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Modern Midwives Blog
Say goodbye to peacoats, mittens, and snow boots – it’s springtime in Poplar, and the season of new beginnings has some exciting developments in store.
For one thing, the midwives and health professionals of Poplar are informed about the 1970 Cohort Birth Study (BCS70) and tasked with meticulously annotating each newborn’s birth. The goal of this monumental medical initiative was to track all of the babies born in England, Scotland, and Wales during a single week in April. Then, monitor their health over their entire lifetime.
In other news, Roger and Nancy are still going strong, Trixie is back in Poplar, and former pupil midwives Rosalind and Clifford are showing just how far they’ve come as professionals.
Read on below to find out more!
For mothers with a history of gestational diabetes, a second pregnancy can arouse concerns of recurring medical complications. Such is the case with Winnie Welch, a soon mother-to-be, who required a C-section for her first pregnancy.
While Winnie shows no sign of gestational diabetes this time around, her consultant Mr. Parry is still adamant about administering another C-section. The expectant mother is notably upset by this decision – she would prefer to have a natural birth in her home.
But Mr. Parry wants to avoid the possibility of a uterine rupture, a rare but life-threatening pregnancy complication. Since Winnie already had one C-section, it’s the safest way to deliver her second child as well – whether she has diabetes or not.
Following her appointment, Winnie sits weeping in reception, where a visiting Sister Veronica tries to console her. The pragmatic Sister suggests that if Winnie is unhappy with her consultant’s opinion, she can seek out another one from her general practitioner, who in this case is none other than Dr. Turner.
Later on, Nurse Crane drops by Winnie’s flat to offer some further words of comfort. Winnie’s heart is still set on having a natural birth, but as Nurse Crane kindly frames the situation, “Sometimes nature must be overruled by science.”
Sound the trumpets, release the confetti!
Our beloved Trixie is back in Poplar, and this time she’s here to resume duties as a midwife. While life in New York has been treating her well, she’s decided to return to London in order to stay sharp with her midwifery skills and maintain her credentials.
However, Sister Julienne informs Trixie that Nonnatus House needs more from her than an extra set of hands. They’re under siege: the Board of Health has “declared war” against it. Due to Nonnatus House’s strong religious ties with The Order, the Board of Health no longer views the nuns as suitable leaders to conduct health matters related to obstetrics and reproductive health.
So where does that leave the midwives of Nonnatus House? Time will only tell, it seems.
Following a typical school day in Poplar, a group of young teenagers arrive at Buckle’s Newsagents for their paper deliveries. But while Violet delegates paper orders, she notices Paula Cunningham, the only girl in the group, taken ill with serious nausea.
Later on, Violet runs into Paula’s mother, and tells her about observing Paula's sickened physical state. Mrs. Cunningham doesn’t appear worried – she hasn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary about her daughter – but agrees to get her medical attention.
Dr. Turner arrives at the Cunningham’s residence and examines the young, timid Paula. Mrs. Cunningham suspects her daughter is suffering from cystitis, a common condition in their family history. But the doctor has a different diagnosis: Paula, at only 13 years old, is pregnant.
When Dr. Turner informs Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham of the news, the parents express disbelief and denial; they did not raise their daughter to be someone who’d end up in this type of predicament. As devout members of a conservative Christian church, they’re firm believers in restricting their daughter’s access to sexual education and can’t fathom Paula would ever engage in sex out of marriage.
Nevertheless… the list of Paula’s symptoms speak for themselves.
It’s not every day such a momentous victory comes for midwives, but 1970 has ushered in a decisive win.
After months and months of advocating for nurses’ compensation, the midwives learn that the Royal College of Nursing’s “Raise the Roof” campaign secured a 22% increase in wages.
In attendance at the announcement is Rosalind, Joyce, Phyllis, and Trixie, and they can’t help from showing their glee. It calls for fish and chips to celebrate!
Spring is in full swing… as is an abundance of romance. After a date night filled with vibrant, jovial dancing, Nancy and Roger spend the rest of the evening discussing the prospect of their future together.
Both of them seem certain their relationship is headed for the long-term – even Colette, who fondly refers to Roger as “Uncle Roger,” has adopted him as a member of the family.
Of course, like with all romantic relationships, not everything fits together flawlessly.
While both of them are Irish, Roger is Protestant whereas Nancy is Catholic (a particularly contentious difference given the ongoing context of The Troubles in Ireland). And although Roger holds no reservations about Nancy having a daughter outside of marriage, they’re both aware that not everyone will be as accepting….
