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CAll The Midwife

(100 Posts)
MawBroon Fri 03-Mar-17 07:27:17

Perhaps I have missed it, but I was surprised nobody else has commented on last Sunday's strong (FGM) storyline.
Having welcomed Jennifer Kirby as the new nurse the previous Sunday, I wondered if she was going to have an "interesting" role - and she certainly did!
However, while retired NHS nurses and doctors who were working in the Sixties can put me right as they undoubtedly encountered FGM in areas with a high immigrant population, I have to admit I had not even heard of it until the "Noughties"
A sad story although with a happier twist, but no wonder so many women died in childbirth even in the 20th century.

wot Wed 15-Mar-17 22:01:15

Obviously not!

wot Wed 15-Mar-17 15:43:41

Here's another of my gems.... "I wouldn't say my mother in law was fat but she was on the Titanic!". Good, or wot? ?

wot Wed 15-Mar-17 15:41:55

?

Elegran Wed 15-Mar-17 10:35:40

fiorentina she was lucky it didn't roll under the bed and gather fluff!

Maggiemaybe Wed 15-Mar-17 09:58:06

My labour song with DD1 was Baggy Trousers. It wasn't supposed to be, as we'd been told to think of something soothing, but I just got it stuck in my head on a loop. Funnily enough, it didn't help calm the situation one little bit grin

J52 Wed 15-Mar-17 09:58:01

On the subject of corsets. My Aunts fiancé,a shy only child of aging parents, visiting for the first time, was shown to the spare room only to find that the WI had used it to change into fancy dress for a Gala parade.
Across the bed were a variety of pale pink corsets belonging to the ample ladies of the WI.
He did stay, they did marry and lived happily ever after, minus corsets! grin

Maggiemaybe Wed 15-Mar-17 09:51:15

My mum was so poor she couldn't afford a girdle, so she cut the ends off a hot water bottle and struggled into that! (Not really)

Do you know, wot, I was believing that till the last two words grin. Either I've read too many tales of "walked ten miles to school with bits of wood strapped to my feet" or I'm losing it.

DanniRae Wed 15-Mar-17 09:16:48

I have just watched Call The Midwife and although it made me cry I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next series. It is my kind of drama........When is Last Tango in Halifax coming back?? I enjoyed that too!

Penstemmon Mon 13-Mar-17 22:32:03

My MiL wore a girdle all her adult life.. she died in 2005 aged 98!
My mum had a playtex girdle but once tights became more commonplace the need for suspenders went and so dit the playtex.

Then spanx arrived!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF9UxDhrEfs

fiorentina51 Mon 13-Mar-17 22:29:24

I was a dispenser at Boots in the late 60's and into the 1970's. I remember a colleague being prescribed a diaphragm and she very kindly described the method of use. She reduced us to hysterics when she described how, after squeezing spermicide cream on the rim, she then attempted to squash it into the required shape. It then shot out of her grasp and hurtled across the bathroom like a rocket and smacked into the mirror leaving a trail of goo in its wake!

wot Mon 13-Mar-17 22:10:19

My mum was so poor she couldn't afford a girdle, so she cut the ends off a hot water bottle and struggled into that! (Not really)

Jalima Mon 13-Mar-17 20:30:45

I was trying to remember who sang Once Upon a Dream and I think it was Billy Fury
(not to be played when in labour though grin)

Ana Mon 13-Mar-17 20:18:10

The Dick Barton theme tune would have been good, too! grin

merlotgran Mon 13-Mar-17 20:14:23

If anyone had suggested I give a rendition of 'Secret Love' during the transition stage of labour I think I'd have punched them and if DH had joined in.... the second word would have been OFF!

We were encouraged to sing something jolly and FAST to prevent pushing too soon. I thought the William Tell overture was a good choice even though it got faster and faster grin

Jalima Mon 13-Mar-17 20:00:51

I think they had to use liberal amounts of talc before attempting to get into one of those girdles!

Jalima Mon 13-Mar-17 20:00:15

Still, ir makes a pleasant change seeing decent people being kind to one another
Yes, it does Eloethan - then comes SS-GB!! shock

Auntieflo Mon 13-Mar-17 19:29:43

I remember my mum having a Playtex Living Girdle, and as it had no fastenings, she wriggled it on so far, then Dad held it while she jumped up and down. How she got it off I never saw. ?

Eloethan Mon 13-Mar-17 18:48:29

I love Call the Midwife and enjoyed it last night, but have to admit the closing scene was rather schmaltzy. Still, ir makes a pleasant change seeing decent people being kind to one another.

SueDonim Mon 13-Mar-17 13:16:55

The carousel bit was bonkers but the ending of series was lovely. I have never seen a diaphragm before and my jaw hit the floor last night - were they really that huge??

And Baby Turner. Adorable! Does he have a name? If so, I didn't catch it.

Auntiflo, I watched Karma as well - having said on another thread that I don't cry, I used a few tissues last night!

Jalima Mon 13-Mar-17 12:37:07

Spirella - I googled it!

Jalima Mon 13-Mar-17 12:35:21

Yes, Sister Monica Joan was wrapping up the wedding car with yards and yards of white ribbon!

I'm not sure if DM's was Playtex because I think I remember someone coming to the house to measure her then this ghastly thing arriving in a box. I can't remember the name of it.

Ana Mon 13-Mar-17 12:26:37

Oh good, I'm glad Siser Monica Joan was there even though I somehow managed to miss her!

nigglynellie Mon 13-Mar-17 11:48:35

I've just loved this series. I boarded at a Convent light years ago and the nuns were so reminiscent of the nuns who cared for us, some so nice others a bit eeek!!
Sister Monica Joan was definitely there last night as she helped decorate the wedding car with enthusiasm!! She and Sister Julienne waved to everyone on the merrygoround! The end was OTT but charming and made me feel good!
I had a friend who died as a result of the pill and this part of the episode really hit a nerve. I didn't take it till after DD (second child) had been born in 1968, and by then the problems had been ironed out.
Can't wait for the next series!!!!

merlotgran Mon 13-Mar-17 11:16:45

That corset was what my mother used to call her 'foundation' grin

Christinefrance Mon 13-Mar-17 11:09:49

Yes Sister Monica Joan was there at the end with Mother Julienne.
I remember being fitted for the diaphragm and they made you practise before you took it home. Mine shot out of my fingers and across the room, so embarrassing. blush