Midwife turned documentary maker Bernie Bos fell into the film world by chance - and credits explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes as her inspiration.

Her film career began in the Eighties when she and her director husband Paul Cleary set up a production company.

Bernie was mainly responsible for the paperwork, which she managed while continuing to work as a midwife.

But when the chance of making a film about Sir Ranulph's latest trip to the North Pole came up in 1990 and there was no one else available she jumped at the chance.

Although inexperienced at filming, she battled against freezing temperatures and extreme conditions and had a fantastic time.

She said: "It was quite an experience. He didn't actually manage to make it to the North Pole but he came quite close and making the film was fascinating.

"When I came back I had got the bug and decided I wasn't going to do the paperwork any more but would concentrate on making programmes."

Since then she has been to northern Pakistan to make a film about building a railway line but has mainly focused on making health-related documentaries, including a long running series called Special Babies.

Not only does her latest project spell a return to a familiar subject - home births - but Bernie has also been on a return-to-midwifery course at Brighton University.

She now fits in shifts as a member of the bank staff at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton whenever she can.

She said: "I have filmed a lot of births and part of me started to think that I could help with them.

"Some of the midwives I was filming with used to joke that I could put the camera down and get involved myself.

"I am enjoying being a midwife again and I'm delighted to have come back into the profession.

"Obviously I won't be working as a midwife while doing the documentary but I will go back to it again afterwards.

"At least the women I film will realise I know what's going on when it comes to the birth itself."

The project is a TV series about home births based in and around Brighton and Hove and other parts of Sussex for the Discovery Channel.

Bernie is working with community and independent midwives and visiting antenatal and yoga classes.

She wants to find women who are at least 25 weeks into their pregnancy to take part.

Bernie, 46, said: "We are interested in speaking to women who, for whatever reason, have decided they want a home birth.

"Every woman having a baby has their own individual experience and their own reasons for choosing to give birth at home.

"We are hoping to have a wide spectrum of stories to tell."

The women will be filmed at various stages in the last few weeks of their pregnancies.

In the final two weeks they will be given a camera to make their own video diary reflecting their thoughts and experiences.

Bernie will film the birth itself.

She said: "The Discovery Channel does not want a lot of graphic shots. Everything will be discreet."

In the past her work has concentrated on hospital births but she thinks the time is right for a different angle.

She said: "Home births are becoming more popular.

"As a society we have come to believe that hospital is the only option for giving birth but it is perfectly natural to be at home.

"Many women prefer the idea of the comfort of home surroundings.

"They don't have the stress of making their way to the hospital. Instead, the team comes out to them.

"Their general view is that if there is no obvious medical need for a woman to have her baby in hospital, there is no reason she can't have it at home instead."

Bernie lives in Hove with husband Paul and the couple have four children - Tara, 22, Laurence, 20, Emily, 18, and Bryony, ten.

She is happy to hear from women as long as they are within two hours' drive of Brighton and Hove.

She said: "Any farther than that and we are going to be struggling to get to them in time so we have to be practical.

"This is a good area to base a film as people in Brighton tend to be more open and decisive about what they want.

"Women are not afraid to be firm and exercise their right to choose."

The home birth rate in Brighton and Hove is eight per cent, one of the highest in England and Wales and well above the national average of two per cent.

Discovery plans to screen the film in September so filming must be finished by the end of July.

Bernie already has two women but needs about 13 more to take part.

Women will be given a free copy of the programme which features them.

Anyone who is getting ready to give birth between now and July and is interested in being in the documentary should call Bernie on 07850 045535 or email info@goldhawk-media.co.uk.