Nonnatus House is potentially going to see a change in Call the Midwife season 14. The premiere episode sets it all up, along with the arrival of what may be an immaculate conception.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for Call the Midwife season 14, episode 1.
The new episode opens up with the potential for some big changes. It looks like one of the midwives is moving away, just as the union fights for a huge pay rise. Meanwhile, the Isle of Dogs revolt causes some issues for someone on the island.
What’s going on with the Isle of Dogs in Call the Midwife?
I don’t blame the people for getting fed up wit the way things are going on the Isle of Dogs. Whenever a boat comes in, the bridge is raised. The people are effectively held hostage, and this can cause some major issues for the need for medical care.
This is clearly going to be an ongoing storyline. Violet realizes that Reggie and Fred are protesting with the new “President” and “minsters.” The people are more than happy for all rent to got to the new “people’s council.” With the episode ending with Violet learning about Reggie and Fred, there’s no way that this can just be swept under the rug.
Something needs to be done. When you start to push out people, they are going to fight back. The problem is the protests could have cost the life of one of their own.
Winnie has to risk uterine rupture in Call the Midwife season 14, episode 1
Winnie Walsh learns at the start of the episode that she has to have a second c-section. This was protocol back in the day. It’s still something that doctors think of first now, because there are risks to having a natural birth after a c-section, but things were a lot more dangerous back in 1970.
However, Winnie doesn’t want to have a c-section. She wants to be able to have a natural birth in her own bed. That is until she reads about one of the biggest risks and complication: uterine rupture. She’s mad that the doctor didn’t even tell her this, but it’s clear that he didn’t say something because it’s all she’s worried about now.
She’s not the only one, either. Nurse Crane has witnessed this happening in the past, and she makes it clear that it’s important to get Winnie to the hospital for the c-section. Well, nature has its own plans, and Winnie goes into labor while the protest is happening on the Isle of Dogs. No matter how much people say there’s an immediate need for an ambulance, it’s not going to get there in time for Winnie’s baby to be delivered.
Nurse Crane is frozen in fear of seeing another mother die of this excruciating complication. Rosalind takes over, and fortunately, Winnie delivers a healthy baby with no rupture. The only medical emergency is Winnie’s husband pouring boiling water on his feet. Oops!
An immaculate conception at Nonnatus House?
When 13-year-old Paula needs to see a doctor, her family learns that she’s pregnant, starting this lesson-filled storyline of Call the Midwife. We get a clear reasoning for health care being taught in schools — and why opting out shouldn’t be allowed. Paula has no understanding of sexual intercourse. She doesn’t even know what it is, and I do blame her mom and dad for signing the forms, putting their religion before her education. If they don’t want the school to teach it, then at least teach it yourself! Be responsible!
When Paula’s hymen is found intact, there’s a much bigger question going on. Is it possible that this is an immaculate conception? Her mom thinks it’s possible, until she then realizes that it could be something more sinister. Has the Devil taken a hold of her daughter? As the church tries to expel the Devil, Paula runs away and turns to Joyce for help.
Paula explains that she would often “play fight” with one of the boys on her paper round. She doesn’t understand what was actually going on, but it’s easy for Joyce to figure it out. With this, the focus can be on getting Paula the help and care that she needs. There’s a home where Paula can go to have the baby, and then the baby is put up for adoption. Naturally, abortion is not a topic of discussion, as it’s against the beliefs of many of the nuns, and there is no way Paula’s mom would have allowed it considering her beliefs. However, I will note that it was legal at the time, as abortion was legalized in the UK in 1968.
There is hope for the young girl, but it brings up an important discussion. She’s only 13. Just because her body can have a baby, doesn’t mean that she should have a baby. It doesn’t mean that it’s safe to do so! This is something Rosalind brings up, even though it’s clear that at the end of the day, it’s going to be Paula’s mom’s choice.
Will Nonnatus House say goodbye to Nancy?
It looks like Nancy is about to leave Call the Midwife. There’s a job offer at a hospital elsewhere, and this offer includes a house. While the job came up in the past and she turned it down, she’s thinking about taking it this time, as it will get her closer to her boyfriend (well, fiancé by the end of the first scene) Roger.
Nancy and Roger discuss their options. They’ll marry in six months, and it will be in Poplar. Nancy can’t imagine it anywhere else.
There’s just the problem of Roger’s mother, Esther. While Nancy was raised Catholic, Esther was raised Presbyterian — and yes, there is still an issue of the two denominations of the same faith. Esther decides to pay an impromptu visit to Nonnatus House, where she makes it clear that she does not like Nancy at all. Not only is she Catholic, but she also has a daughter outside of wedlock.
As Roger threatens to cut his mother off, Nancy turns to Miss. Higgins for support. Miss. Higgins goes to see Esther, who is impressed that such a “respectable woman” would speak out on Nancy’s behalf. Well, Miss. Higgins shares her own secret, a son she had out of wedlock. It’s important not to judge a book by its cover. This seems to be the turning point for Esther’s acceptance of Nancy.
What does this mean for Nancy and Collette, though? It seems like she’s set that she is leaving Poplar, but this doesn’t mean we can’t see her again. After all, Trixie is back, despite moving to America with her husband. She’s back to keep her licensing up to date, and she’s being tasked to help keep Nonnatus House open. Let’s not rule out Nancy staying around just yet.
Call the Midwife season 14 airs on Sundays at 8/7c on PBS.
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