One Born: What Happened Next?

15 March 2012

More than a hundred babies have now been born on the award-winning One Born Every Minute, following countless mums and dads as they embraced the challenge of childbirth.  Now the series goes beyond the hospital doors and into the homes of three One Born couples as their babies approach their first birthday to see how they're responding to an even bigger challenge: parenthood. 

As their babies grow, so does their unconditional love, but our mums and dads have come to realise that nothing could have prepared them for the sleepless nights, endless nappy changes... and lack of sex.  "I'm wearing black today because I'm in mourning for my libido," quips one mum.

Blending original footage of the parents in the delivery room with new footage of ‘what happened next', the film paints a moving and often hilarious picture of modern parenting: a ‘how to' - and at times, ‘how not to' - guide to the first year.  As young Mum Sarah concludes, "Giving birth is a walk in the park compared to bringing them up."

Last seen worrying about how the birth of baby Gino would affect her figure, Sarah and her partner Nando had a scare when Gino was rushed to intensive care barely 24 hours after he was born.  Nearly a year later, Nando is still feeling anxious and takes the baby to A&E for everything from trapped wind to teething.  When Sarah decides to go back to work, Nando finds himself looking after the baby all on his own.  Sarah knows it won't be easy for him:  "That crazy gremlin from Gremlins 2 - the hyperactive one when his eyes are rolling around - that is Gino," she claims.  And true enough, Nando is soon close to meltdown when nothing seems to stop Gino crying and he turns to the only person left who can help: his own mum.

Dean was last seen punching the air and shouting "come on, girl!" as his baby's head appeared. But when he and partner Julia returned home with their new son, they didn't realise that dad Dean would have a full blown relapse of the OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) he had when he was younger.  So instead of spending time with his new son, Dean spends his time hoovering.  After breaking three hoovers trying to keep the house clean and germ free for his new baby, Julia finally has enough and forces him to get help.  But Julia has more than Dean's OCD to worry about. She has a serious heart condition and is about to find out whether having a baby has damaged her weak heart.  "I want to be running around the park with Daniel...I want to get my health right so I can do that."

Across town, Lucy, last seen serenading hospital staff with a rendition of show-tune classics, is trying to find a balance between her life as a mum and her career as an opera singer.  Having had three kids in the space of five years, she's gone from a glamorous life in the spotlight to being knee deep in nappies, baby food and potty training.  But she feels it's time to get her old life back and after a hard day with the kids at the zoo, finally confronts her husband. "No one wants to be invisible.  You get one life and you want to live it ... and say ‘Yes this is Lucy and I'm still here'," she says.  "I'm very lucky to have a husband and three wonderful children but I'm more than the sum of that," Lucy adds.

As the programme draws to a close, the last thing one of the couples is prepared for is to find out they're expecting within the year, yet again.

Exec Prod: Simon Dickson
Dir: Anshu Ahuja
Prod Co: Dragonfly

Comm ed at Channel 4: Madonna Benjamin