Call the Midwife

(soothing music) What Call the Midwife gets right about birth is, in my opinion, just about everything. I mean, I can't remember an instance where I said, ugh, it's not like that. Most of the time I'm saying, it's just like that. That I think is the essence of the show. There's our true rawness in it. As a midwife for myself, it's been a daily reminder and an honor to get to see that again and again. You get to really witness the true awe and the importance of birth and how we birth. I've seen birth portrayed in a lot of movies and TV shows, and usually I'm cringing or I'm elbowing my husband and telling him all the things that probably would have never happened. And I love that Call the Midwife really captures the rawness of birth. (woman moans) Good girl. (woman moans) (woman moans) Here it comes. The women who are giving birth, they are sweaty. They are working hard. A truth about midwifery across the ages that Call the Midwife talks about is midwives become family to each other. Part of the magic of Call the Midwife. Midwifery is such a unique skillset. They've done a really good job of showing how midwives are wonderful at riding the line between wanting to respect birth, wanting to maintain low intervention, and then knowing when to step in when intervention can be lifesaving. Mrs Mear, your baby is coming. I need you to sit right on the edge of the chair so I can help you. The show has really shown a spotlight on the intensity of the role of being a midwife. And really the intensity, not only of the role, but the intensity of the relationship with families. Flora, we need to get you lying flat. Flora, keep your eyes open, sweetie. I think what the series has gotten right is really capturing that essence of the relationship of the patient to the midwife because midwifery care is really relationship based care. The word midwife means, with woman. A woman in that situation, needs somebody by her side. They really capitalize on that relationship, which is the essence of midwifery care. Thank you. You're welcome. (strumming music)