Call the Midwife - a step too far?

Call the Midwife was over for me after the first series. So repetitive with re-hashed stories featuring different characters.

I had my daughter in 1965. I was only 19 and was left totally alone with no pain relief. I was told that I was 'imagining' being in labour, and it was only when her head had been born in bed that they accepted I was in labour.

After the birth I was told by one midwife that 'I wasn't a proper mother as I was not married'.

The only bit of compassion I received was from the medical student who stitched me up. Prior to that I had been forgotten and left in the delivery room for 4 hours without even a cup of tea.

The treatment I saw my daughter get from the midwives during he four births was wonderful. I think times have changed for the better.

HurdyGurdy

We (daughter and I) enjoyed CTMW. Yes, it was a bit cheesy, but it's a drama, not a documentary! I thought it was lovely to see Nurse Crane fulfilling a fantasy and seeing the joy on her face.

I hadn't realised that this was filmed during lockdown. It wasn't very obvious, so very cleverly done. I will go and see if I can find some information how it was done.

Dramas don’t need to be cheesy and twee do they ??

The highest viewing figures for Christmas day this year was for the Queen's speech. 8+ million. Interesting.

Yes and I dont think people watch as an event if you know what I mean they watch it later on catch up etc.

I think it was the highest viewing figures for over 10 years for Gavin and Stacey - it’s not surprising that it lower generally though as there’s so much choice of channels, plus Sky, Netflix etc. now,

But on Christmas day when Christmas eastenders in the past was pulling in 20 million I think?

I’m not sure that’s true Galaxy, 11.6 million watched the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special in 2019? It’s more to do with programmes capturing the audience I think.

We (daughter and I) enjoyed CTMW. Yes, it was a bit cheesy, but it's a drama, not a documentary! I thought it was lovely to see Nurse Crane fulfilling a fantasy and seeing the joy on her face.

I hadn't realised that this was filmed during lockdown. It wasn't very obvious, so very cleverly done. I will go and see if I can find some information how it was done.

Galaxy

Its interesting the way TV viewing has changed though. It was the most watched programme but with only 5 million viewers which is nothing really compared to various Christmas specials in the past. People dont watch TV anymore in the way they used to.

But apparently there were 11 million viewers for the Strictly final last week.

Lilypops

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

He can't act! I have watched a couple of the programmes over the years but find them too cheesy and twee.

Its interesting the way TV viewing has changed though. It was the most watched programme but with only 5 million viewers which is nothing really compared to various Christmas specials in the past. People dont watch TV anymore in the way they used to.

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

Never appealed to me.

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

It's frothy and light and a pleasant watch

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.

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

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

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 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

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

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!"

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

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

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.