Call the Midwife

Not sure what I thought of Birdsong. Haven't read the book, and found I didn't feel much for any of the main characters, other than the troops. Loved cal the Midwife, and do want to read the book of that.

gracesmum... me too, that followed by 'Birdsong' used up a few tissues

I actually got around to watching episode 2 today, hopefully I won`t have to wait a week to see tonight`s episode. And I`m about to order the book from Amazon.

I found tonight's eoisode quite poignant

I meant to say how much I too am enjoying this new series.

I was thrilled when my dear departed husband told me that I looked like a toffee apple on two sticks when I was pregnant and wearing a smock. No..I really was thrilled..........my third child and his first.

I had a navy blue maternity dress which had the standard white peter-pan collar it was bought for me by my mum who thought it would be nice to be seen in a nice "frock" when I went to the anti-natel clinic,it was crimpline and it was so itchy as soon as I had DD it went straight in the bin,I told mum(crossed my fingers)my friend liked it so much I had passed it on to her for her pregnancy.Annobel men where funny then i remember my first H trying to stop me wearing make-up as he thought other men would look at me,and I seem to remember that he was no oil painting himself.

My ex wouldn't 'let' me wear trousers during my first pregnancy!! However, when he realised that almost every other pregnant woman wore them, he relaxed his stance and I bought a stretchy M&S pair second time round and wore the mini maternity dresses over them. Much more satisfactory. Why did I put up with him for 16 years?

I got married while pregnant in a long Biba dress. 1970. It was gathered under the bust so did reveal the bump. In a kind of thick soft cotton. A vaguely pre-Raphelite look. I got loads of wear out of it in the ensuing months and floated round the university in a bit of a haze. I suspect turning a few heads. I also had an interesting gown that my sister produced as part of her A level art. A huge sunflower print that smelled slightly of the painty stuff.

Thanks glammanana... another famous pregnancy outfit was a black smock-like very mini dress worn with fishnet tights, given that I have sparrow legs I must have looked like a large black bird!

OGM I loved your discription of the Diddymen but you must remember that they where all happy jolly little people and where loved by everyone,so there lays the similarity.

I made a navy roll-colour blouse and a subtle plaid cape, toning of course, to wear to my younger sister's wedding, saving the pennies as well as disguising the very large bump.
My Mum decided it was 'wrong' and took me on a shopping spree which I could ill-afford. She persuaded me to buy bright green ( I've never worn green since!) two piece, bell bottom trousers and a swingy long waistcoat in a woolly fabric (the wedding was in January) together with a green hat with navy band so the navy blouse was deemed O.K. after all.

I looked just like one of Ken Dodd's Diddymen, or a rotund leprachaun!

More midwives are certainly needed - it's got to crisis point.

There was a quote in the paper today from the Royal College of Midwives stating that the drama could make midwifery a more popular career choice. Does it really take a TV series to make young women consider it as a career, and if so, what does that say about the women - fickle?

Big smile at memories of ric-rac green.

I watched both episodes last night, brilliant! Miranda Hart is excellent. The breech birth scene had me scrunching my toes with memories.

My first DD was a breech, born in a teaching hospital 45 years ago this week. As it was January, and the hospital's first breech delivery of the year, as well as 2 doctors, 2 midwives and a student nurse, about a dozen of the new intake of student doctors attended too. They just turned up...in those days you weren't asked your opinions about anything!

Kirkcudbright - that's a lovely area, eGJ!

We were in Kirkcudbright...................a little far from everywhere greenmossgiel and far from the Fifers. And we were "incomers" too! It was mid 70's; the parties sound fun though!

eGJ, the Pippa Dee and Pandora parties were all over the place, I think. I live in Fife and at the time of the parties (late 70's -early 80's), was living in a newly built area of housing. Meeting up with other young mums at these parties was a a great way of getting to know each other (really just sussing one another out)!

That's a pity if the NCT are not promoting breast feeding so much. Perhaps it is putting off the punters for the antenatal classes?
I think celebs like Posh started the fashion for showing off bumps. What a far cry from tents with maternity support garments beneath.
I wondered about the newborns on TV. I bet there were plenty of volunteers.

I made smocks from Vogue patterns in the 70's! And very smart they were too! Can't remember the parties; perhaps they didn't have them in Scotland. Have you seen the new ideas from NCT and no longer promoting breast feeding so hard? There were Breast Feeding Counsellors back then, except mine was about 60 miles away so we never met. All babies were born in hospital; 30 miles away in my case and 60 miles if you lived in Stranrar [babies were often born in the last turn off the A74 before Dumfries!] AND you had to stay in for a whole week! Visits were TO the midwife before the baby not from!

Oh yes! I remember Pippa Dee! And Pandora parties too!

Oh yes syberia I remember Pippa Dee parties! My mum was always hosting a party of some sort. It made a nice change from Tupperware .

I've recorded this weeks programme, looking forward to watching.

Does anyone remember "Pippa Dee" party plan company in the 70s? I had Pippa Dee flowery smocks to cover my bump!

My mum made me a couple of loose pinafore dresses when I came back from Kenya 5 months pregnant in a really cold winter. I thought the nice blue tweedy one was synthetic and merrily put it in the washing machine. It ended up about the right size for a 5-year-old. Can't think how I withheld that from mum, but she never did find out.

I used to wear pinafore dresses and they were all homemade. You could then wear your usual jumpers underneath.
I must admit to liking the modern fashion for tighter maternity clothes that show the bump although definitely not the bare tummy, that needs covering please.
Do any of you have photos of yourself while pregnant - I don't, we weren't encouraged to show what we were expecting then