Like they did last season, we are happy to have the faculty of the Vanderbilt School of Nursing back to guest blog for us each Monday morning about the previous night’s episode of Season 2 of Call the Midwife, airing on Sundays on NPT and PBS Stations nationwide at 7:00 p.m. Central, March 31-May 19. Check in here every Monday morning for the next six weeks for historical and contemporary context on the show, and some fun discussion. SPOILER ALERT: Some may contain spoilers, so please be aware of that.
By Margaret Buxton MSN CNM
The last episode of the season finds the occupants of Nonnatus House coming together as a family. I loved how all the threads wove together to show the many ways families form and grow. Chummy’s birth portrayed a very abnormal but not entirely uncommon complication called placenta previa. Instead of implanting and growing high in the uterus, the placenta implants and grows low –- covering the entrance to the birth canal. With this complication, it is not possible to have the baby vaginally due to the risk of hemorrhage. Mother and baby can both be affected by this problem, but thankfully in Chummy’s case, early detection in labor and a swift transport to the hospital led to a happy ending. The use of routine ultrasound screening midpregnancy affords us the advanced warning of this complication (something the midwives of the 1950s did not have) and plans can be made for birth, often preventing emergencies.
Is this really the end of the season? I felt baited at the end, as Jenny hops on the back of her new beau’s bike and ride off into the blue sky. Does she give in to love, or remain devoted to her calling as a midwife? Or can she find the balance of both? The rich stories of this program portray the best of life, death, birth, and love.
Margaret Buxton, MSN CNM, is a Certified Nurse-Midwife, Instructor of Nursing, Vanderbilt School of Nursing and Clinical Practice Director, West End Women’s Health Center.
Missed our analysis of the Previous Season’s Episodes? Read them here.
Missed an episode? Watch full episodes on NPT’s “Watch Now” Video Portal here.
10 Comments
I have so enjoyed the first 2 seasons and hope it will be back for a 3rd. Find myself really looking forward to Sunday nights for the episodes
what was the song they played at the end of episode 8 season 2? I love this piece and want it for my collection – help!
absolutely love this series!
I want to know the song too, have been searching but can’t find anything – help me too!
Hi Bonnie and Cynthia. That would be “We Are Not Alone” by Frankie Vaughn.
Thanks so much Joe Pagetta I couldn’t find that song anywhere… just to let everyone know the last name is actually spelled Vaughan, not Vaughn. But thanks again… I did not see it on the Call the Midwife Album, Disc 1 or Disc 2…
It’s at iTunes, very easy to find – Frankie Vaughan, WE ARE NOT ALONE. Good luck! I found just by hitting every “we are not alone” in the list.
OMG
I have been out of town and just looked at this!! THANK YOU SO MUCH JOE! It was driving me crazy, because lie Bonnie, I did not see it on the album disc 1 or 2 they used for all the other songs!!!!!!!!!! You have made my day! I will go try to download now!!!!
Successful download! YaY! I LOVE this song and did not have a clue – looked him up – apparently, he sang with Marilyn Monroe!
Nice tune but a bit of a problem to find. And it’s not free either. I looked all over for this one only to find that this was not the one my wife had in mind. She wanted “Catch A Falling Star” by Perry Como (YouTube) that was earlier in this episode. Still, both tunes are great and take me back many years. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
For some reason I thought they said placental abruption. Not previa. And that she had 2 hemorrhages 🤷🏽♀️ unless previa and abruption are the same?