Emma Willis: Delivering Babies - Episode Guide

Today is her first day, and once Emma is given her uniform and ID card she realises just what she's let herself in for. After a brief tour of the ward, Emma is put straight to work; making tea, cleaning rooms and learning how to do baby checks.

Three days in to life as a Maternity Care Assistant, and Emma has yet to see a birth, but that could be about to change when she meets company director Laura who is expecting her second child. Laura goes in to labour, but not until after Emma's shift finishes and Emma has to come to terms with missing the birth.

Two weeks in to her role as a Maternity Care Assistant, Emma has yet to see a natural birth in the hospital, but she's hoping second time mother Carly will be her first. Five days later, Carly is still waiting to give birth.

Emma meets Michelle who is 33 weeks pregnant with her second child. Michelle has been in and out of hospital for the past month, suffering with heavy bleeding. If she continues to have bleeds, doctors will need to deliver her baby prematurely.

It's the start of another 13 hour shift for Emma. Her first job of the day is observations and her first patient is experienced mother Julie, who is in with her husband Kevin and their four children. Julie's previous births have all happened quickly, but will it be the same this time round?

Every week Emma is trained in different aspects of the job. This week she will receive bereavement training, one topic she hasn't been looking forward to. While Emma prepares for the training, veteran Maternity Care Assistant Val shares a personal story.

Next through the doors are Tara and her partner Lloyd, who have had had thirteen unsuccessful pregnancies over the last eight years. Tara has been given a cervical stitch to ensure that this baby is carried to term.

However, once in labour Tara suffers a cord prolapse, one of the most high-risk situations in child birth. The midwives and surgeons must act quickly to ensure the baby survives.

Emma has been working as a Maternity Care Assistant for seven weeks now and today she's on the lab our ward, a consultant led maternity unit for higher risk mums-to-be. 41-year-old Nicola and her husband Gavin are Emma's first patients of the day.

Nicola has chosen to be induced and is hoping for a straightforward birth, but the midwife team is keeping a close eye on her because of her age. Nicola goes into labour as planned, but her baby is in no hurry to come out. Doctors must decide whether or not to intervene.

After ten weeks, Emma's time as a Maternity Care Assistant comes to an emotional end. Unbeknown to Emma, her colleagues at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow are planning an emotional send-off. Before then, it's business as usual for Emma and she's now at the patients every beck and call.

Vicky, who is expecting her first child with her partner Ben, has been admitted with a significant bleed. The midwife team decide to induce labour, but another bleed forces them to take Vicky to theatre to deliver the baby by caesarean section.

Katherine and Aaron come in after Katherine's waters broke at home. The couple met online and are expecting their first baby. Katherine's hoping to have a natural birth, using just gas and air, but after little progression doctors decide to assist with the delivery. After trying to help Katherine deliver the baby with forceps, the medical team take drastic action. Katherine is given a general anaesthetic, a last resort, in a bid to bring the baby into the world.

After working as a Maternity Care Assistant on the front line of a maternity unit last year, Emma Willis goes on a maternity road trip to catch up with the families of the babies born during her time in the hospital. 

Emma visits Tara and Lloyd, who after 13 previous losses, suffered a life threatening cord prolapse during the labour of their baby girl. Emma also drops by the home of first time parents Amy and Billy and finds out if the name she suggested for their son made it on the birth certificate.

Today is her first day back after a nine month break and once Emma steps on to the ward, she worries about settling back in and remembering all her training. After a swift debrief, Emma is put straight to work; doing baby checks on new born twin boys.

Emma meets Lucy who's having an elective section and Sara and Jake, first timers whose labour goes from low to high risk. Emma also meets Beth and her partner of Chloe. Beth's birth goes to plan but she haemorrhages giving birth to the placenta, testing the team.

Emma's training steps up a gear when she's the only MCA in theatre. First time mum Candice needs the support of midwives to deliver her baby in the final stages. Tahmina's labour turns into an emergency when her baby moves into a difficult position to deliver.

For the first time, Emma goes to work on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, looking after the hospital's smallest and most vulnerable patients. On the ante-natal ward, Emma meets pregnant mums Tamie, who has gestational diabetes, and Victoria, who has preeclampsia.

Emma assists, as the only MCA in Jodie's elective caesarian section. And Emma meets Erinoulla, whose newborn baby has a clubfoot.

Emma's resolve is tested during emergency training and while working in theatre she witnesses her first ever twin birth.

Emma meets third time mum Ashley who has suffered from post-natal depression in the past and second time mum Laura who's had a difficult time expanding her family. The elective caesarean team has a challenging breech delivery for first time mum Loi.

It's Emma's final week and she must finish her training to become a fully qualified Maternity Care Assistant. There's a rare twin birth on the ward, with the arrival of Dione's twins. Emma says goodbye to the hospital that has become her second home for the last four months.

Emma meets Chris and Takkies, who recently moved to the UK from South Africa. Takkies is finding pregnancy in lockdown difficult away from her family. In East Sussex, Jay faces a race against time to be at Katie's side for the birth of their child.

Emma Willis meets Emma and Jamie, with second time mum Emma hoping to avoid giving birth in theatre. Rebecca and Neville are expecting their first child and it's not without complications.

Emma meets Tamira and Chris who are expecting their third child, and Heidi and Ben who are expecting twins, with the pregnancy deemed high risk.

As part of W's International Women's Day programming, the final episode of the inspirational series sees Emma meeting Sammy and Damian, who are hoping to have a water birth and Emma and Simon, who have been shielding during lockdown.

In a busy first week back there is lots to remember and learn. Emma is given a refresher on the jobs she'll be expected to soon carry out alone, like carrying out the pre-operative checks and monitoring blood loss. Emma is also asked to assist in theatre but having been away for a while, she finds it challenging.

Emma has been back at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow for a week. Emma meets first-time mum Hannah and takes her blood ahead of her planned caesarean, and Chenelle and Sean who are rushed to theatre for a forceps birth.

Emma is asked to step up and take more responsibility in theatre, where she witnesses her first every emergency. On the birthing unit, newly qualified midwife Corinne [pictured] cares for second-time parents Nicola and Aaron.

Emma is revisiting a challenging aspect of the MCA role – learning how to care for a family who have lost a baby. The training is emotional for Emma, and she worries she'll be unable to stay strong enough to do the job. Emma is also in theatre for the birth of first-time mum Corine's rainbow twins.

For the first time since she's been back, Emma works in the neonatal intensive care unit, where she meets new parents Jade and Connor, who are expecting identical twin boys.

Emma is ready to start working in the community, caring for new mums and babies at home. Second-time mum Sally is rushed for a life-saving procedure just moments after giving birth.

With just two weeks to go till Emma's time at the hospital draws to an end, there are still key training elements to tackle. This week sees Emma learning how to monitor newborn babies for serious illnesses and out in the community Emma is supervised as she carries out her first ever blood test on a five-day old baby.