Episode 3

20-year-old Ruby, who lives at home with her parents, is in the all-important second year of her midwifery degree and is now learning on the job on the busy maternity ward of Basildon University Hospital, which is a teaching hospital.

Ruby had never been on a maternity ward until she started her studies and she’s already feeling the pressure. With a national shortage of midwives, she’s not there just to make up the numbers; every student counts!

Today she’s working on the Delivery Suite alongside close-friend and colleague, midwife Mollie, helping 19-year-old Hannah give birth to her first child. Hannah has just been induced to help speed up her labour.

Like Ruby, 28-year-old Grace is also in her second year of her studies and now on placement on the Delivery Suite. Grace is a single mum of two and is having to combine her studies with caring for her children. This includes leaving them with her dad while she works night shifts.

Ruby and Grace have become close friends during their studies and often revise together, even if they lead completely different home lives. The pair have both had to borrow money to pay for their studies and don’t get paid for the shifts they work, only adding to the pressure.

With midwives working long hours with very few breaks, down time is really important. Tonight, Summah and her best friend and fellow midwife Lilli are treating themselves to cocktails and a takeaway. Lilli is a Band 5 midwife but there is talk of promotion, which would see her having to step up.

Back on the ward, Ruby and Grace, are about to see their practice assessor to find out if they’ve passed the first part of their placement on the Delivery Suite. It’s make or break!