As the episode opens, Pastor Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) boasts of the new souls saved. Mrs. Wallace (Linda Hargreaves) stresses the need for more space. He says the Sharing of Church Building Act may be passed into law this year. After promising to add it to the prayer list, she says they are going to canvas the neighborhood.

Nurse Trixie Aylward (Helen George) complains about the inefficient public transport. Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) suggests allowing more time for her trip. Trixie says she would need to leave the night before. Pupil Midwife Rosalind Clifford (Natalie Quarry) tells Trixie that she packed her bag.

Cyril pays Lloyd Bristow a home visit to learn he moved in with another woman in Nottingham. He offers Edna Bristow help but she declines. When he promises to pray for her, she says prayers won’t feed her family. Millicent Higgins (Georgie Glen) explains the proper filing technique to Nurse Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack). Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) informs Cyril that Edna’s due date is approaching. He says she refused the church’s help. She agrees to inform the others. Dr. Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann) notes Sahira Kahn’s symptoms are unchanged since her last visit but her labs are normal. He writes her a prescription for insomnia. Nancy believes she is homesick. He asks her to pay Sahira a home visit.

St. Oswald’s Hall, Ante Natal Baby Clinic – Edna stuffs her purse full of food. During a prenatal examination, Pupil Midwife Joyce Highland (Renee Bailey) urges Edna to rest more often. Edna stresses over her rent. Nurse Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) informs her of the maternity grant and allowance after the baby is born. Edna assures her that she has plenty to be thankful for.

Nancy convinces Sahira to open up about her condition. She complains of painful menstruation or dysmenorrhea. Elsewhere, Edna is at her cleaning job when her water breaks. She endures the pain until the job is complete to secure payment. Upon returning to the clinic, Nancy informs Patrick of Khan’s condition. He asks Higgins if Khan can get a referral to St. Cuthbert’s gynecology department. Higgins leaves to make the referral with Mr. Parry (Paul Bigley).

When Shelagh and Joyce arrive at Edna’s flat, she is in the second stage of childbirth. She admits to being at work when her labor started. Shelagh complements her process. Elsewhere, Rosalind requests permission to hand out Raise the Roof Campaign fliers during class. Phyllis warns of how patients will view nurses if they are labeled “financially motivated”. Joyce delivers Edna’s baby boy. Looking at her baby, Edna says he looks like his father.

Phyllis warns Nancy that Rosalind is pushing hard for the Raise the Roof Campaign. Nancy suggests all the should do the same. Trixie excitedly announces that Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) is going to teach her to drive. Later, Trixie and the pupil midwives brave the rain on their bikes while Phyllis climbs into her car.

Cyril learns properties on Linton and Gateshead roads are up for demolition. He recalls the properties were habitable last year. The housing officer says the tenants can apply for flats in the new tower blocks. Cyril reminds him that the flats aren’t built. The housing officer refuses to let the council take the blame. Elsewhere, Edna’s newborn has lost some weight. Shelagh assures her it is normal. Edna stresses the need to switch Alistair to a bottle, so she can return to work. Shelagh asks if she considered applying for financial assistance. Edna refuses to take away from those in dire need. Later, Edna paints over what appears to be mold on a wall. Tracey has developed a cough.

Higgins informs Patrick that Ayub Kahn reported his wife ill. Elsewhere, Cyril removes a social worker ad from the newspaper. Upon arriving at the Kahn’s flat, Patrick finds her in severe pain. She reluctantly allows him to access her. Elsewhere, Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings) finds Tracey with a fever and difficulty breathing. When Edna leaves to call an ambulance, Veronica finds the room covered in mold. After returning from the restroom, Edna has a seizure. At the hospital, Veronica informs Edna that Tracey’s bronchitis is caused by dampness and mold. Edna claims to have reported the mold to the council without a response. She allows Veronica to take Alistair to the maternity home temporarily.

Nancy finds that Sahira’s urine sample has turned dark. Patrick suggests it is a sign of liver problems. Matthew gives Trixie a driving lesson. Edna arrives at the maternity home with a fever. Joyce stresses the need for Alistair to finish feeding before going to the ward. After reminding her that it is a maternity home, not a hospital, Higgins says it is Shelagh’s order. Shelagh diagnoses Edna with mastitis and wants her to be admitted. Edna frets over Tracey’s condition. Matthew gets frustrated with Trixie during her driving lesson. She nearly hits a police sergeant (Scott Barrington) and a cat.

Patrick informs Sahira of her liver condition, porphyria. She asks if there is a cure. He says there are treatments to manage her pain. Ayub asks if she will die. Patrick stresses the need for her to avoid triggers, including pregnancy. Elsewhere, Shelagh visits the Department of Housing to complain about Edna’s moldy council flat. She scolds the housing officer for advising her to paint over the mold. He refuses to accept the blame before agreeing to order an inspection of the flat. Ayub stresses over not having children. She apologizes for not being able to give him a baby. He suggests they seek councel from their parents. She says no because she is embarrassed.

The police sergeant agrees to not write Trixie a ticket if they donate to the Cats Protection League. Matthew refuses to let her drive. When she tosses the car keys at him, they fall into the storm drain. Elsewhere, Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) says it was believed that King George III had porphyria which caused intermittent derangement. Veronica says Tracey’s condition is improving but she may develop asthma. Edna scrubs away at the moldy wall.

Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) tries to cheer up Trixie with flowers. She convinces him to give her a driving lesson. They agree to not tell Matthew. At the hospital, Tracey asks to go home. Edna says the medical staff are working to make her better. Sahira’s condition has improved. Nancy offers to educate her on “unwanted pregnancy”. Sahira disapprovingly explains how her condition has impacted her desire to have a baby.

Matthew asks Fred if he would consider giving Trixie driving lessons without telling her it was his idea. Fred agrees to do it without payment. Matthew suggests he may reconsider after the first lesson. Elsewhere, Cyril inspects Edna’s flat. Joyce and Rosalind arrive with documents from Veronica. He pulls back the bed to expose a large patch of toxic black fungus. They carry out the moldy mattress to dispose of it. Fred gives Trixie a driving lesson. She runs a stop sign. He remains calm. While filling out financial aid forms, Edna admits to feeling like a beggar. Cyril says her flat is worse than the others. He urges her to complete the forms.

Joyce questions if it is possible to nurse someone without knowing their situation or past. Rosalind boasts of the expected large turnout for the imperial meeting. Nancy and Joyce join the cause. Later, Fred, Joyce, and Rosalind celebrate Trixie’s successful driving lesson. Trixie and Matthew simultaneously admit to asking Fred for driving lessons.

Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apsion) describes Edna’s situation as a “dreadful story”. Veronica says it is real and needs action. Violet assures her that people in need of housing would give their right arm for the flats. Veronica warns of how it would impact the council if their flats were declared uninhabitable like the Victorian slums. Violet agrees to look into it.

Sahira receives a tabiz charm from her mother. Ayub urges her to inform her mother. She refuses to be married to a weak man because she is a strong woman. Edna’s flat is being repaired. Veronica urges Violet to run for mayor. Colette recites her cat poem for her classmates. Edna informs Joyce and Shelagh that her newborn will be called Nicholas, not Alistair.

Cyril tells Mrs. Wallace that he is considering leaving the Department of Housing to be a social worker. She says the vicar at St. Oswald’s has agreed to let them utilize their church twice a month. Violet tells Fred that she may run for mayor. He says it’s a stretch of the imagination. She suggests he does not believe in the power and passion of ordinary people. He describes her as “magnificent” before vowing to support her. The episode ends with a short narration.

 

Call The Midwife Review

Cyril stresses over lack of space for his growing church congregation. He hopes the Sharing of Church Building Act will pass. Mrs. Wallace reaches out to the vicar at St. Oswald’s for a solution. The vicar agrees to let them hold bi-monthly services at the St. Oswald’s.

Matthew finds out that teaching Trixie to drive is more than he can tolerate. Trixie asks Fred to give her private driving lessons. Matthew also turns to Fred who accepts the challenge. Trixie’s first driving lesson turns out to be a success. They both come clean about getting Fred involved.

Edna is pregnant with her second baby. Her husband abandoned her and Tracey. She cleans to pay her rent and refuses to accept help from the church. Her council flat has a mold problem. She reached out to the council to no avail. Tracey develops bronchitis and must be hospitalized. Alistair is taken to the maternity home for a few days. Edna develops a fever. Veronica gets Violet involved. Within a short time, workers are repairing Edna’s flat. Veronica convinces Violet to run for Mayor. Fred vows to support her.

Patrick is puzzled by Sahira’s condition. She exhibits symptoms but her labs are normal. Nancy learns that Sahira has dysmenorrhea. When her condition worsens, Patrick identifies her condition as porphyria. To avoid life-threatening flares, she cannot get pregnant. Ayub struggles to come to terms with not being a father. They eventually agree to work through it together.

 

The episode deserves a 5. Get more Call The Midwife recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss movies, TV series, sports, crime, and celebrity news.