After the stressful climax of last week’s episode, we’re grateful it's a new week in Poplar. Fortunately, everyone appears to have come out of the violent showdown at the Melias’ residence unscathed – thanks in part to Trixie’s ability to talk some sense into the domineering husband.

Over the seasons, we’ve met midwives of all varying personalities and backgrounds, yet there has always been one common attribute that binds these women together: their dedication to their patients. In the face of adversity, the midwives strive to serve their community as best as they can, even when the odds appear stacked against them. 

Cyril Meets Edna Bristow

A strong sense of community is ever-present among Cyril’s congregation of churchgoers. The only issue is that they still have no official building to use for service – an issue Mrs. Wallace is eager as ever to look into. While she aims to find a proper space for their church, she also points out the need to look into another task: reaching out to “backsliding” members.

Following up on Mrs. Wallace’s request, Cyril goes to the address of Mr. Lloyd Bristow’s apartment, a supposed church “backslider.” What he discovers when he arrives, though, is that Mr. Bristow has abandoned his pregnant wife Edna and young daughter, Tracey. Based on the look of disdain when talking about Lloyd, Edna appears to be the sole provider for her family. When Cyril asks Edna if she would consider joining his church, she responds with an incredulous expression – prayer isn’t going to feed her children.

Over at Nonnatus House, Trixie rushes in late to work having run into ridiculous delays with the city buses. The morning commute nightmares cease to let up.

Mrs. Khan's Unknown Illness

Over the years, Dr. Turner and his staff have provided medical care to patients from many diverse backgrounds, and this week is no different.

At his office, Dr. Turner meets with Mrs. Sahira Khan, a Poplar resident suffering from insomnia and aching fatigue. However, the woman’s blood and urine samples don’t suggest anything unusual, leaving Dr. Turner puzzled over the cause of the medical issue. All he can do for now is prescribe her pills to hopefully alleviate the symptoms.

Once Mrs. Khan departs, Nancy joins Dr. Turner to discuss more about the patient’s undiagnosed condition. She reckons the cause for Mrs. Khan’s ill state may be due to homesickness, but Dr. Turner reckons that Mrs. Khan perhaps hasn’t told him everything. He asks Nancy if she would call the patient at home to see if she can gather any more information.

Two Exhausted Women

For a single mother, there’s no moment to catch a breath. During her check-up at the clinic, Edna tries to explain this to Shelagh and Joyce who try to convince the mother to find some time to rest.

That’s a luxury Edna doesn't have – she has to work to support her daughter Tracey and her soon-to-be newborn. When Shelagh reminds her that she’s entitled to a maternity grant and family allowance, Edna closes off, evidently not interested in accepting help.

Meanwhile, Nancy follows up on Dr. Turner’s request and drops by Mrs. Khan’s house to inquire further. After assuring the patient that she is a person she can confide in, Nancy learns that Mrs. Khan is experiencing excruciating period pains. Back at the office, Nancy relays the new information to Dr. Turner who then asks Miss Higgins to refer Mrs. Khan to a gynecologist.

Late to Work Again

The bus does not appear to be Trixie’s best friend. Once again, she arrives late to work due to metro delays and issues.

But fear not, for Trixie has a solution to her predicament. She has asked Matthew if he would give her driving lessons, which he has agreed to do. Two spouses participating in a driving lesson? Please don’t sign me up.

Or as Nurse Crane concisely puts it, “Brave man.”

Edna Gives Birth

With the equipment and furniture of the natal clinic packed up and out of the gymnasium, Edna is left on her own to mop the floors. However, as she goes about cleaning, her water suddenly breaks. But because Edna is desperate to get paid for the job, she continues to mop – knowing full well that she’s in labor.

Later on, Shelagh pulls Joyce out of Nurse Crane’s instructional lecture to bring her to Edna’s apartment. It’s been a long day for the mother, but she manages to find the energy to push – giving birth to a baby boy. After an unnerving moment, the newborn finally lets out a cry and joins the close comfort of his mother’s arms.

