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Original poster

Call the midwife part 2

687 replies

TwinklyFawn · 24/01/2025 21:11

I know that my first thread isn't full yet. I just wanted to create the second thread before i forgot.

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Original poster
TwinklyFawn · 31/01/2025 13:02

Riverswims · 29/01/2025 20:25

I had knitted school jumpers in the late 90s and I wasn’t the only one

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I didn't have knitted school jumpers.

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MotherofPearl · 31/01/2025 13:17

@Umanresources probably for the best that you didn't realise how serious pre-eclampsia is - ignorance is bliss and all that!

Uricon2 · 31/01/2025 13:24

My DM had pre-eclampsia in late pregnancy (over 8 months) with me in the early 60s, I think it was known as "toxaemia of pregnancy" then. Knew nothing until she collapsed and was taken to hospital with the bell ringing.They kept her in until I was born, 2 weeks overdue, not sure that would be allowed to happen now.

She was admitted from a mother and baby home miles from home, although by that point the plan was for her to go back to my grandparets with me when I was born. It was run by Anglican nuns who do not sound at all like the Sisters of St Raymond Nonnatus I'm afraid, straw mattresses and barred windows, daily floor scrubbing, poor food. My grandmother found out later, was horrified and said that she'd never have left her there but the front of house was very different (DM confirmed this) all polished wood and fresh flowers.

Some of the stories Mum told about young women giving up their babies for no reason other than being unmarried and a lack of support were utterly heartbreaking and have stayed with me all my life, it was a brutal system.

Umanresources · 31/01/2025 13:47

Uricon2 · 31/01/2025 13:24

My DM had pre-eclampsia in late pregnancy (over 8 months) with me in the early 60s, I think it was known as "toxaemia of pregnancy" then. Knew nothing until she collapsed and was taken to hospital with the bell ringing.They kept her in until I was born, 2 weeks overdue, not sure that would be allowed to happen now.

She was admitted from a mother and baby home miles from home, although by that point the plan was for her to go back to my grandparets with me when I was born. It was run by Anglican nuns who do not sound at all like the Sisters of St Raymond Nonnatus I'm afraid, straw mattresses and barred windows, daily floor scrubbing, poor food. My grandmother found out later, was horrified and said that she'd never have left her there but the front of house was very different (DM confirmed this) all polished wood and fresh flowers.

Some of the stories Mum told about young women giving up their babies for no reason other than being unmarried and a lack of support were utterly heartbreaking and have stayed with me all my life, it was a brutal system.

Gosh, your poor DM. I wonder if places like that were more common than the angelic Nunnatus House sisters. I think the majority of maternity homes were probably in between. Thank goodness times and attitudes have changed. I remember one of our unmarried neighbours, who still lived with her parents, had a baby. It was never openly mentioned and he called her “auntie” and the grandparents were mum and dad. This would be in the 60s. We were quite a close knit community then and people were kind to the family.

Uricon2 · 31/01/2025 14:10

I really hope that this was an exception @Umanresources and suspect that you're right and most were somewhere in between. Yes, for all the criticism of the present day, a lot of change has been for the better.

I'm sure there have always been lovely nuns of all descriptions, but I think though the liberal, tolerant attitudes of the CTM ones are possibly not entirely accurate across the board, at least for the period.

bruffin · 31/01/2025 15:03

Umanresources · 31/01/2025 12:55

I really don't think any of us actually realised how potentially serious pre-eclampsia was. Pre Internet and we had only books to tell us, and nursing staff and doctors who talked over us to the students, as it was a teaching hospital. My bump was examined by first day student midwives (staff nurse asked me first because she thought I was quite easy going). 8 of them, one at a time obviously, with varying degrees of warmth in their hands. My DS was born the following morning. I swear they helped him along! The hospital staff were wonderful with us all. It was just like a holiday.

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Same with 7 weeks in hospital, before mobile and internet, the novelty soon wore off! I was allowed home for 2 nights in that time

Original poster
TwinklyFawn · 01/02/2025 17:49

Luckily my dm had no complications when she was pregnant. I had an uncle who was illegitimate. He was cared for by some of my relatives and he worked on the trains.

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TennisWithDeborah · 02/02/2025 18:05

I’ve just caught up with last Sunday’s episode. I thought it was a return to form. Difficult topics, sensitively handled. Women getting things done! Strong new character, too, the nun.

I hope that they’ll sort out Cyril’s story tonight, rather than have him hanging about benevolently, wife still inexplicably thousands of miles away.

Original poster
TwinklyFawn · 02/02/2025 18:35

TennisWithDeborah · 02/02/2025 18:05

I’ve just caught up with last Sunday’s episode. I thought it was a return to form. Difficult topics, sensitively handled. Women getting things done! Strong new character, too, the nun.

I hope that they’ll sort out Cyril’s story tonight, rather than have him hanging about benevolently, wife still inexplicably thousands of miles away.

So do i. I just want him to be happy.

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witchycat2 · 02/02/2025 19:57

Checking in

CrushingOnRubies · 02/02/2025 20:08

Evening all! Thanks for the new thread

ImWearingPantaloons · 02/02/2025 20:14

And this evening's illness that can be immunised against is......polio!!

witchycat2 · 02/02/2025 20:14

Oh look, another crappy husband

witchycat2 · 02/02/2025 20:18

Cyril is back!

Original poster
TwinklyFawn · 02/02/2025 20:18

Cyril is back.

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FagsMagsandBags · 02/02/2025 20:20

Lovely Cyril!

FagsMagsandBags · 02/02/2025 20:20

I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to have to live in one of those iron lungs. It looks like no life at all.

MaloryJones · 02/02/2025 20:22

FagsMagsandBags · 02/02/2025 20:20

I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to have to live in one of those iron lungs. It looks like no life at all.

I agree

Awfully sad

jay55 · 02/02/2025 20:22

Sister Julienne having a crisis of faith? Or just fed up with everything.

Original poster
TwinklyFawn · 02/02/2025 20:23

FagsMagsandBags · 02/02/2025 20:20

I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to have to live in one of those iron lungs. It looks like no life at all.

It looks awful.

OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 02/02/2025 20:24

Now watching... Nice to have Cyril.back.
Why doesn't SJ leave the woman alone??

witchycat2 · 02/02/2025 20:26

I have never heard of an iron lung before. Were people literally in them 24/7?

CrushingOnRubies · 02/02/2025 20:26

Just googled didn't realise that the Commonwealth Games began in 1830 thought it was much more recent

Elderflower14 · 02/02/2025 20:30

Wilf carried the Commonwealth Baton for the last games... ♥️ ♥️ ♥️

CrushingOnRubies · 02/02/2025 20:32

witchycat2 · 02/02/2025 20:26

I have never heard of an iron lung before. Were people literally in them 24/7?

Polio is a complicated disease and I think it depends on the severity and the younger you are the better the recovery.

Mary Berry has a polio has a child and she was in an iron lung for a year or so but made a recovery.

It's a horrid disease