But for these two, those are tiny hiccups in the grand scheme of things. Love supersedes all. And in some rather encouraging news, Nancy has found a midwifery job located closer to Roger. All that’s left in order is for Nancy to meet Roger’s mother. Easy-peasy, right?
Oh! And a wedding proposal, of course! Roger pulls out a ring and pops the question to Nancy who happily says “yes.”
It’s a leap of faith, but one that they’re excited to embark on together.
The 1960s saw a wave of sweeping social and political movements, and the year 1970 looks to be no different.
A late-night knock on the door of the Buckle’s household disrupts the family’s evening routine. Much to Fred, Reggie, and Violet’s surprise, they’ve been paid a visit by two men… who have, on behalf of the Isle of Dogs, declared unilateral independence.
The Isle of Dogs, a peninsula and neighborhood bordered by the River Thames on three sides, has long been “underfunded, overlooked, and starved of resources,” according to these two men. Nevertheless, Violet, as Mayor of Tower Hamlets, dismisses the proclamation as a gimmick, finding it both preposterous and somewhat amusing.
But for these two men, and countless other residents of the Isle of Dogs, this is no laughing matter. As of midnight, the Isle of Dogs now has a president, a prime minister, and a council, and even though Violet insists the group will never receive her support, the men seem undeterred.
Let battle commence!
While protests and disruption unfold on the streets of East London in support of the Isle of Dogs’ declaration, an unannounced guest arrives at Nonnatus House: Esther Noble, a.k.a. Roger’s mother.
Walking hand-in-hand with Colette through the main hall, Nancy stumbles upon a disgruntled Esther sitting in the dining area. The announced visitor wastes no time in addressing why she’s shown up in London. Esther is unsettled by the news of Roger and Nancy’s engagement; she doesn’t view Nancy as “respectable” enough to be her son's wife.
Nancy immediately contests Esther’s assessment – after all, Nancy is the best. But Esther remains caught up on the fact that 1) Nancy has a daughter out of wedlock, and 2) she’s Catholic.
It’s certainly not the first interaction Nancy wishes to have with her ostensibly, soon mother-in-law-to-be, but Esther’s mind seems made up.
Later, Nancy rings Roger to inform him of his mother’s unexpected visit. He seems equally as perplexed by Esther’s drop in. Will the happy couple be able to win over Esther’s approval… and what happens if they can’t?
Joyce is assigned to care for Paula during her pregnancy, and while conducting a routine check-up, she discovers something surprising: Paula’s hymen is still intact.
When the nurse reports her finding to Dr. Turner, he expresses some confusion. However, as he points out, a woman can still become pregnant even if her hymen hasn’t broken.
Yet, upon relaying this piece of information to Mrs. Cunningham, she appears ecstatic and relieved. To her, this can only indicate one of two things. Either her daughter is a virginal mother blessed with a child by God, or Paula has been interfered with by the devil.
Dr. Turner and Nurse Highland realize Mrs. Cunningham’s religious leanings are preventing her from viewing the full scope of Paula’s reality. But how can they persuade her to view the situation differently?
At the end of the day, all Nurse Highland and Dr. Turner care about is ensuring Paula’s safety as the teenager’s pregnancy progresses.
Speaking of distressed pregnant mothers, Winnie Welch decides to do some digging through stacks of library textbooks where she stumbles upon a graphic medical illustration of a uterine rupture.
Alarmed by the harrowing image, she rushes to Dr. Turner and Nurse Clifford. They assure Winnie that she has nothing to worry about because they will undertake the necessary precautions for her delivery. Mainly, by ensuring she gets a C-section.
Later on, Nurse Crane recounts to Nurse Clifford her one experience overseeing a uterine rupture, which tragically led to the mother’s passing. As she recounts the story, Nurse Crane is overcome with the emotion – it’s as if she is reliving the traumatic delivery – and reveals she felt like a “fraud” for sympathizing with Winnie’s desire to “avoid Mr. Parry’s scalpel.”
But as Phyllis says, “If there is any risk of uterine rupture, the knife is the only way ahead.”
Meanwhile, the protests for the Isle of Dogs’ independence continue to garner support and momentum, much to Violet’s disapproval. Even Reggie and Fred step in with some protests and canvassing… which of course, really doesn’t sit well with the Tower Hamlets mayor.
