FAQ

One Born Every Minute is a first of its kind in capturing the many different perspectives within a room as labour and birth takes place. Because the cameras are rigged and fixed at different points in the room they are uniquely placed to capture both the mother and the father or partner’s point of view, or the mother and midwife’s, simultaneously. In traditional filming this could only occur if there were multiple camera crews, which is not practical or appropriate within the confined spaces of a labour and birth room.

The experience of labour and birth is so emotionally charged that the ability to capture every detail of an experience in this way makes for compelling television. The lack of a crew means that the viewer is in the privileged position of sharing this most personal experience without being obtrusive.

Forty remotely operated fixed cameras were rigged in different locations around the Princess Anne Hospital (series 1 and 2) and Leeds General Infirmary (series 3 and 4), and kept in place over three and a half weeks. Because the cameras were fixed there was no need for a camera crew, and the footage from each camera was fed directly to an outside unit where a team of producers and directors were on shift 24 hours a day. Cameras covered a range of locations from the labour and birth rooms, to the reception area, and the corridors. In addition there were single handheld cameras to follow the action beyond the rigged area.

The links below may well be of help:

Tommy’s

Information on causes and prevention of premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth. Talk to a midwife on the PregnancyLine.
Helpline: 0800 0147 800 (lines open Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm,
Email: info@tommys.org

SANDS -The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society

Support for bereaved parents and their families when their baby dies, before, during or soon after birth.
Helpline: 020 7436 5881 (lines open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm, Tuesday & Thursday 6pm – 10pm) The helpline is open for extended hours on 27th March up until 11pm.
Email: helpline@uk-sands.org

Together For Short Lives

Supporting children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and those who care for them, online information includes details of local palliative care.
Helpline: 0845 108 2201 (lines open 10am-4pm Monday to Friday, with answerphone service for out of hours)

National Childbirth Trust

The UK’s largest charity for parents, providing information and advice on pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care for all parents and parents-to-be.

Helpline: 0300 330 0700 (lines open Mondays – Friday 9am – 7pm, closes 6pm on Tuesdays).
Pregnancy and birth line (for expectant mum and dads): 0300 33 00 772 (lines open Monday – Friday 10am – 8pm).

Breastfeeding line 0300 33 00 771 (lines open 8am-10pm seven days a week).


FPA- Family Planning Association

Information and advice on a range of issues; including planning a pregnancy.
Helpline: 0845 122 8690 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)
Northern Ireland: 0845 122 8687 (lines open Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm, Friday 9am – 4.30pm).

Bliss

Offering support for parents of babies born prematurely, helping both practically and emotionally.
Helpline: 0500 618140 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am-9pm)
Email: enquiries@bliss.org.uk.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia – CDH

Providing information, advice and support for families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
Helpline: 0800 731 6991 (lines open Monday – Friday 3pm-10pm, with answerphone service for out of hours)

Obesity and Pregnancy

Information on the dangers of obesity for pregnant women and their babies before and after birth.

Multiple Births

NHS information on what may happen during a multiple birth.

Tamba

Offer Information and support to families of twins, triplets and more. Lines are staffed by trained volunteers who are parents of multiples, and can answer questions on many topics.
Twinline: 0800 138 0509 (lines open 10am – 1pm, 7pm – 10pm)
Email: asktwinline@tamba.org.uk

Multiple Birth Foundation

A charity that provides support advice to anyone expecting twins, triplets or more.

Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS)

Tamba information on this possible complication of a multiple pregnancy.

Birth Choice UK

Where you choose to have your baby and whom you choose to look after you in labour will affect the type of birth you have and the care you receive. This website explains your options and gives you some information to help you make those choices.

Disabled Parents Network (DPN)

Information for disabled people who to become parents, plus their families, friends and supporters.
Helpline: 0300 3300 639 (lines open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Wednesday 7pm – 9pm).

Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International

Organisation controlled by disabled parents, which promotes better awareness and support for disabled people during pregnancy and as parents.
Information: 0800 018 4730 (Lines open Monday and Thursday 10.30 – 3pm).

Young Fathers Initiative

Information on all the things that concern young fathers and those about to be a new Dad.

Families Need Fathers

Helps either parent play a meaningful role in their children´s life after separation or divorce. Information on many problems available on their website or call the helpline.
Helpline: 0300 0300 363 (7am – midnight every day)

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority – HFEA

Information for people who are having, or considering fertility treatment, including researching clinics and information on cost.

Infertility Network UK

Supports those affected by infertility, as well as providing information, practical and emotional support.
Helpline: 0800 008 7464 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)

Shoulder Dystocia

Information from Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on this birth complication.

Erbs Palsy Group

Information and advice for parents of children with Erb’s Palsy / Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Paralysis.

Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Support – TOFS

Offering information and support for parents whose baby has the rare congenital condition Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula (TOF) or Oesophageal Atresia (OA).
Email: info@tofs.org.uk

Great Ormond Street Hospital – TOF / OA information

Information about Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula and Oesophageal Atresia.

Gastroschisis

For information, support and resources on gastroschisis.

Contact a Family

Provides support, advice and information whatever condition your child has; includes a directory of specific conditions and rare disorders. Plus can also put families in touch with each other.
Helpline: 0808 808 3555 (lines open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5pm)
Textphone: 0808 808 3556 (lines open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5pm)

Epilepsy Action

Information on the rare epilepsy, Ohtahara Syndrome.
Helpline: 0808 800 5050 (lines open Monday – Thursday 9am – 4.30pm, Friday 9am – 4pm)
Email: helpline@epilepsy.org.uk

The Baby Centre

Answer questions about recovery after a C section.

Baby and Pregnancy

Information about special care babies and neonatal units.

Gingerbread

Information service for single parents on a variety of issues including childcare, benefits and legal rights.
Helpline 0808 802 0925 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm, Wednesday 10am-1pm & 5pm-7pm)

Miscarriage Association

Support and information for anyone affected by a pregnancy loss. Leaflets and on line info which answer the most commonly asked questions and help those who have been through this experience.
Helpline: 01924 200 799 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm)

House of Light – PND Support

Provide understanding and support for new mums or anyone concerned about Post Natal Depression.
Helpline: 0800 043 2031 (lines open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)
Email: help@pndsupport.co.uk

Net Mums

Online membership organisation with support on all aspects of being a Mum.

Twins Club

Support for parents of twins and multiples.

Twins UK

Offering support and advice to anyone expecting or with twins or triplets.

Heart Defects

The British Heart Foundation booklet Understanding Your Child’s Heart – Tetralogy of Fallot Can be downloaded or ordered from this web page.

Children’s Heart Federation

Providing support and information to children, parents and families affected by congenital or acquired heart disease. Information: 0808 808 5000 ( lines open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm)

CHD UK

Providing information on Congenital Heart Defects, including Tetralogy of Fallot.

Support Pelvic dysfunction

Support for mothers suffering from SPD/PGP.

Midwifery training

For details of training involved, visit http://jobs.midwives.co.uk/career-advice.cms.asp

Find out what’s available at http://www.jobs.nhs.uk

Information on call charges to 08 numbers:

Information on call charges to 08 numbers:
0800 – Free from BT land lines. Other networks may charge and mobile costs will be incurred.
0808 – Free from BT land lines. Other networks may charge and mobile costs will be incurred.
0845 – Free from BT land lines. Other networks may charge and mobile costs will be incurred.
0844 – Calls cost 8p per minute plus a 13.1p set up charge per call from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may be higher and from mobiles will cost considerably more.

Find out what’s available at https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/categories/having-a-baby

You can also try:

https://www.gov.uk/childcare-tax-credits
https://www.gov.uk/childcare-vouchers-better-off-calculator
https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant
https://www.gov.uk/statutory-maternity-pay
https://www.gov.uk/help-for-disabled-child

The production team was aware that there were a number of mothers whose due dates fell within the filming period, and as many as possible were contacted by letter and/or a visit to their antenatal group. If a mother was interested in hearing more then the project was explained in detail, and if she then consented to being filmed the team stayed in touch. As each mother went into labour, she or the hospital notified the team who double-checked that she was still happy to be filmed. Since filming every mother has been offered the opportunity to view the edited clips in which she has been featured.

There are several ways that relevant content can be easily found on the One Born Every Minute website. You can type any keyword into the red search box at the top right of every page. If you are looking for video content specifically, go to the homepage and click on ‘Explore All Videos’ tab from where you can browse all the different subject areas related to the birth process.

On many pages there is a list of related content on external websites which may also be useful.

Click on ‘Contributors’ in the main (top) navigation. All the mothers are listed here and have their own profile page.

All the mothers are also listed in the Parents section when you Explore All Videos.

The One Born Every Minute TV series and this website were conceived as an integrated project. The website focuses on the contributors featured in the TV programmes and enables you to get insights from their experiences by following them thematically, chronologically, by particular individual – however you want to journey through the 400 or more videos contained on the site. These videos are exclusive to One Born Every Minute, showing footage and people not covered in the TV series, as well as special versions of scenes from the shows.

The Life Begins website is designed to help parents-to-be and people thinking about having children to get a clear, honest insight into what it’s really like to give birth, particularly in a hospital setting. It is intended to offer an alternative to both the ‘horror stories’ you often hear from friends/colleagues with children and the slightly idealised takes you sometimes get from ante-natal classes and the like. So it is very much about getting a uniquely realistic view, an inside track.