Original subtitles

MILK

- Are you ready for today, Robin? - Yes.

Alright.

Let me start by saying that there's no rush today.

Usually you leave the hospital a few hours after giving birth.

But you can take all the time you need.

One thing I forgot to tell you.

Your body might produce some milk after labour.

There is a drug to stop it, which has quite a few side effects.

You may also pump your milk, and cut back until it stops.

I thought milk only comes in after 7 months of pregnancy.

Yes, but it can also happen sooner.

I'm telling you just in case, so it won't come as a surprise.

We will go to the maternity room.

And we'll start by applying the gel.

Then we'll wait for contractions to start.

If necessary we'll repeat this every four hours.

Until the contractions start and the baby is born.

I won't be around for the birth...

But Doctor Vonk and the nurse will be there to guide you...

Also in saying goodbye to your baby.

Do you have any questions?

- Didn't you want to ask... - Right.

Is... Actually, never mind.

- Ask away. - No, never mind.

- Do you want me to ask? - No. It's okay, really.

Let's get started.

Good morning. Hi, Tanja.

- Hello, I'm Charles Vonk. - Robin.

- Charles Vonk. - Jonas.

I am the gynaecologist taking over. I will join you until the end.

I heard your story from Tanja, and from my other colleague.

You guys have been through a lot. How are you feeling today?

- It is what it is. - It is what it is. And for you?

Yes.

So we'll just proceed with what needs to happen.

Has the rest of the procedure been explained to you?

- How it will be done? - It's very clear.

First, we will apply the gel to the cervix, which will induce labour.

- Would that be alright? - Yes.

Okay, let's get started.

- Would you like some coffee? - Great.

But let me check on Robin first.

- Is that okay? - Sure.

I usually start with your pulse.

That's excellent. May I feel your tummy?

I left some leaflets on your dinner table.

About grief and recovery.

- Check them out when you're ready. - Thank you.

- Very well. You're doing great. - Okay. That's nice.

- My breasts hurt a lot today. - Alright. Let me have a look.

Let's empty them out.

We'll put this on here. Yes, with your nipple at the centre.

- Like this? - Yes. That's perfect.

Nice and straight.

You may push the short side quite fast.

Right.

When you see milk flow you switch to the longer side.

- To here. - Right.

You're doing great. I'll leave you to it.

- How long will the midwife stay? - Until tomorrow.

Could I get some coffee?

Great.

- Thanks. - You're welcome.

Enjoy.

Thanks.

- Hey, you guys. - Hi, darling.

Let me get a vase for those.

And what about the first weekend, on the 8th? Is that good?

Yes. We don't have anything.

- Yes. - Okay, great. I'll put that down.

Great.

How many people are you inviting?

Um... Just you guys.

We want to keep it small, here at home. Just a small commemoration.

- Okay, darling. See you soon. - Yes.

Bye, dear. Thanks for coming.

Bye, Dad.

- Have a good trip. - Drive safely.

Wow... Bizarre, no?

- If you want me to do it... - No, I'll be fine. You just go.

Hi.

Yeah, I'm okay.

You see, I'm at home alone, and...

it's hard that I have nothing to do.

I'd really like to do some work. I feel like working.

So I was wondering if I could... write those articles after all.

About the Sports Elections, yeah.

I know I'm on leave now, but I'm kind of regretting that.

Let me check something, alright?

MILK BANK INFORMATION DESK

Okay... Hello.

- My name is Ines. - I'm Robin.

I just read about your loss.

- I'm really sorry. - Thank you.

I'm afraid we advise against donating your milk...

in circumstances like yours, that demand a lot from you.

Pumping every day asks a lot from your body...

and so does producing milk.

And you'd have to commit for at least a month...

which means a courier will drop by every week to collect the milk.

- Are you both aware of this? - Yes, we read about it.

And you're sure you want to go ahead?

- Yes. - Alright. That's wonderful.

I'm sure that many babies and mothers...

will be very grateful.

- I'll plan the intake then. - Great.

Let's schedule an appointment with the blood bank.

They'll go through your medical history and lifestyle.

