Long-distance deliveries
EMMA WILLIS: DELIVERING BABIES IN 2020 W, 10pm
GETTING ready to bring new life into the world is a daunting prospect at the best of times. Doing that in the middle of a global pandemic, when mums-to-be aren’t able to have their partners with them at appointments and during most of labour, is tougher.
This was supposed to be another series following TV presenter, mum of three and qualified Maternity Care Assistant Emma Willis working in hospital as she meets mums-to-be and helps bring their new arrivals safely into the world.
Instead, we found ourselves facing the Coronavirus pandemic and a national lockdown, and everything changed. So Emma gets to know the parents-to-be virtually, to learn how their birthing plans have changed, and what extra challenges and worries this has thrown up.
Like South African Takkies, who moved to the UK with her husband Chris before the birth of their second daughter, but is now desperately missing her mum. Or Jay in East Sussex who nearly misses his second child’s arrival altogether, thanks to Covid rules which say he can’t join wife Lucy until she’s in the late stages of labour.
Then there are new parents Flo and Johnny, who are delighted by their new baby son, but so sad not to be able to share those newborn cuddles with any of their families.
In the midst of all the current grief and sadness, it’s nice to be reminded that life really does go on and in fact starts anew every day – in all its noisy, gory glory.