Focused on dispelling his mother’s qualms, Roger entertains a one-on-one chat with Esther.
Over at Dr. Turner's office, Nancy fills Miss Higgins in on her contentious run-in with Esther. Always filled with prudent advice, Miss Higgins tells Nancy that she simply needs someone to attest to her excellent character. And who better to do the honors than Miss Higgins herself? Perhaps she will be able to mend the divide between the two women….
However, for the young Paula, her situation continues to look increasingly fraught. After admitting to religious leaders that she doesn’t believe in the devil, a group of men conduct a ceremony to “rid” Paula of evil spirits. But Paula, both confused and anguished, wants no part in this.
Fortunately, Mr. Cunningham eventually steps in to break his daughter free from the religious members. Paula makes a run for Nonnatus House where Sister Julienne quickly welcomes her in.
Traffic jams are never a joy for daily commuters. But for Nurse Crane and Nurse Clifford, they’re an added burden when it comes to reaching their patients. With the Isle of Dogs protests continuing to block the major roads, the two midwives are forced to walk on foot through the crowd.
…and when they finally make it to Mrs. Welch's flat, they learn their young mother is already in labor.
Nurse Crane, aware of how rapidly Winnie’s situation can turn south, freezes up from panic. Thankfully, Nurse Clifford steps up to the plate and takes command of the situation. She instructs Mr. Welch to call for an emergency ambulance while reassuring Winnie that they will deliver her baby safely.
As suspected, though, it’s near impossible to get connected to an ambulance, and even when Nurse Crane puts in a call herself, it’s too late. The midwives are out of time to relocate Winnie: she has to have her baby at home, without a C-section or hospital supervision.
But Rosalind remains calm and collected. She has no doubt that she will deliver Mrs. Welch’s baby safely. And to everyone’s relief, she does just that. Both Winnie and her young newborn girl make it through the delivery unscathed.
Seeing how far Rosalind has come since last season, one can’t help but feel proud at the confidence she’s built.
Staying true to her word, Miss Higgins invites Esther Noble over for afternoon tea.
The two of them immediately find common ground over their shared understanding that one must use a bone-handled knife to prepare the best scones and pastries. Why? To keep the butter cold, of course! (Hey, the more you know, the better.)
With this tenuous connection established, Miss Higgins broaches the subject of Nancy and Rogers’ engagement, stating she understands how it is hard to come to terms with. As expected, Esther counters with her previously stated objections: Nancy’s “child in tow,” the Christian divisions, etc. Besides, what could Miss Higgins possibly know about illegitimacy and religious contention?
But in a moment of candor and vulnerability, Miss Higgins reveals to Esther her experience of becoming a young mother to a son she only got to meet as an adult.
Rather than spewing any judgment, Esther applauds Miss Higgins for her bravery in sharing her story.
As Miss Higgins poignantly remarks, “Tolerance and compromise are such gentle things. Like everything worthwhile, they can take so much courage.”
Safe in the comfort of Nonnatus House, Paula is able to catch a moment’s rest from her emotionally exhaustive day. Joyce sits beside her as she begins to explain to the nurse the context that led to her pregnancy.
Paula mentions her friend Lenny who also delivered newspapers with her. Sometimes, the two of them would tussle and get into “play” fights….
While Paula appears still mostly confused about her sexual interaction with Lenny, she suggests the sex was consensual. That said, due to her limited knowledge of sex, Paula can’t fully articulate what she experienced, only that it was like they were “playing.”
Paula is aware that her life will be forever changed by her pregnancy. But with the support and backing of community members – led by Cyril’s effort to find her a temporary housing situation – and her father, she will be able to carve out a future for herself.
It won’t be easy, but she will find her way.
Cyril finds Rosalind sitting alone on a bench, crying and overcome with emotion.
But she’s not devastated because of rumors the Beatles have broken up (although, I can safely say I would be weeping from that news). Rather, she can’t help but reflect about the work she, Cyril, and other community members do. The way in which they try and sometimes fail to help people….
Regardless, it’s heartwarming to see the close friendship Cyril and Rosalind have formed. And maybe, just maybe, there’s a hint it could turn into something more?
In happier news, though, everyone rounds up to celebrate Roger and Nancy’s engagement party, and even Esther makes an appearance.
Miracles can happen.
Forgot how we got here? Catch up on “Call the Midwife” with the 2024 Holiday GIF Recap.
