Page 12 | Call the Midwife

eleanorwish · 10/01/2022 17:57

A couple of bits of dialogue seemed a too modern to me, I wonder if anyone else noticed?
Shelia talked about getting some leaflets 'printed out'. I thought that only came in with the widespread use of computers? I would have thought to 'get printed' would have been more likely.
Also when Lucille was buying wool she asked for 50 grams, I thought wool was sold in ounces at that time?

wishingitwasspring · 10/01/2022 18:06

From scrubbing her hands raw with a scourer in early labour to giving birth with perfectly healed hands...

wishingitwasspring · 10/01/2022 18:07

@eleanorwish

A couple of bits of dialogue seemed a too modern to me, I wonder if anyone else noticed? Shelia talked about getting some leaflets 'printed out'. I thought that only came in with the widespread use of computers? I would have thought to 'get printed' would have been more likely. Also when Lucille was buying wool she asked for 50 grams, I thought wool was sold in ounces at that time?

Yarn was still being bought in ounces in the 1980s

jay55 · 10/01/2022 18:15

I found printed out jarring too.
I was thinking one of churches would have had one of those big rolling copy machines with the purple ink to make leaflets with.

Pebble21uk · 10/01/2022 19:38

@jay55

I found printed out jarring too. I was thinking one of churches would have had one of those big rolling copy machines with the purple ink to make leaflets with.

A Banda machine! Absolutely... I remember those so well at Primary!

I found last night dragged! I've been watching some repeats recently and the last couple of series just aren't a patch on them. And it's the writing - because they have some very good actors... Linda Bassett & Georgie Glen are both great in their roles... So is Helen George... I saw her in a theatre production a few years ago and she was fab!
Sadly not Dr McSmugface Mansplainer, who gets more screen time than everyone else put together. He needs to go... Along with Sister Moaning Joan. My theory is they can't ask her to leave given her age / status etc)

Akire · 10/01/2022 19:54

I wasn’t sure of the fuss made of being asked have chat about contraception? It wasn’t we are going make you take pill or anything. I guess with many poor large families where parents struggle cope and crime or other issues it’s just one layer on fixing problem.

The “poor baby’s have just as much right to be born” was true but in circumstances just having baby after baby isn’t going really help either.

woodhill · 10/01/2022 19:57

@Akire

I wasn’t sure of the fuss made of being asked have chat about contraception? It wasn’t we are going make you take pill or anything. I guess with many poor large families where parents struggle cope and crime or other issues it’s just one layer on fixing problem.

The “poor baby’s have just as much right to be born” was true but in circumstances just having baby after baby isn’t going really help either.

Totally agree Akire, the family barely had enough room as it was

SarahAndQuack · 10/01/2022 19:58

@eleanorwish

A couple of bits of dialogue seemed a too modern to me, I wonder if anyone else noticed? Shelia talked about getting some leaflets 'printed out'. I thought that only came in with the widespread use of computers? I would have thought to 'get printed' would have been more likely. Also when Lucille was buying wool she asked for 50 grams, I thought wool was sold in ounces at that time?

I didn't notice either of those (but yes, oops!) but did notice them talking about 'close contacts' with Scabies. Ok, yes, for all I know that phrase may have been in use at the time, but I think because it's so ubiquitous at the moment, it didn't give the right impression - just made me think 'covid jargon'.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 11/01/2022 06:07

i thought the baby was constant, therefore called her constance, not lucille

MrsLargeEmbodied · 11/01/2022 06:10

scabies can live in the furniture i believe, or the bedclothes

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 11/01/2022 06:45

Very observant those of you noticing use of grammes rather than ounces for the wool and 'printing out'.

I think 'close contacts' is an epidemiological term of old but it's just become part of everyday parlance over the past two years (unfortunately).

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 11/01/2022 09:26

The fuss about contraception seemed to be because the new policy was not being applied to all new mothers, just the ones identified as problems, who would mostly be poor. I also felt they were skirting around the fact that there have been many scandals around the world about women who were considered unsuitable to be mothers, or to have more children, being pressured into having their tubes tied or even a hysterectomy.

By the early 90s, both times I was on the postnatal ward it was a standard feature to be visited by the contraception nurse. It was a bit surreal to be asked what we would do for contraception over the coming months within hours of giving birth, as sex was far from my mind at that point, but a good idea nevertheless to plant the seed.

LyndaSnellsSniff · 12/01/2022 18:42

The scene where Shelagh scurried across the surgery to answer the phone (when they realised Miss Higgins still hadn't turned up) was hilarious! I rewound several times to rewatch.

MorrisZapp · 12/01/2022 20:03

In an old episode, Chummys mother refers to cancer as 'the big C' which didn't feel right to me.

Notwithittoday · 12/01/2022 20:11

I really enjoyed this week, my dd also enjoys it for some reason so let her stay up to watch. The scene where Miss Higgins treated everyone to a musical performance had her in hysterics for some reason.
I thought the bit when Cyril and Lucille went to complain about the contraception thing a bit weird . Also thought it was strange how they sort of swept the issue of who was going to care for Constance while Mum was out cleaning.

Akire · 12/01/2022 20:16

I think she was supposed to be office type cleaner so would been out early then back before older kids went to school then maybe worked in evenings again.

Is the previous student now a proper midwife? We not seen her do any work or blood pressure so far. Not quite sure how confident I’d feel is she turns up looking 16.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 12/01/2022 21:41

Caught up today. Weird episode. The bit with Nancy and posh boy was strange and seemed to come out of nowhere...

They seem to be trying to stick too much in one episode. Cancer plus scabies plus Mrs Higgins plus the contraception, social worker, single woman plus some scattering of bits around the newly weds and housing. They just can't delve into things like they used to.

I'm sure there are far too many visitors in hospital too.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 13/01/2022 07:35

The bit with Nancy and posh boy was strange and seemed to come out of nowhere... agree that seemed a very impertinent comment from the most junior member of the team. I do hope Trixie's path to love isn't going to be blindsided by Nancy somehow (could she even be a love rival?).

Original poster

Toddlerteaplease · 13/01/2022 12:35

I can't imagine social care these days, just dropping the case if a mother who was obviously struggling. Just on the say so of her midwife!

OP posts:

wishingitwasspring · 13/01/2022 14:25

@Toddlerteaplease

I can't imagine social care these days, just dropping the case if a mother who was obviously struggling. Just on the say so of her midwife!

I can't imagine 'struggling' would meet any of social cares criteria to be even vaguely interested these days tbh.

Original poster

Toddlerteaplease · 13/01/2022 14:27

You are probably right! I remember contraception being discussed on the health visitors first visit after a birth, when I was a student nurse about 20 years ago.

OP posts:

LoveMae · 13/01/2022 21:51

My midwife asked about contraception when she came to visit on day 5, I nearly laughed her out

Not loving this season so far.

Elderflower14 · 16/01/2022 20:03

Now watching!!

Elderflower14 · 16/01/2022 20:42

The foot!!! 😢 😢 😢 😢

dayswithaY · 16/01/2022 20:51

Sooo boring this week