Childbirth more nerve-racking than first-time sex

A survey has found that childbirth can be more nerve-racking than first-time sex, marriage, surgery or buying a house.

The survey commissioned for a new police series called 'Rookie Blue', on the Universal TV channel, showed that top of the anxiety list for both men and women was childbirth.

Second on the list was the nerve inducing first day of a new job, third marriage, fourth hospital operations, and fifth buying a first home.

Losing one's virginity came sixth, with threat of redundancy at seventh, and meeting the in-laws at eighth, a first kiss at ninth and leaving home at tenth.

"Rookie Blue is all about that dreaded first day and those defining 'first times' we face with trepidation," the Daily Express quoted programming director Jamie Morris as saying. "Judging by the study it'll be something plenty can relate to," he stated.