One Born Every Minute takes us into the lives of the expectant mums and their families from the very start of giving birth. We see glimpses of life on the wards from all angles, from the reception desk to the neonatal ward, and from the operating theatre to the birthing pool.
In fact the programme seems to be designed for expectant mum to watch, listen and learn and it certainly delivers (pardon the pun).
It demonstrates without medical dramatics exactly what the drill is.
Small wonder decades ago expectant mums went into the "home" suitcase packed, and after being dropped off were then left to the mercy of the Sister in charge.
Hardly surprising first-time mums were usually shaking, terrified and often ignorant of what they were up for.
In One Born Every Minute, head of midwifery Maria Dore at the Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, explained: "Every birth was a unique experience and [staff] were privileged to share that experience with women and their partners."
Seeing the pleasure and the challenges her staff face every day from their quick chats in the tea room over a cuppa and "too much cake", was heartwarming. These women really cared and it showed.
Multi-cameras throughout the ward give a real look inside the labour ward. That includes the anxious and sometimes bored dads. Then there's the mums moving from excited, to gritting their teeth through the grinding contractions then bliss when the great finale comes.
A small person has arrived, is quickly swaddled in a warmed, soft blanket and laid on mum's chest.
As the Americans would say, it's a beautiful thing.
This is a programme which is real in every sense and could well be used educationally because there are no manufactured dramatics.
