‘Emma Willis: Delivering Babies’ episode 2 debrief

Image credit: @emmawillisofficial via Instagram

There’s a lot to unpack from this week’s episode of 'Emma Willis: Delivering Babies', so here we go:

Induction

Most labours will start on their own. However, in some cases, it is recommended that labour is started manually.

The most common reason for induction is when babies are overdue. This is because the risks to mum and baby increase the longer the pregnancy continues after the due date.

How common are inductions?

Inductions are very common in the UK. For example, in 2017/18 32% of labours were induced.

Read more about having an induction.

What happens if labour still doesn’t start?

This is exactly what happened to Carly in episode 2 of ‘Emma Willis: Delivering Babies’.

After several days of trying to induce labour nothing seemed to be happening. The midwives therefore recommended breaking Carly’s waters. This is known as an amniotomy, or artificial rupture of the membranes (ARM).

Amniotomy

If labour is not progressing, a doctor or midwife may recommend that you have your waters broken manually. Having your waters broken by a doctor or midwife should not hurt. It should feel like having an internal examination.

Read more about having your waters broken.

Precipitate labour (very quick labour)

Precipitate labour is the term used to describe very quick and short labour, when a baby is born in less than 3 hours from the start of contractions.

Although it is more common for women who have had one or more babies before, first-time mums can also experience it, as in episode 2 of ‘Emma Willis: Delivering Babies’.

Emma Willis made a comment suggesting that a quick labour is “just what you want”. However, our midwife Kate explains what precipitous birth is in more detail, and why quicker isn’t always better.

Twin premature birth at 32 weeks

The latest episode of ‘Emma Willis: Delivering Babies’ also featured the premature birth of twins Matthew and Lucas at 32 weeks.

The babies were born by emergency c-section after Lianne went into labour prematurely. The reason a c-section was recommended was because both babies were in the breech position, which can make vaginal birth riskier and more difficult for mum.

After the birth, both twins had difficulty breathing, so were taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). However, both babies recovered well and went home within 2 weeks.

Know the signs of early labour.

Questions about the show

If you have questions or concerns about anything you have seen in Emma Willis’ midwifery documentary, please email [email protected] and we will do out best to answer them or reassure you.