Birth uncontrolled

“SOME women have a birth plan,” says Harriet the midwife, with a wry look in her eye that also seems to add ‘there’s not much point in that’.

She’s right – childbirth certainly doesn’t always go to plan and everyone needs to be prepared for anything.

“Unfortunately it is an unmanageable beast,” she says. As this award-winning documentary begins its 11th series, it moves to Birmingham Women’s Hospital, where we once again witness the highs and lows that happen every day in a maternity ward.

As always, it packs a punch emotionally as we get to the know the couples at these intense moments in their lives, before the inevitable drama begins.

In this first episode, we meet Samantha, 26, who is at high risk