And then they test your blood.

- How is next week? - Sounds good. Let me see.

- Can we use these peas tonight? - Sure.

Whoa...

What are you reading?

Sounds good.

It's about this old guy who finds out he has telekinetic powers.

- And what does he do with them? - Nothing. He just finds out about them.

Okay...

I'm only halfway through. Maybe there's more.

- I sure hope so. - I hope so, too.

- Well... - What do you think?

Just buy it.

Are you sure? I'll be next to you doing this.

HIKING GROUP "MOURNING IN SILENCE"

Hi, Dad. Yes, I'm alright.

We signed up to donate my milk.

Yes, I'm still pumping.

At the Milk Bank at Slingeland Hospital.

Premature babies can't have formula. It makes them sick.

So they get milk from donor moms. I didn't know about that either...

Wow.

I'm sorry. I'm just speechless.

How you put your own twist on all this.

Yeah.

- I know, right? - Yeah...

So how long will you be doing this for?

They need us to participate for a month. I'll see how I feel after that.

It's so great how you're helping other babies. I mean, isn't that special?

- Very special. - It's cool, right?

So what can we do? Can we help?

- We'll help out. - We could take the milk there.

There is a pickup service, so it will be fine.

Like what? You mean a delivery boy on a moped?

- I can picture it already. - I know.

I can literally picture it.

They have a freezer car.

- So they pick it up frozen solid. - That's right.

It's not 100 percent sure yet. We have to be admitted first.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

We're doing pretty fine, actually. Don't you think?

It says in your file that you recently lost a child.

That is so sad. I'm sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

You're here today to see if you can donate your milk...

because that is your wish.

Do you know the procedure? I will ask you some questions first.

- Yes. - Shall we begin?

- Yes, please. - Okay.

Have you had an endoscopy procedure in the last four months?

Do you know what that is?

A flexible endoscopy is when they insert a flexible tube in your bladder...

or your lungs, or stomach.

- No, I haven't. - Good.

And I already read that you have never lived in the UK.

- That's right. - Why would that be an issue?

Well, you see...

if you lived in the UK in the 1990s...

you might have contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob, or Mad Cow disease.

You may have heard about that.

It's a virus that stays around in the body after infection.

It can be a very severe disease.

As the virus stays in your blood...

people who lived there back then cannot become a donor.

Hence the question.

- Well, I haven't lived there. - Great. So let's continue.

Have you ever had the disease Lues? Lues is an STD.

- Yes, I have. - When was that?

I was 21, so...

2011-ish?

- Did you receive treatment? - Of course.

Jonas, did you have Lues?

- No, it was... - Before we met.

Then I'm afraid I have bad news. If you've had Lues...

you're not allowed to donate your milk.

- Not at all? - That's correct.

- You mean never again? - Yes, I mean never again.

I can see you're taken aback. Am I right?

I am. I'm not contagious anymore, am I?

You're not infectious any more...

but you'll still test positive.

That's because you still have antibodies.

Can we go to a different hospital?

I'm afraid not. It's a nation-wide agreement.

So it's the same story in other hospitals.

So my milk is not harmful for babies.

Your milk is safe, so if you guys become pregnant again...

you can breastfeed your baby.

That makes it hard to understand why you can't be a donor. Right?

Wow.

MILK GROUP EAST NETHERLANDS

SIGN UP TO DONATE BREAST MILK

APPLICATION FORM

- I'll be fine. You just go. - Sure?

- Of course. - Okay.

Hi.

- Are you open? I saw online that... - The shop is closed, but do come in.

- You're with Milk Group, right? - 'With'?

I'm a co-founder, but it's just a platform.

The women run it all by themselves, online.

I know.

If you know, what are you doing here?

Just a joke. Don't mind me. I'm sorry.

Come along, now.

I'd like to donate my milk, but I failed the hospital screening...

because I had this STD once. Lues.

So I was rejected by you guys too.

But it's just that I test positive.

I'm not contagious anymore. It's a lab-related issue.

I don't know every tiny rule.

They change all the time.

Infectious diseases come and go.

