Lisa’s baby Jack has been born with his bowel outside his body. The first few days of his life are critical as he faces serious medical procedures. Lisa is forced to cope with waiting weeks before she can take him home, and confesses to feeling jealous of the nurses who are feeding him before she can even hold him. Meanwhile, Sarah is expecting her second child. Midwife Dominique does everything she can to make sure she can have the natural birth she always wanted. Sarah’s first labour was very difficult and she had to have a caesarean. But as she finally goes into labour and the hours start to drag by, Sarah and dad Darren begin to worry that it will be the same as last time, and Darren feels impotent, thinking that no-one’s listening to him and there’s no point in him being there. And 25-year-old Andreia comes in to the hospital for a water birth, with the cameras catching her baby’s breathtaking entrance to the world

In this episode, two mothers are about to give birth to their first babies while two fathers are trying to work out their role in the birthing process. For Shelagh’s baby son it is a dramatic start with an ambulance journey to the hospital and a quick turn around caesarean when his heart rate dips during labour. The birth is very poignant for Richard as Shelagh is having another man’s baby, having fallen pregnant during a break in their relationship. It’s not what he had planned for their relationship but he is determined to be the best dad he can be after a career in the army meant he was not always around for his own children. Penny is also excited about her new arrival but when labour starts her husband Ben finds it difficult to see her in so much pain. They have deliberately avoided finding out the sex of the baby and a special moment ensues when the baby arrives. Meanwhile, the midwives on the night shift are reminiscing over the extraordinary and wonderful births they have been part of over the years.

The first episode of the fifth series introduces the straight-talking midwifery team in Bristol as an expectant father risks missing his daughter's birth and one of the team helps her next-door neighbour through an emotional labour. Michelle and Michael's parents are from different countries: hers are Chinese, his British. 'I was actually asked if I was a Thai bride when we were on our honeymoon!' says Michelle.

First time mum Lucy admits she's afraid of everything from roller coasters to sewing needles, so the thought of giving birth is completely terrifying. She says she's just little and wonders how on earth the baby is going come out. Doting boyfriend Sam has his proposal to Lucy all planned out and the rings are en route from eBay. But despite all the distractions, panic soon sets in. Amy and her naval engineer husband Paul arrive at Southmead Hospital for an induction. But after a quick examination, it becomes clear that Paul is far more squeamish than he expected... Meanwhile, Dianne is understandably concerned about giving birth as the last time she was in labour there were serious complications. This time Dianne and husband John have opted for an elective Caesarian, but nerves begin to get the better of them.

A mum-to-be who has cerebral palsy goes through a dramatic delivery, one couple have to put their footballing differences aside in the birth room, and a five-year fertility journey is almost over for one first-time

On her birthday, midwife and single mother-of-two Lara contemplates life and love while delivering twins.

In the first episode of the sixth series, fourth generation twins make an appearance on the delivery suite at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, a larger-than-life double act struggle to see the funny side of their extended labour, and an expectant father holds his breath hoping for a boy. Mel is an identical twin. Her father is also a twin, as was her grandmother, so it's incredibly rare that Mel herself would be pregnant with twins, but that's exactly what has happened. When Mel's waters break unexpectedly she has to choose whether her husband or her identical twin sister will be her birthing partner. Larger-than-life Su felt she'd hit the jackpot when she met younger man Dan, and they arrive at Southmead in high spirits. Their baby is in breech so they've been booked for a caesarean, but those plans are thrown out the window when baby decides to move, meaning that the couple are able to have a natural delivery. Finally, the race is on for Katy and Rob to make it to the delivery suite before their second child arrives, and Rob is praying this one's a boy.

A muscle-mad macho man struggles to keep his nerves in check, an expectant dad goes all out to make his wife feel comfortable in the birthing room and a same-sex couple are rushed into hospital 10 weeks early. Marion and Rachel are like any other couple in their early thirties trying to start a family, although as Rachel says, 'we can't just have an early night and make a baby,' so they shopped online for sperm. Using Marion's eggs they based their decision on which donor had the most similar attributes to Rachel and they ended up with twins. But at their 30-week hospital scan the couple are told that one of the twins is not growing properly and they need to return to Southmeads the next day for a C-section. Image-conscious Sarah and her husband, personal trainer Rob, arrive at the delivery suite to begin the induction process. Sarah's told she's only allowed one birthing partner and chooses her husband over her mum: a move she begins to regret as Rob shows signs of impatience. They pass the time by discussing baby names but have very different ideas. Sarah reaches a compromise: if the baby comes before midnight, Rob gets to choose but any time after it's her decision. Meanwhile, attentive husband Ollie and his wife Kate arrive at hospital and Ollie's armed with blankets, rugs and all the essentials to make sure Kate is as comfortable as possible. Kate wants to have a hypnobirth and Ollie is on hand to ensure everything runs to plan.

Southmead Hospital rolls out the red carpet for a celebrity 'baby': Baby Spice is coming in to support the maternity unit's charity and her arrival is causing quite a stir. Midwife Sacha in particular is giddy with excitement about meeting her idol, and brings in some treasured Spice Girl

he hospital corridors at Southmead turn blue as one young mum lets out all of her pent-up frustrations, on-off romancers finally take the plunge after 10 years of indecision, and pregnancy cravings

Musicians Lucy and James are putting rehearsals on hold to have a baby. Laura and Mike fell in love in hospital when Laura was dangerously ill. They're expecting their second son.

Louise is having her first child at 45, but has gone through a heart-breaking split with her baby's father, Dan. Meanwhile, Jess is 16 and is finally getting a sibling.

Sarah and her mum Pat are both midwives at Liverpool Women's Hospital, and now Sarah's expecting twins. Tasha previously had a traumatic birth and is now having her second child.