The next day, the two midwives drop in to check on the baby boy, Alistair and his mother. However, Edna is already insistent on getting back to work. Shelagh asks her if she has given any more thought to applying for financial aid, but Edna is adamant about not wanting to take assistance from “those who really need it.”

Shelagh registers it’s going to take a lot of persuading to change Edna’s mind, however, her attention turns to Tracey who is coughing tirelessly. Shelagh offers to tuck the young girl into her bed, but a flash of panic washes over Edna’s face. She rejects the nurse’s offer and instead makes it clear that Tracey is fine sleeping on the couch. A look of confusion passes between Shelagh and Joyce, but neither of them is certain what the issue is.

Only later do we see what Edna wanted to conceal: a showcase of black mold displayed across the bedroom walls… and on Tracey’s bed. She does her best to paint over the toxic mold, but can’t help but notice the incessant coughing from her eldest child.

Will she ever catch a moment’s rest?

Dr. Turner Visits Mrs. Khan

Upon hearing from Miss Higgins that Mrs. Khan’s symptoms have worsened – severe headaches and blurred vision – Dr. Turner heads to her residence to inquire further.

Mrs. Khan, joined by her husband, is hesitant to have the doctor examine her, but eventually consents. When Dr. Turner gently presses on her stomach, she unleashes a loud yelp of pain. Still baffled by what her condition could be, he requests that she take another urine sample.

But when Mrs. Khan returns from the bathroom, she appears even more weak. She collapses onto the couch, soon followed by convulsing: she’s experiencing a seizure. An ambulance is called, and Mrs. Khan is rushed to the hospital.

Black Mold Everywhere

Over at the Bristow residence is another person in need of medical care: Tracey. When Sister Veronica drops in to check on Edna, she finds a somewhat unresponsive Tracy struggling to breathe. While Edna rushes to call for an ambulance, Sister Veronica stays with the young child – eventually noticing the sprawling array of black mold.

At the hospital, Edna learns her daughter has wheezy bronchitis; the doctors have started her antibiotics, but she will need to stay in the hospital for the time being. It’s too much stress for Edna to bear – having to worry about the critical health of her daughter while also caring for her young baby.

Sister Veronica consoles her and tells her this predicament she’s in right now is not her fault. To offer immediate support, she offers to let Alistair stay in the maternity ward for a few days so he can receive care while Edna tends to Tracey. It’s a short-term solution, but hopefully one that will alleviate some stress. However, when Edna goes to visit her baby boy the next day, Shelagh diagnoses the mother with mastitis, a painful inflammation of the breast tissue often caused by breastfeeding. 

Trixie's Frenzied Driving Lesson

Look out, Poplar residents! Trixie is behind the wheel and out on the open road.

It’s fair to say her driving isn’t going… great. In Trixie’s defense, learning how to drive a stick shift is a daunting task, let alone when your spouse is the one instructing you.

Matthew’s trying his best to give her tips, but it looks as though none of it is clicking for Trixie. Mostly a lot of swerving, abrupt braking, and stress in the air. Coming around one corner, Trixie barely avoids running over a cat – but in the process of doing so, accidentally runs into the curb… and nearly hits a police officer. Oh boy.

Fortunately, Matthew persuades the officer to let Trixie off the hook. But not long after, she attempts to toss the car keys back to her husband, only for them to accidentally fall down the drain. The extra cherry on top to a tense driving adventure.

A Devastating Diagnosis

After the scare from her seizure, Mrs. Khan appears to be stable at the hospital. But she can’t manage to escape the unfortunate news: her doctor informs her and Mr. Khan that she suffers from porphyria, a rare genetic liver disease.

While Mrs. Khan is assured that there is medicine to help her, there is no existing cure for the condition. To put Mrs. Khan’s state in perspective, she is advised to avoid pregnancy for the time being to protect her health.