But we play by the same rules as the hospital...

So if they rejected you we probably did the same.

- Do you want some? - No, thanks. I'm still pumping.

- It's decaf. - Oh. Yes, please.

That's a cute mug.

Are you joking? There's a dead cat on it.

- I'd never buy such a thing. - Oh.

- Somebody gave it to you, then. - Of course.

My husband did. Went to Egypt with his brother, and brought it back for me.

He always came back with the most kitschy tourist junk imaginable.

Here. He also got me this one with Romulus and Remus. From Rome.

That's funny, right?

- Did your husband pass away? - Two years ago.

But we got divorced a long time ago.

Not because of this milk business, although at one point he got fed up.

It became a bit much for him. But it's my life, you know?

At least I have a nice mug.

I'd like to ask you to make an exception.

What if I share the whole truth in my message, about Lues?

And that I'm not infectious anymore?

Got it.

And one like this.

- Okay. - Yes?

- I think... - One with you in it?

- With me? - Yes.

Isn't that silly?

- No, it's nice. - Me sitting in front of it?

MILK GROUP EAST NETHERLANDS ROBIN SPIERING

ALL MY LOVE TO YOU

THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU

I'M SPEECHLESS, LOTS OF LOVE I WISH MY BABY NEEDED IT

SO BRAVE, YOU WILL MAKE SOMEONE VERY HAPPY

WHAT A HEARTBREAKING STORY SO BRAVE, LOTS OF LUCK

- It's good, right? - Yes. It's good.

Do you think it's a problem, the Lues thing?

Do you think it will scare people off?

It's possible.

But there are 400 people in this group.

Right.

WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES?

Robin? Robin.

- Lovely. - Here you go.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

- So... - Well...

So I wanted to tell you in person.

I don't mind that you had Lues in the past.

But my partner is a bit worried. He thinks it's too risky.

I understand how difficult it is.

We only just joined the platform, so we'll be fine.

You could have just texted me.

I know... I'm sorry.

I just had to get out of the house.

We're moving house, and the baby won't stop crying.

The place is full of boxes, and I...

Sorry, Robin. I'm really really sorry for you guys.

It's okay.

Nice going.

Thanks.

I'll take it upstairs.

Here we go.

May needed to get out of the house. She has a newborn. It's hard work.

I can imagine that.

I'm glad you could join us tonight.

I'm sorry that I just...

- I'm sorry that I just popped up. - No.

- Don't be silly, I invited you. - Right.

Thanks.

Is she getting your milk? I'm confused.

- No. Her partner doesn't like it. - Oh, right. Gotcha.

- Bye. - Bye, darling.

That was ten years ago. I received treatment and my infection is over...

but I still test positive.

No, your baby is not at risk.

Thank you.

You guys...

Can we take you both on a trip this weekend?

- That is so sweet. - Where to?

Nothing fancy. Just a few days in the Ardennes. Four days.

- Lovely. - Yeah.

It's from all of your friends, including Jacques and Silke.

Thank you all.

But I can't come.

I have to stay home for the milk.

I just got in touch with someone, and I'm meeting them this weekend.

- That's great. - But it's super sweet of you.

- It's fine, of course. - I'm sorry.

You go ahead, sweetie. It's okay.

- Shall I go? - I'll get it.

I should've talked to her about it.

Hello, this is Robin.

Oh, hello doctor Sikke.

Yes, I know. I wasn't expecting your call.

Yeah. I understand.

It's not a big deal. I get it.

Thank you so much for your efforts.

I'm already looking somewhere else.

SAINT MICHAEL'S CHAPEL

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO CHECK OUT THE CHAPEL:

WE'LL MEET AT 4 PM AT THE LOGS.

- Bye. Have a nice weekend. - Bye-bye.

Bye, see you next week. Thanks.

Bye-bye. Enjoy the weekend.

Bye.

- Have a great weekend. - Bye. Have a good one.

- Bye. - Bye, Pieter. See you.

WISH I COULD BE THERE IT'S NICE OUT HERE

JUST CALL IF YOU NEED ME I'M PROUD OF YOU. X