Call the Midwife

Sorry, that was a comment on greatnan's post on Friday. Read too quickly - I should not be here, I should be in the attic. Clearing. And looking forward to tonight's episode.

My DD had a moan recently about the fact that the girl in the flat below hers had just given birth and had screamed the whole block down for hours. I don't recall screaming or shouting myself (swearing maybe

Yes, JessM, it was quite a talking point at the time!
I had my third baby in 1967, in hospital, because of problems, and the local paper sent a photographer to snap all of us who`d had babies on New Years Day. There were three of us in that hospital, but only two of us were in the photo. When I asked why, I was told that the other girl was an unmarried mother, and it would never do for her picture to be in the newspaper! I ask you, and this was 1967!!!

Yes, how come my lifetime has become history?

You're right GadaboutGran, it's quite a sobering thought that these events, for us (well, you and me at least), are not historical, but happened well within our lifetime - and within the reign of the Queen. What changes these 60 years have seen! As I said in an earlier post, my neighbour was one of those very midwives, which really brings it all home to me.

Ah number do you remember her alfresco delivery?

Afraid you're right, gadabout - "he (and I do mean "he") that hath ears, let him hear.) Huh!

I love this series but have to keep reminding myself that I was around 10 years old and had been born by the time it was set. I rarely read a book of a TV series (or vice versa) but read the book in a day. It showed me how good the TV adaptation is and how true to the book. For once they are recognising that life can be sad and there isn't always a happy ending & it shouldn't be sanitised. Jenny Worth provides good lessons in how she dealt with such times. The added value of the book is the historical & political context of midwifery. How those early midwives were treated & vilified by many unenlightemed doctors was appalling but so similar to other scenario involving women. It's nice to hear that some men are watching but I fear those who really need to understand 'female' issues won't - childbirth and early years are still so often seen as the province of women and therefore of lesser value.

JessM, that was Daphne, wife of Des Clark, the bank manager, money bank, not river bank!

Enjoying Call the Midwife. Hilarious and sad. Reminds me of what nursing used to be like.

Now that's an achievment!

My all time TV birth was on Neighbours years ago. Someone who was I think called Dorothy (I was not a fan but kids used to watch) gave birth on a river bank without removing her dungarees.

One of my mums having rushed her husband into hospital hours to early with no1 told him very firmly with no2 not to take any notice of her if she kept telling him it was coming and he needed to hurry. He took her at her word, told her to keep calm there was lots of time. She delivered in the car park!

A baby was born on the doorstep of the maternity unit of our new hospital the other evening...! The doors were locked, and in his panic, the father-to-be pressed a buzzer that didn't go through to the midwives. Apparently there WAS another buzzer - and he pressed that and the midwives apparently attended within a minute. Mother and baby doing well - but the birth did take place in the view of (possibly horrified!) onlookers who were also waiting to access the hospital.

Greatnan I'd rather be in hospital or at home myself!

I love the way in soaps everybody has their first baby in ten minutes, usually in the back of a cab! If only!

Nurses don't like nail varnish because if someone goes to theatre it has to be removed. I think it is one of the ways the anaesthetist monitors them, by looking at the colour of their nails. But that is no excuse for telling her off!
Makes more entertaining telly if everyone is screaming.
I have been at a number of births too and nobody screamed.

When my sister went into hospital to have her first baby, when she was 19 and married, the sister told her off for having nail varnish on!
I was watching 'One born every minute' and the girl of 17 screamed all the time. I have been present at the births of three of my grandchildren, and neither of my daughters (or myself) did anything more than groan. Now, every programme about birth shows mothers screaming the place down. Is this the new attitude of 'letting it all hang out'?

Oh susieb how dreadful. Glad you have found DD now.

Susie it was terrible the way you were treated, thank goodness times have changed. Glad that you were reunited with your daughter. I can only imagine what it must have been like for you what an awful thing to go through.

Watching the series 'One born every minute' there seem to be young single mothers giving birth on there most weeks and fortunately they appear to be treated just like any other mothers.

Back to 'Call the midwife 'brilliant series' and very sad this week.

The toxaemia thing hit home with me last night. When I had my first child as very naughty 16 year old in 1969 I was largely ignored because of my age and left alone to labour and afterwards to heamorrhage all over the floor. the baby was taken away for adoption (found her now though). When I had my next child in 1974 having got married to the only man who would have me (a direct quote from my mother)my blood pressure soared almost from day one. I had a friendly but sadly alcoholic Gp who wouldn't 'let' his mothers go to the ante natal clinic. Near the end of the pregnancy I had huge hands and feet, a roaring BP and proteinuria. My GP was on leave and his locum sent me straight into the mat unit who transferred me to the obs unit in the next town who immediately sedated and induced me at the same time. Later I was told it was touch and go but I don't remember it. The lovely gynaecologist pleased with me to be sterilised and I did quite happily. Years later when diagnosed with Lupus I was told this was proably at the bottom of my troubles all along. I found the programme quite chilling.

mmm when I was an NCT teacher in the 70s they used to measure cervical dilation in fingers - or in cms, cos 1 - 10 cms the perfect measuring scale.
I dont remember any waistline tapemeasuring going on though.
Lovely series.

Just watched the 5th Feb episode - I was so shocked to see the mum who died after toxemia. I think we tend to forget just how dangerous childbirth used to be, we are very lucky to have lived in a time where the checks reveal such problems before they become life-threatening. Last week's episode was also very good (with Roy Hudd) but again it highlighted just how lucky we are to have had a good district nursing service for elder people. Only problem with last week was the tummy measurement in on scene - in centimetres! I have spoken to midwife friends who say that no-one did that, let alone use centrimetres. Despite these little bits its a wonderful series, and Miranda is great as Chummy!

Oh dear, it's becoming a weekly weep! I hope next week it's a bit more uplifting! Then to be followed by more emotion when the beknighted Churchill allowed Bomber Command to do his dirty work and then refused to recognise the immense ( and brave) contribution they made.
P.S. I'm a pacifist, honestly!!!

Both DH and I were in tears at the end of it.