After the death of her mother Gesa also wants to learn the profession of midwife, But because the city midwife rejects her she has to apprentice to Professor Kilian in the city's birthing house. However, he abuses the unmarried pregnant women housed there for his studies.

In the second part of the historical thriller, midwife Gesa succeeds in becoming the first female medical student to be admitted to Vienna's General Hospital. But while Gesa immerses herself in the world of medicine, a gruesome series of murders begins to spread fear and terror among the women.