A first-time mother was left fearing for her baby’s life while doctors battled to save her after she was born unresponsive following an emergency C-section in a tense episode of Emma Willis: Delivering Babies.
Accountant Tahmina, from Essex, was 10 days overdue and had spent more than 24 hours on the antenatal ward at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow.
But during a routine examination filmed on the show, midwife Zoe became worried about the baby’s positioning and called a consultant, who confirmed it would be unsafe to deliver the little one naturally.
After almost two days of labour, Tahmina was rushed into surgery for an emergency Caesarean.
But in heart-wrenching scenes in the Channel W show, the operation took a dangerous turn when it transpired the baby had moved again, and the little girl was born not breathing.
Viewers at home admitted they were holding their breath, as doctors managed to resuscitate the newborn, and praised NHS staff as ‘heroes’.
A first time mother is left fearing for her baby’s life while doctors battle to save her after she was born unresponsive following an emergency C-section
Accountant Tahmina (pictured during surgery), from Essex, was ten days over due and had spent more than 24 hours on the antenatal ward at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow
Viewers at home were left feeling anxious while doctors worked to resuscitate Jemima, who was born not breathing
Upon entering the operating theatre, the baby was sideways in a ‘life-threatening’ transverse position. After 12 minutes of surgery, the medical team attempted to deliver her safely.
But in a dangerous occurrence – only seen in one in 300 cases, according to the programme – the baby’s movement meant it was extremely difficult to manoeuvre her out of the uterus.
The most senior consultant was called to locate the feet and bring the baby out backwards.
In what must have seemed like an eternity for Tahmina, 45 seconds later the baby girl was finally born. However, there was a chilling silence when she didn’t start breathing.
After almost two days of labour, Tahmina is rushed into surgery for an emergency cesarean after her baby moves into a dangerous position. Pictured: The operation taking place
In heart-wrenching scenes – captured in tonight’s Emma Willis: Delivering Babies on Channel W – the operation takes a dangerous turn as the baby has moved again and the little girl is born unresponsive. Pictured: Medical staff try to help the baby with her breathing
The emergency team was called to start immediate resuscitation and after three minutes of support, the little girl was finally breathing on her own.
Bringing the little bundle of joy over to her clearly overwhelmed mother, midwife Zoe said: ‘She’s absolutely fine. She was just very shocked.’
With her daughter Jemima, born weighing 7lb 11oz, placed next to her as she remained lying on the surgery bed, Tahmina cried upon seeing her baby’s face for the first time.
The emergency team is called to start immediate resuscitation to the baby and after three minutes of support, the little girl is finally breathing on her own
With her daughter, Jemima, born 7lb 11oz, placed next to her as she remains lying on the surgery bed, Tahmina softly cries upon seeing her baby’s face for the first time
Tahmina’s husband Saaed, an A&E doctor at the hospital, holds his daughter following her birth
On the dramatic birth of his daughter (pictured), the father says: ‘Those three minutes were like three years to me’
Prior to the birth, Tahmina’s husband Saaed, an A&E doctor at the hospital, said: ‘I was in the canteen with people asking: “How was the baby? Is the baby coming out yet?”.
‘Which is exciting on one side but on the other side, this labour is going on for quite a while.’
Speaking about the dramatic birth of his daughter, he admitted: ‘Those three minutes were like three years to me.
‘I was just looking at the clock, like tick, tick, tick, and then suddenly cry – like a noise coming from heaven.’
Weeping, he revealed he was ‘happy’ and ‘excited’ following his daughter’s dramatic arrival into the world.
The second series of Delivering Babies sees Emma return to complete her training and witness more babies come into the world.
Delivering Babies with Emma Willis airs Mondays on W at 10pm.