Call the Midwife
This report covers the full series run. A BBC period drama set in London's East End from the late 1950s onward, Call the Midwife centres on midwives and nuns attending births in a deprived community, weaving in social history storylines each season. The tone is warm and humane, but the subject matter -- realistic birth, infant loss, domestic abuse, and illegal abortion -- is consistently mature.
Episodes to know about
Stillbirth, neonatal death, and miscarriage appear in multiple episodes across all seasons; these scenes are emotionally prolonged and central to individual episode plots.
Birth scenes regularly depict women in severe pain, haemorrhage, seizure, and emergency intervention; blood is shown on hands and bedding.
A mother of eight attempts a self-induced abortion and nearly dies from septicaemia; depicted with sympathy but considerable medical and emotional intensity.