`Call the Midwife` Recaps: Season 3: Episode 4

For the third season in-a-row, we are honored 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 Call the Midwife, airing on Sundays on NPT and PBS Stations nationwide at 7:00 p.m. Central, March 30-May 18. Check in here every Monday morning for the next eight weeks for historical and contemporary context on the show, and some fun discussion. Plus, this year we’ll have the occasional bonus blog from across the pond to get the British perspective. So be sure to check the blog TWICE on Mondays. SPOILER ALERT: Some posts may contain spoilers, so please be aware of that.

By Margaret Buxton MSN CNM

The stories of episode 4 were an elegant representation of the human dynamic of loss, grief and redemption. It was touching to see Mrs. Moss comforting Jenny in the loss of her boyfriend Alec. Words of wisdom given out of a lived chasm of grief are often received with more weight than comforting sentiments of well-meaning friends. Poor, sweet Jenny! One wonders when her love life will veer from tragedy to triumph. 

How do we “keep going” in the face of heartache, disappointment, or tremendous anxiety about living life? Each person has to dig down deep and decide what brings them vitality and what motivates them. In the story of Mrs. Moss and her daughter Leah, it was the tragedies of World War II and the death of friends and family that left her so scared she stayed in her home for decades. The scenes of her standing in the sunshine, having overcome her fears, and holding her beautiful grandchild were a reminder that even the strongest of fears and anxieties can be met and overcome. Midwives see this everyday as women bravely go about the work of giving birth. 

I was most moved by what Mrs. Moss told Jenny as the show closed: 

“Keep living until you feel alive.”

This is the pathway to the redemption of loss and suffering. It doesn’t promise anything, but exists as an invitation to move on. I am so intrigued to see how Jenny and all of the women of Nonnantus House will accept this invitation.

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.

Read our Bonus British Perspective of this episode by Rachel Sykes here.

Missed our analysis of the Previous Season’s Episodes? Read them here.