Call the Midwife - a step too far?

Jane10,

"After she had her own babies she was appalled at the attitudes she and the other midwives had had previously."

Yes, and stories that are fact like Kate's, and fictions like CTM, are the best perhaps the only way way to learn vicariously.

I enjoyed it as usual. Sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of nonsense.
I do believe that there are many people who seem straight laced and drab that have a very different idea of themselves to the persona they present to the outside world.

It was the most watched programme yesterday ( there was nothing else on) and I enjoyed it.
I only noticed the social distancing when they all trooped down the corridor and smiled into Sister Monica Joan's bedroom....no hugs!

Haven’t watched it yet, and after reading the comments, not sure I will bother!

Lots of Christmas ‘Specials’ are anything but.

Have just watched it, I thought it was lovely escapism.

With all that’s gone on in 2020 I am happy to watch anything that makes me smile. Totally fed up with news and broadcasts from No.10.

I had my 4 children late 50s, early 60s, 2 in hospital, the treatment was excellent except in hospital with the last one a grumpy midwife told me to keep still or I would kill the baby!!!! What a contrast to my 2nd child who was delivered at home by a lovely midwife who said quite calmly -“I want you to put your leg over my shoulder and keep very still as I’m going to cut the cord as it’s round the babies neck!! She was amazingly calm! That baby boy, out of 4 children is now aman of 60!!!!

I enjoyed it, as TV entertainment, not a documentary, although based on the books, poetic license is to be expected.

I thought they hit the nail right on the head with the ‘Spinsters Christmas dinner’ part, I’m sure that getting bathcubes and being sidelined was absolutely the way it was for single ladies of a certain age then.

I agree about the spinsters Christmas Dinner and the bath cubes. I always bought them for my spinster great aunts . I thought they liked them!!

Alexa

Kate1949 , there should be feedback from patients so that nurse education may be improved. It should not be taken for granted by nurse educators that student nurses are all great empathisers.

If CTM does any good it is that any nurses watching may learn the patient is a person with feelings and usually feels very vulnerable.

Why would someone who can't empathize and recognize patients fears and concerns want to go into the nursing profession in the first place?

And if they do, why aren't they discouraged?

We loved it! I think Christmas specials of any programme always include elements of fantasy and feel good in abundance. The series is based on the original books but with an abundance of fiction. Long live uplifting fiction - especially right now. Happy Boxing Day everyone.

I gave birth to my second baby in 1969 and was slapped across the face by the midwife and told to be quiet and stop making all that noise
I don’t watch Call the midwife and I don’t take to feel good factors fact they are too far from real life

I had that thing of students around the bed whilst I was in the latter stages of labour as shown in this episode.
That was the moment this frightened mouse had enough. I shouted 'get out' The doctor said 'now now mother' . I said 'I'm not your mother. Get out' They did.

I was a nurse for over 40yrs and I treated all with empathy,but agree some people were in the wrong job.

Tbh I was just glad of the 90 mins of gentle escapism. I did find the scene where the mother spoke of her 7 lost babies very moving.

The scene where nurse Phylis discarded her uniform in the middle of her shift and dressed up to swing on a trapeze made me laugh out loud. But I did enjoy the episode.

I think I’m in a minority here. Can’t bear “call the midwife, “ I find it cheesy in the extreme !

When I had DD in 1970I was in a unit where I was looked after by my GP and the midwifery staff. My doctor was wonderful and so were the nurses, but some of us had had bad experiences previously. I had a very easy labour, however when another patient turned up and and she said she was a midwife there were a few knowing looks and mutterings " that now she'll know what it's like!"

Even sensible folk have a hankering to do something unusual,Iwas in my late fifties when I did a firewalk.once you've walked on hot coals you feel you can do anything.My children thought I was bonkers but I loved it and did it three times ..on Hallowe'en 3 years in a row .Its great to do something you'd find hard to imagine doing...not for anyone else ,just for me .Might try trapeze now Ive seen it ....lol

I love call the midwife and always look forward to it. It's a tv programme so I'm not expecting it to be an exact portrayal of reality

I love Call the Midwife, but was disappointed yesterday, firstly the hairstyles had changed according to the era,that was alright except they should have had their hair away from their collars, as in the sixties/ seventies.Phyllis on the trapeze, it was ridiculous.The dating part with Trixie was unnecessary, nothing to do with the programme really.I hope the next series is back to its usual standard, but maybe with it having been recorded during various lock downs they have done well.Lets give them another chance.

I have never watched it from day 1 and it sounds as though I made a good choice.

It’s the Doctor in CTM that I can’t bear. Same soppy grin for everything. ! But I love the programme

I watched and enjoyed it although the trapeze sequence was a bit OTT. But it’s Christmas and what’s Christmas without a bit of Pantomime. I noticed the social distancing almost straight away and thought it cleverly done - DH was far more interested in watching for it than following the story line.

Never appealed to me.

But last year we ended up watching it from Season One.

It's frothy and light and a pleasant watch

Just watched on iplayer, yes definitely very cheesy but also touching! Perfect covid Christmas viewing!!