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Call The Midwife

640 replies

Daffodilly · 15/01/2014 21:47

I'm sure after the Christmas special they said a new series would be starting in the New Year. So where is it?? [impatient]

OP posts:
creamteas · 17/02/2014 19:56

from a medical point of view would Sally have been able to carry a baby fathered by jacob now and was it bad luck the baby died or is it not possible despite advances in science

My understanding is that women with DS do have a higher risk of miscarriage and premature birth. Last time I saw this discussed, it was not sure why.

SweetestThing · 17/02/2014 20:01

Bunbaker, does your friend work there?

NinjaBunny · 17/02/2014 20:49

I've just caught up.

Am very upset (mascara and snot all over my face) that Jacob and Sally couldn't be together.

Am sure there were very sensible reasons for this but I'm still deeply unhappy.

:(

Excellent episode. Didn't really miss Jenny.

BertieBottsJustGotMarried · 17/02/2014 20:58

I don't think there were very sensible reasons Ninja :( I think the reasons were "We don't think that a woman with DS is capable of consenting to sex, therefore Jacob is an awful rapist".

BertieBottsJustGotMarried · 17/02/2014 21:00

Which I suppose reflects not only perceptions of disability but of sex/women at the time too. Sex being something that is done to women and women don't enjoy unless they are sluts. Didn't the swinging 60s supposedly change that mindset?

NinjaBunny · 17/02/2014 21:00

Jacob was a sweetie.

Any girl would be very lucky to be with him.

:)

Sally was a sweetie too.

BertieBottsJustGotMarried · 17/02/2014 21:06

It is sad. I know it's not real but as someone said above it probably is/was for someone.

There was a couple who used to come into the shop I worked in who both has Down's, and the man was always so careful to look out for and look after his wife, it was really touching to see and always brightened my day.

2old2beamum · 17/02/2014 21:16

Have thought long and hard about the issues. I think this program was rather too gentle on the issues. I can assure you having a son/daughter with a severe disability life was awful for parents and child. Most were cast off to institutions and left to rot.
However this brilliant episode may make people think.
Ladies who had Down Syndrome often had undiagnosed heart conditions and poor health (immune problems etc) and probably not carried a baby to term and now would have been offered a termination. Another thread!!
I having worked in the Poplar in 1963 I am ashamed of my attitude but now am a very proud mum of 3 with Down Syndrome (thank God for the pill)

May I take this opportunity to apologise to all who I did not shout for then like I do for my lovely 3 but I was young and insensitive.

This has been quite cathartic.

MrsDeVere · 17/02/2014 22:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarthasHarbour · 18/02/2014 12:16

Flowers 2old2beamum Smile

My nan upset me when i told her i was pregnant, i am 41 and due DC in April. She basically told me to terminate if i found out my baby had any problems - she then told me a story about a family she knew in the 50s who had a child with DS, apparently he was a 'burden to them' Sad i knew that was the attitude of the day but i know for a fact that she is up on modern attitudes as she is usually quite progressive for your average 91 year old. Hmm

I watched CTM last night and found it so touching, Sally's acting was superb, her pleading face when she told her father 'i am normal' Sad it is making me well up now!

I was a teenager in the 80's and distinctly remember the 'M' word being used freely then - not as an insult but as a matter of fact. I also vividly remember the Spastics Society right up to at least the late 80's. But yes i agree that they had to correct Dr Turner's terminology, for the benefit of the ignorant i guess.

Elderberri · 18/02/2014 15:32

The whole tone was so much warmer, I find the Jennie character very cold, let's hope she has a long break.

Fifilosttheplot · 18/02/2014 16:50

Was Jacob the character who made the "broken biscuits" speech in (I think) series 2? I dont think I have ever howled as much at a TV programme as that episode and my word I can blub for England.

NinjaBunny · 18/02/2014 18:30

I find the Jennie character very cold.

Yes, isn't she?

Robotic.

She looks at almost everyone with a look of distaste.

She's not needed now. The series could carry on well without her.

LaVolcan · 18/02/2014 18:58

I agree that she is not needed, especially since the stories now have come from other midwives who were around at the time.

Although I thought most midwives doing home deliveries in the 1950s were employed by the local authority; it wasn't usual to have nuns involved, was it?

Pixel · 18/02/2014 20:26

LaVolcan, see my earlier link. The real life Nuns that Jennifer Worth worked with were called the community of St John the Divine and they were 'originally a nursing order, and continue to be involved in areas of health and pastoral care.'

I suppose as being a nun goes that was quite a nice life. They weren't shut away in a convent all the time and got to work closely with the doctors and nurses as well as going out into the community. No vows of silence or anything like that either and if Call the Midwife is to be believed they ate quite well!

Must admit I love the bits where they are doing the singing. It sounds lovely and very 'old'. (Don't know how else to describe it!). It reminds me of the singing that the monks were doing on the Tudor Farm Christmas episode.

2old2beamum · 18/02/2014 21:01

FWIW while working with the nuns in Poplar never did we have their religious views pointed out to us. They were there to serve the women in the East End and they did!!
Could give you many things that would make your toes curl!! They taught me so much compassion and I was/am a hard Jewish/atheist

SweetestThing · 18/02/2014 21:08

Your memories are fascinating, 2old. Maybe you should volunteer to help with script-writing for the next series! That would be great :)

2old2beamum · 18/02/2014 21:28

SweetestThing I would be too bolshie now.

MarthasHarbour · 19/02/2014 21:33

2old but look at Sister Evangelina - she is bolshie but lovable too! anyway i dont want you whisked away to the BBC - you are our own resident storyteller! Smile

pixel i adore the singing too and was chuffed to bits when Shelagh popped back in with them to join in with the singing. it is beautiful

MrsSlocombesPussy · 23/02/2014 17:05

Now that they've run out of Jennifer Worth's stories, they're using stories from other midwives who were around at the same time, so I'm sure they'd love to hear from you, 2old!

Moln · 23/02/2014 20:24

I like the new midwife. Has the Jennifer Worth character gone forever?

GwendolineMaryLacey · 23/02/2014 21:05

Back next week by the look of it.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 23/02/2014 21:07

Really disappointed to see Jenny is back next week.

Moln · 23/02/2014 21:14

Ah I like her character. I know she's a stick in the mud but variety is tye spice of life etc

JugglingFromHereToThere · 23/02/2014 21:46

So, what did you all think of tonight's episode, the Trixie special ?
I thought she was great and enjoyed the new romance.

The Irish couple's story was also very well told - I was so worried for that baby and so glad it made it through.

Overall we really enjoyed it again tonight, but possibly not quite as good as the first couple in the series ie. last week and week before?

Hope Shelagh will adopt, does Dr have something to hide from his past? (reluctance to fill in all those forms)