Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

8, almost 9-year-old watching Call the Midwife

60 replies

Jourdain11 · 15/08/2022 12:08

Just went into the living room wondering what DD2 (8) was watching and found her glued to a birth scene in Call the Midwife! My immediate reaction was that it's too adult for her to watch and I said, watch something else or do something else. She has taken the huff ("You turned it off right in the middle of the breexh baby being born, mum!") because apparently daddy said it was fine and it's just nuns and people having babies, it's not like it's about SEX or anything.

It's easier with films - at least they have guidance! It's too long since I watched any of it but I remember the themes being quite hard-hitting. But I'm also not sure that it's actually on after the watershed? I'm quite certain that daddy hasn't watched any of it at all!

IABU - let her watch it, it's fine for a kid of her age (she's 9 in 2 weeks and going into Y5).

YANBU - it's not appropriate for her to watch it.

OP posts:
Barnybrown · 15/08/2022 12:11

I watch it with my 5 year old daughter - she loves it . I grew up in a home where sex, bodies and childbirth were all shameful and questions weren’t encouraged (at all) or answered openly. I want my children to know they can ask me anything and I will answer (in a way that is age appropriate).

At almost 9 years old, your daughter is old enough to watch Call the Midwife and if you watch it with her you can answer any questions she has.

ThanksAntsThants · 15/08/2022 12:14

YABU

elenacampana · 15/08/2022 12:16

I wouldn’t have a problem with a 9yo watching CTMW. Kindness and community are at its roots and birth is the very start of life. For me, CTMW is a celebration of women :-)

PermanentlyTired03 · 15/08/2022 12:16

I'd say it's ok for her to watch it. The birth scenes aren't too graphic normally. Other story lines in the show might lead to awkward questions- domestic violence that was just ignored, pimps and prostitutes, back street abortions etc! Heavy topics to explain to a 9 yr old!

Whataretheodds · 15/08/2022 12:17

It's on before the watershed isn't it?

I think there are lots of positive themes especially about women. There are also some more adult themes that your daughter may need the opportunity to discuss with you.

JanglyBeads · 15/08/2022 12:17

There are themes of abuse of all descriptions, rape, neglect. YANBU

Babyshadows · 15/08/2022 12:18

The birth is fine but it's the other themes that are harder as above. I watch it with my 10 year old and we've had brilliant conversations from it and it's all introduced in a gentle way, but those extra few years of maturity have made a big difference I think.

OakTreex · 15/08/2022 12:19

I think it's okay as long as you're open to answering questions honestly. I'd try and spend some time watching it with her if you can so you can help explain the trickier topics.

Children in time gone by would've been exposed to childbirth quite regularly to some degree. Sanitised birth in hospital with a single birth partner is a fairly new concept.

needadviceplease2022 · 15/08/2022 12:20

I mean, I wouldn't have a problem with it. I always imagined when I have another baby I would want my daughter to be there. But it's what you feel comfortable with I suppose.

BrownTableMat · 15/08/2022 12:20

As others have said, the birth scenes are not at all graphic, in fact they’re often really sanitised. I wouldn’t worry about that. I would worry about some of the themes though: as others have said, these often cover abuse, abortion, death, trauma, rape, and in one particularly hard-hitting episode I remember from series 1, brother-sister incest.

Original poster
Jourdain11 · 15/08/2022 12:21

Exactly, as above. I'm not bothered about the actual midwifery scenes, I'm more conscious of the rape, prostitution, pimping, incest, etc. She's a bit too old and clued-up for it to go over her head!

OP posts:
Jalepenojello · 15/08/2022 12:21

It’s daytime TV isn’t it? It has some adult themes but I’d be fine with my child watching it with me alongside

Sallyh87 · 15/08/2022 12:24

Some episodes would be fine, some not IMO. Maybe pre watch them on iPlayer and let her know which ones are okay.

There is some really distressing content sometimes.