It’s difficult to assess which spouse is more devastated by the news. Mr. Khan believes that they should turn to their parents for advice, but she shuts down the idea immediately. It’s too much shame for her to bear.

Demanding Assistance for Edna

Of the many things the midwives of Nonnatus House do well is standing up for those who are voiceless. Shelagh marches into the Department of Housing and demands the public official send someone to inspect Edna’s flat.

The official is initially dismissive of Shelagh’s requests for assistance, but she refuses to take “no” for an answer. Persistence pays off, and the unsympathetic man concedes to sending an officer.

Fred, The Driving Instructor

Following the fallout of the tense driving lesson, Fred finds a glum Trixie sitting alone on a bench. He offers her a mini bouquet and some advice to cheer her up from her disappointing drive. As he puts it succinctly, “Taking instructions from loved ones is never an easy task.”

Cue an idea! Trixie asks Fred whether he would consider being her teacher, noting that he always appears patient and calm in the face of danger. It doesn’t take much for Fred to offer his help, and just like that, Trixie has a new instructor! Her only request is that Fred refrain from telling Matthew for fear he’ll be offended…

Lo and behold, the next day, Matthew catches Fred on the street – and asks him whether he would agree to help Trixie with her driving, even offering to pay him. Fred turns down the offer of remuneration, and pretends this is his first time hearing about the driving debacle. Mum’s the word.

Cyril Inspects Edna's Flat

Hope comes in the presence of Cyril who, with a camera in hand, snaps multiple photographs of the toxic mold at Edna’s home. While Poplar’s Department of Housing demonstrates minimal care toward helping tenants, the same can’t be said for Cyril – he genuinely wants to make a difference in people’s lives.

Cyril also guides Edna through the process of applying for financial assistance. While she still voices her doubts about feeling worthy of help, Cyril reminds her that she is making the decision for her children – every child deserves the right to decent housing.

Improvement Behind the Wheel

It’s #TakeTwo for Trixie’s adventures on the road, but this time she has Fred by her side to help. Deep breaths: in and out, in and out.

Once again, she’s not off to the best of starts as she manages to blow past a stop sign within the first couple minutes (fortunately it’s on a quiet side road, so no damage is done). Thankfully, Fred is brilliant at remaining calm and encourages Trixie to take her time: “Practice makes perfect.”

True to his words, she begins to show improvement, and a few days later, demonstrates her parallel parking skills to Joyce and Rosalind… and Matthew?

In a sweet and comical moment, Matthew and Trixie discover that they both went behind each other’s backs to ask for Fred’s help. No harm and no foul after all then.

Sister Veronica Shares Her Say

While Edna is now qualified to receive governmental aid, the issue of her flat’s pernicious black mold remains. Fortunately, Sister Veronica is one of Nonnatus House’s most vocal advocates – on any given subject, really – and takes up the concern with Violet. 

Despite Cyril’s comprehensive report to back up the dire condition of Edna’s flat, it sounds as though Edna’s case could get swept under a pile of bureaucratic delays. Yet, as Sister Veronica reminds Violet: “Words are not enough – action is what is needed.” She makes a convincing case, for not long after, we see construction men come to renovate Edna’s place.

When Sister Veronica drops by Violet’s store later on, the two women comment on the accelerated pace in which Edna’s case was tended to. Sister Veronica remarks that Violet should consider running for mayor – an idea, perhaps?

Looking to the Future

As Edna finds more reassurance about her and her children’s futures, our attention turns to Mrs. Khan and her husband. When Nancy and Colette go for a walk at the local market, they run into the couple tending to their shoe stand. While the future of Mrs. Khan’s health remains uncertain, it’s clear that she’s found some peace with the cards she’s been dealt.

Meanwhile, Cyril has #bigplans on the horizon: he tells Mrs. Wallace he’s reached the end of his time working for the housing department. An advertisement for a social service training program is the pathway for Cyril’s next journey, one that he unequivocally can strive at.

Forgot how we got here? Catch up on “Call the Midwife” with the Season 13, Episode 1 GIF Recap.