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Original poster

Call the midwife

540 replies

JazzAnnNonMouse · 20/01/2013 19:41

Tonight?

OP posts:
PrinceRogersNelson · 17/02/2013 21:00

I have never really understood so clearly before why I should (and am) so very grateful for contraception.

NotADragonOfSoup · 17/02/2013 21:00

It makes you realise how bloody lucky we are now.

Sheila · 17/02/2013 21:00

I think it's very important to be reminded of how awful it was before contraception and abortion were available, and what lengths desperate women will go to end an unwanted pregnancy.

ProphetOfDoom · 17/02/2013 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

carbondated · 17/02/2013 21:02

God that was a tough one! I think I'm being a bit thick but did Nora survive and come out of the coma or do I have that wrong? I don't think they can make it feelgood easily if it's based on the writer's true experiences. I think they have tried to do some toning down of things from what I've read on here though ie the captain's daughter on the ship episode was a better outcome then in the book.

ErikNorseman · 17/02/2013 21:04

I don't think we know about Nora yet do we?

ErikNorseman · 17/02/2013 21:05

Oh god I've just realised I'm a few minutes behind you all because I paused it. Thank goodness Nora recovered.

PenelopePisstop · 17/02/2013 21:11

It's hard too believe that this is in my mothers life time and not to far off mine, as I was born in the 60's.

Thank God Nora survived, I could hardly watch.

GeorginaWorsley · 17/02/2013 21:32

I want nun and dr to end up together!
Agree awful back street abortions. We can never go back to that.

Pixel · 17/02/2013 23:52

Very harrowing episode, but well acted. I was born in the sixties too but my mum had the coil as family history of heart disease meant she couldn't have the pill. I was wondering, when did people start being able to use 'rubber johnnies'? Was that after the fifties? I had the idea that they were around during the war but not sure where I got that from.

Still, couldn't help being a bit Hmm that a woman could have eight children and not own a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook!

Oodsigma · 18/02/2013 06:55

They had condoms in an episode the other week. The girl on the boat said she used them

GwendolineMaryLacey · 18/02/2013 07:44

Condoms were around during the war. I'm not sure when they started being disposable though!

OddBoots · 18/02/2013 08:19

I think it was cost that stopped her using condoms, hence the bit about the referral to family planning not being on the NHS.

mrsjay · 18/02/2013 08:46

How harrowing was last nights very powerful I was sobbing that poor woman so desperate Sad and then the sister in turmoil over the dishy doctor then the baby comp and poor trixie It was quite a hard watch tbh,

mrsjay · 18/02/2013 08:49

I think it was cost that stopped her using condoms, hence the bit about the referral to family planning not being on the NHS.

yes you are right they couldn't afford to feed their kids never mind buying condoms when did contraceptive become free ? I also noticed noras 'better days' curtains had been sold to the nuns for the costumes

NotADragonOfSoup · 18/02/2013 08:51

Yes, I thought it was the cost of condoms that prevented them using them.

hackmum · 18/02/2013 09:05

I thought it was a shame in last night's episode that after such a powerful story (particularly the bit where they actually carried out the illegal abortion) they then tacked on a happy ending with the whole family roaming the fields of Harlow, Sound of Music style.

In the book, iirc, the early abortion doesn't work (which was the same as in last night's episode) but rather than have a late abortion, the couple just kill the baby after it's born.

mrsjay · 18/02/2013 09:07

oh god hackmum Shock I think that would have been far to much for sunday night telly I think people want a happyish ending ,

Oodsigma · 18/02/2013 09:21

I didn't notice the curtain bit.

The worst thing with the family was that they obviously loved their kids but couldn't afford another and that made then desperate rather than 'just' not wanting one. The bit where she said about avoiding him too.

Clawdy · 18/02/2013 10:36

I once asked my mum how it was she and quite a few of her friends only had two kids when there was no contraceptive pill. She said "We used the withdrawal method...men didn't like it but it usually worked..."

LIZS · 18/02/2013 10:42

Had to flick over to DOI results when dd came in the room last night . Not sure it was really appropriate pre watershed. Harrowing :(

mrsjay · 18/02/2013 10:53

Im not sure about the prewatershed viewing either LIZS but my youngest dd is 15 so I dont mind her watching it is a bit much especially last nights I thought it was a bit graphic

mrsjay · 18/02/2013 10:54

infct really graphic*

alemci · 18/02/2013 11:08

yes I thought it was a bit graphic before 9 o'clock. could they have not had the baby adopted after the birth rather than killing it as in the book.

mrsjay · 18/02/2013 11:19

I just think she was desperate and id imagine adoption was frowned on the poor woman just didnt want to be pregnant anymore, I dont have a problem with them letting us know she was going to an abortionist I just thought they lingered on the scenes too long , especially for 8pm at night I didnt know they had killed the baby in the book, My dds are really enjoying watching it and we talk about 'stuff' but I do think younger children are still up and about at 8pm

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