Last night’s episode of Call The Midwife has been praised for covering one of the most harrowing and sensitive topics yet. In the third episode of series 8 we met anxious mum Hazel who had recently moved to Poplar with her husband and their baby girl Dawn.
Hazel was in a constant state of panic throughout most of the episode. We watched the young mum frantically rushing to see Dr Turner when her daughter broke out in a rash and witnessed her deprive herself of sleep by staying up all night to make sure her daughter was safe.
I remember watching my son in the cot. That horror at the back of the mind when imagining the unimaginable. For all those who bear the reality - all my love, and all of my heart. xx #callthemidwife
— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) January 27, 2019
She was completely terrified of something bad happening to Dawn and the reason why completely broke viewers hearts.
Shelia and Dr Turner discovered that Hazel’s son Stephen had died when they were living in Cyprus.
The mum never found out why her son passed away as his cause of death was ruled as unknown.
The trauma of losing her baby boy and bottling up the grief and heartache caused Hazel to panic over Dawn, like any mum would in her situation.
I remember watching my son in the cot. That horror at the back of the mind when imagining the unimaginable. For all those who bear the reality - all my love, and all of my heart. xx #callthemidwife
— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) January 27, 2019
The mum struggled to open up about the harrowing loss but with a little encouragement and support from Shelia and co. Hazel finally started to see that things will get better again.
Viewers took to Twitter to praise actress Matti Houghton who played Hazel. One wrote: “As ever beautifully written and acted. Handled with sensitivity. Remembering my own rainbow baby.”
"Bonds are tested, and tightened.And our landscapes shift,in sunshine and in shade.There is light.There is.Look for it.Look for it shining over your shoulder, on the past. It was light where you went once. It is light where you are now. It will be light, where you will go again." pic.twitter.com/3j8dp9f6ey
— Call The Midwife (@CallTheMidwife1) January 27, 2019
Another shared: “Thank you for your sensitivity in handling a cot death episode and the aftermath of future pregnancies/birth. From a bereaved mothers point of view we should never stop speaking of our angel babies.”
“Hasn’t been an episode I haven’t enjoyed (or not had a tear at) so beautifully written with the sentiments often feeling they carry through to present day,” said another.
Sometimes the smallest gestures can have the greatest impact. #CallTheMidwife @CallTheMidwife1 pic.twitter.com/Xvjuzt60dX
— BBC One (@BBCOne) January 27, 2019
There’s no doubt next week’s episode will be another tear-jerker.
Feature Image: Call The Midwife/BBC
