three unexplained miscarriages and treatment for low fertility with clomifene (Clomid), she joined an egg donation scheme which enabled her to h

Experienced recurrent miscarriage before entering an egg share IVF scheme. IVF was successful after one cycle and pregnancy was excellent. Vaginal birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 17 >> She found antenatal classes embarrassing, especially as she did not have a partner to go with.

Single mother of two. First child born by emergency caesarean, second by elective caesarean. Faced unhelpful assumptions because she was young and single.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> Discovering she was pregnant unexpectedly made her reassess some aspects of her life, but she knew she wanted to keep the baby. (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 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> Previous experience of miscarriage made her more determined to go ahead with her next pregnancy, even though it was unplanned. (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 >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 22 >> Getting pregnant when she was very young led her to break off the relationship with her boyfriend. She considered adoption but changed her mind after

Unplanned pregnancy at age 15. Pregnancy normal. Part of placenta retained after birth resulting in heavy bleeding. Coping well with motherhood.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 13 >> Discovering she was pregnant unexpectedly was a big shock - she was upset to have to cancel plans to join the army to train as a nurse. (Played by an

Young, single mother. Pregnancy unplanned. Well supported by family. Had Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (pelvic pain) and cholestasis (liver problem) during pregnancy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 13 >> For the first few weeks she felt she did not want the baby, but seeing the baby at the first scan was a real turning point. (Played by an actor.)

Young, single mother. Pregnancy unplanned. Well supported by family. Had Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (pelvic pain) and cholestasis (liver problem) during pregnancy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 07 >> When she discovered she was pregnant unexpectedly it was hard to tell her family, but they were supportive. (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 07 >> Early on, her main worry was how she would manage financially. (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 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.