A moving, intimate, funny, and true-to-life look at the colorful stories of midwifery and families in East London in the '50s. Based on the bestselling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth. When Jenny Lee first arrives in Poplar, she knows nothing about hardship, poverty, and life itself. But Jenny is brought up to speed fast once she joins a team of midwives who provide care to the poorest women.

With Nonnatus House scheduled for demolition, Jenny, Chummy, and Sister Julienne search for a new location nearby, while Jenny₂s relationship with Alec continues to blossom. But an outbreak of polio affects the nurses and nuns more than they could have imagined.

"In the old houses and bold new apartment buildings of 1963 London, expectant mothers need more help than ever from the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House." --

"Now nearing the 1960s, the community enters a new time of social change, while stories of birth, life and death continue to touch your heart. Will live-wire Nurse Trixie marry her young curate? What new project calls for a heart as big as Chummy's? How will Sister Evangelina react to two new nurses? And why does Sister Julienne appear so unsettled by a mystery benefactor?"--

It's 1966, and it's a testing time for the midwives. But there's excitement, too, as the women's rights movement intensifies. With Trixie's help, Sister Julienne is determined to steer Nonnatus House of its financial quandary. Dr. Turner deals with an array of difficult cases including a former soldier involved in nuclear test explosion. Meanwhile, Sister Monica Joan experiences a crisis of faith, and Sister Frances realizes she needs to be a little...

"It's 1968 and Enoch Powell's infamous "Rivers of Blood" speech creates serious tension in Poplar, especially when a group of dockers march in support of Powell. The midwives welcome a new nun, Sister Veronica, who's an instant hit with everyone - except Nurse Crane. Meanwhile, Trixie's relationship with Matthew goes from strength to strength, while Nurse Crane helps Nancy with her financial woes. Sister Julienne enjoys helping out the district, Shelagh...

The episode opens in 2005 with Jennifer Worth at home preparing for Christmas with husband Philip. She reminisces about the friends and colleagues of her youth at Nonnatus House, and as she talks we cut back to 1959.

As Poplar prepares for Christmas, the nuns leave for the Mother House to vote in a new mother superior and to help care for a group of Chinese orphans. Meanwhile, Trixie returns to Poplar refreshed and is shocked to discover that many mothers no longer want to give birth at home.

In Poplar, Christmas 1958 is not just about the opening of presents, but also about the closing of deep wounds. Wartime trials are relived and a new enemy confronted before peace and love are restored.

The maternity home sees two school friends reunited and their lives become intertwined in the most unexpected way. Elsewhere, Barbara and Sister Mary Cynthia team up to implement a revolutionary technique on their bedsore patient before it is discovered that it is his steadfast wife who is the one most in need of care.