Call the Midwife – Season 10, Episode 5

By: Ellie Yates

The Turners are anxiously awaiting the results of Timothy’s (Max Macmillan) entrance exams for medical school, with Shelagh (Laura Main) even contemplating having a nervous cigarette. It’s good news as Timothy is in! Not before he’s helped Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen) dry out everyone’s medical records on a washing line in the surgery, following a pipe leak at the clinic.

It seems that Nancy (Megan Cusack) is still having some trouble settling in to Nonnatus House, starting with being late for rounds. She’s been placed under Shelagh’s supervision at the clinic where expectant mother Jeanette (Molly Jenkins) is having a check up with Dr Turner (Stephen McGann). Her mum, Doris (Julia Haworth), wants her to put the baby up for adoption so that she can go to university, which Jeanette seems to agree with. Later on, Jeanette starts to feel light headed and Dr Turner says she appears to have developed pre-eclampsia and needs to rest at the maternity home until the bay arrives. However, Doris disagrees as she doesn’t want Jeanette to have to think too much about the baby.

When Jeanette talks with Nancy she tells her that she hasn’t been allowed to see her boyfriend Glen (Jake Simmance), the baby’s father. Nancy posts a letter that Jeanette has written for him and he turns up at the clinic out of hours. It turns out that he and Timothy were at scouts together and Timothy, who now seems to have set up camp in the clinic, gives him directions to the maternity ward and Nancy lets him stay for fifteen minutes. Jeanette tells him that they’re going to take the baby away and he asks if it’s what she wants. Jeanette says it’s what everyone wants, but Glen states it’s not what he wants. His visit is short lived as Jeanette’s mum turns up and says he needs to leave. Shelagh gives Nancy a talking to about letting Glen in and says that she needs to observe the rules.

Jeanette later discharges herself and as Miss Higgins tries to stop her, Jeanette falls down the stairs. Back in her bed Jeanette is upset that she could have hurt the baby. Shelagh tries to put Jeanette’s mind at rest about the adoption by telling her about her two adopted children and how much she loves them, and their mothers who she thinks are very brave. Jeanette goes into labor, but doesn’t want her mum with her. Whilst prepping for the birth, Nancy feels like no-one is listening to Jeanette and Shelagh tells her that she needs to put her opinions aside. Doris waits in reception after calling Glen so that he can wait with her. Jeanette gives birth to a boy and she and Glen both hold him, but Doris makes excuses not to. Nancy finds Doris sobbing in the waiting area and hands her a handkerchief.

The next day Miss Higgins says that Jeanette can stay at a mother and baby home for a few weeks and they will help with the adoption. The young couple name the baby Oliver and Miss Higgins tell them that although he may have a new birth certificate after the adoption the original will remain on record with Oliver’s, Jeanette’s and Glen’s names. Later that day Glen buys Jeanette a mother and baby book for her to write down memories in the mother and baby home. However, Doris arrives along with Miss Norton (Cate Fowler) from the adoption society to take Oliver. Jeanette and Glen are distraught as Oliver is taken away. Miss Higgins hands Glen Oliver’s identity bracelet for him and Jeanette to keep. Whilst Jeanette is given a sedative to calm her down, Timothy tells Glen that if Oliver has gone to the church adoption agency he will be looked after.

Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) calls Nonnatus desperate for help with Jonathan. He asks to speak to Trixie (Helen George) and asks her how to sack a nanny. He appreciates Trixie’s advice and needs her advice on how to get Jonathan to eat from a spoon. Trixie pops round the next day on her way home with some books for Matthew and Jonathan (who Matthew now calls “Jonty”) is covered in chocolate pudding. She helps Matthew clean him up and shows him the best way to change a nappy. Trixie tells Matthew to not be afraid to go over conversations he and Fiona had about raising Jonathan as he knows more than he thinks. She helps him choose a new nanny and she says she’ll stick around until she knows Matthew and Jonathan are in safe hands. Matthew thanks Trixie by sending her flowers from Jonty, which gets the midwives speculating who Jonty is. Much to the midwives’ relief Trixie tells them Jonty is a six month old baby. Trixie rings Matthew to thank him and he says he wanted it to be a plant that showed thanks professionally, without being emotional.

Across Poplar Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) is paying a house visit to Vera (Paula Lane) and notices that something isn’t quite right with her daughter Elaine (Charlotte Alcock). Sister Julienne tries to get her to smile, but she’s unresponsive and clearly sad. Sister Julienne speaks to Dr Turner as Elaine is too old to be in nappies and hasn’t yet developed her speech. Dr Turner says he will do Elaine’s routine tests early. When Julienne speaks with Vera she says she knows Elaine isn’t where she should be but just thought that some kids are a bit slower to develop than others.

Dr Turner can’t seem to figure out the problem with Elaine and it doesn’t help that in her early years she was under another practice so they can’t see what tests she has had. At home Dr Turner hits the books and Shelagh tells him it could be PKU (phenylketonuria). Dr Turner and Timothy head back to the surgery and as Dr Turner looks through Elaine’s records. Timothy is intrigued by the diseases on some medical cards that no longer exist and that he won’t ever see, or smell, as a doctor. Ignoring the clear confidentiality breach, Dr Turner tells Timothy that he’ll get to see things he never dreamed could happen. It turns out that Elaine was never tested for PKU.

Sister Julienne tests Elaine at home and the result comes back positive. As Julienne leaves Elaine starts to convulse so she calls Dr Turner right away. Dr Turner explains that Elaine’s body can’t get rid of a chemical in her diet called phenylalanine and it’s affecting her brain. Dr Turner says that Elaine could be placed on a specialized, low-protein diet which should stop her condition from getting any worse. Julienne says that they can also bring in speech therapists and specialists to help. Vera asks Dr Turner if the new baby could have PKU and he says they could.

Vera and her husband George (Daniel Eaton) are struggling with what foods they can give to Elaine on her new diet. They don’t have much time to plan though before Vera begins to give birth. She tells Sister Julienne that she’s scared she won’t be able to cope with the new baby. After a pep talk from Sister Julienne and George, Vera successfully gives birth to a boy. The parents are happy to learn that their new baby doesn’t have PKU and as they take him home Elaine has a smile on her face.

There’s more smiles when the surgery throw Lucille (Leonie Elliot) and Cyril (Zephryn Taitte) a surprise engagement party. Lucille gives a moving speech to thank everyone and say that whilst her family back home can’t see them and celebrate with them, she’s happy that she can celebrate with everyone there and that her and Cyril have found their home.