Call the Midwife
Here's what we found in Call the Midwife. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.
Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Call the Midwife
Call the Midwife is a critically acclaimed British period drama television series that began in 2012, offering an intimate look into the lives of a group of nurse-midwives and Anglican nuns working in the impoverished East End of London. Starting in the late 1950s and progressing through the 1960s and 70s, the show centers on the daily challenges of childbirth and healthcare within a community grappling with evolving social issues, poverty, and medical advancements. It is renowned for its realistic portrayal of historical contexts, exploring topics such as public health, women's rights, and social welfare without shying away from difficult themes. The series has garnered praise for its compassionate storytelling and its ensemble cast, appealing to a mature audience interested in historical drama, social commentary, and stories of human resilience.
Things to Consider
Scary & Intense Content
Call the Midwife contains frequent intense and emotionally disturbing content. This includes realistic portrayals of medical emergencies, difficult and sometimes tragic childbirth outcomes (such as infant and maternal deaths), and the profound suffering caused by poverty, disease, and social injustices. While not horror, the emotional weight and realistic graphic medical situations can be deeply unsettling.
Scenes of childbirth can be graphic and distressing, featuring blood, pain, and the tragic loss of infants or mothers, such as 'disturbing moments, such as gray, lifeless infants and an abortion depicted in a realistic manner.' The series consistently features storylines involving severe social hardships and debilitating medical conditions, including outbreaks of diseases like tuberculosis and polio, as well as the long-term effects of conditions like spina bifida and thalidomide, all presented with considerable emotional intensity.
Would these 1 concern matter to your family?
Get a report based on your values — not generic ratings.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
Aged 14+ with parental guidance. The show consistently tackles mature and often heavy themes including domestic violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse, and complex medical situations like infant and maternal mortality, and difficult births. While explicit sexual acts are not shown and profanity is mild, the realistic and emotionally intense portrayal of suffering and social hardships warrants a mature audience. Parental co-viewing and discussion are highly recommended to process the historical context and sensitive content.
Good to Know
The series often explores complex social issues (e.g., poverty, racism, disability, mental health) that were prevalent in post-war Britain. These are handled with sensitivity and historical accuracy, making the show an educational tool for understanding social history and healthcare evolution. Viewers should be prepared for themes of human suffering and death, which are integral to the medical drama genre and the historical period depicted.
What are you watching next?
Screen any title in seconds — even ones no one else has reviewed.
No credit card required — join hundreds of families