  • child abuse

  • Neglect

  • Rape

  • Domestic violence


But then some really uplifting stuff as well.

mattressspring · 15/08/2022 12:25

I wouldn't be ok with it at all. A quick Google will show you the content that was shown pre watershed. I'm all about being open and honest when it comes to sex and babies but I would t be happy to expose my 8 year old to abuse in any form.

Original poster
Jourdain11 · 15/08/2022 12:26

BrownTableMat · 15/08/2022 12:20

As others have said, the birth scenes are not at all graphic, in fact they’re often really sanitised. I wouldn’t worry about that. I would worry about some of the themes though: as others have said, these often cover abuse, abortion, death, trauma, rape, and in one particularly hard-hitting episode I remember from series 1, brother-sister incest.

I thought I was imagining that one, or misremembering it!

OP posts:
Divebar2021 · 15/08/2022 12:32

rape, prostitution, pimping, incest

wow I think it’s a stretch to say that CTMW is full of that kind of content. I’d say it is full of significantly different content with flashes of those types of subjects. It’s pretty subtly done - I think a lot of it would go over a child’s head.

FilePhoto · 15/08/2022 12:33

I think the actual birth scenes aren't the problem.
The story lines are however. Incest, illegal abortions, there was one where the mother pulled her DDs womb out to try and hide the fact she gave birth.

maddiemookins16mum · 15/08/2022 12:45

Tough one, it’s on at 8pm so should be ok but there are some hard hitting storylines. My DD has watched it since she was about 11, we’ve had some ‘conversations’ that were needed (illegal abortion etc) but some stuff also passed her by.
Regardless, there are also a lot worse things they could stumble across.

maddiemookins16mum · 15/08/2022 12:47

BrownTableMat · 15/08/2022 12:20

As others have said, the birth scenes are not at all graphic, in fact they’re often really sanitised. I wouldn’t worry about that. I would worry about some of the themes though: as others have said, these often cover abuse, abortion, death, trauma, rape, and in one particularly hard-hitting episode I remember from series 1, brother-sister incest.

They were a much older couple, 70s. I think they’d been split up as children too. It was actually a really sad episode.

JanglyBeads · 15/08/2022 12:55

FilePhoto · 15/08/2022 12:33

I think the actual birth scenes aren't the problem.
The story lines are however. Incest, illegal abortions, there was one where the mother pulled her DDs womb out to try and hide the fact she gave birth.

Thank goodness I missed that one then.....

Milkand2sugarsplease · 15/08/2022 13:11

y5 is where she'll cover the rest of sex ed so she's gonna cover a fair bit over the coming months.

I think something like call the midwife is fine - it covers all sorts of issues but without any language/graphic scenes etc so does it in a family friendly manner.

DS has seen far worse when we've had the news on.

rightonthyme · 15/08/2022 13:23

I'd say let her get on with it - I was terrified of birth at aged 9 (even on soaps) and used to absent myself and hide. Took me years to get over it. If she's interested and excited to watch you could have a future doctor on your hands. If she has questions, answer them honestly. Don't forbid it (because you will either give her a complex or make her seek it out and be secretive around this and other issues).

VapeVamp12 · 15/08/2022 13:31

I really love CTMW. It has some lovely stories but some that have really shocked me. Not sure I would want my child that age watching.

I'm thinking about the illegal abortionist episodes and also some quite graphic ones where women have gone to the clinic run by the nuns and had terrible infections (obvious signs in their underwear), etc.

Mariposista · 15/08/2022 13:32

I know kids that age who have watched one born every minute! CTM is a lovely programme, with kindness and community at its roots, not to mention some great British actors. It's on before watershed and doesn't have any swearing or graphic sex scenes in it.

Original poster
Jourdain11 · 15/08/2022 13:51

She's still annoyed and says I'm sexist because I switched a woman off while she was halfway through giving birth!

She's fascinated by all things medical and historical and especially both, so I think that's the main attraction.

OP posts: