92351 Foundations of Midwifery Practice
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Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject introduces students to childbearing as a normal, but significant life event for a woman and her family. Students apply their developing understanding of anatomy and physiology to childbearing. Through the use of simulated environments, students develop skills to enable them to work effectively with women. The subject focuses on the physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, labour and birth and the postnatal period, and their potential affects on women's experience of childbearing.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Describe the importance of pre-conceptual care and how environment, lifestyle choices and medications can affect the developing baby |
|---|---|
| B. | Describe the anatomy and physiology related to pregnancy, childbirth, the puerperium and lactation, and apply to midwifery care |
| C. | Describe the significance of the anatomy of the pelvis and fetal skull in relation to labour and birth |
| D. | Discuss the recommended screening and assessments during the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal periods and discuss the implications to the woman and her baby of a positive screening test |
| E. | Recognise the physical and emotional changes during pregnancy and their potential effects on women’s lives and wellbeing |
| F. | Develop knowledge of the physiology of lactation and be able to apply this in simulated situations |
| G. | Recognise effective positioning, attachment and suckling to empower mothers to develop the skills necessary for them to achieve these for themselves |
| H. | Understand the rationale behind the Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) best practice standards and what this initiative seeks to achieve |
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students participate in a range of learning and teaching strategies that are designed to assist in developing a deeper understanding of the foundations of midwifery practice.
ONLINE LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Students access online learning resources including pre-class activities, podcasts, videos and professional literature either prior to or in place of face-to-face attendance. Students utilise resources from the UTS Library that display mechanisms of labour, the fetal skull and physiology of childbearing to assist with engagement and learning. These activities are supported by follow- up in-class activities or in online forums to share learning, experiences and reflections.
FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES
Face-to-face lectures and group work enable students to clarify, discuss and learn about the anatomy and physiology as it relates to childbearing for example, interpreting tests, understanding the physical and emotional changes during pregnancy and supporting women through breastfeeding.
CASE SCENARIOS
Cases help students explore health-related scenarios. Cases depict women and their families in clinical or community situations. Students use these scenarios to learn concepts and interpret information. Students develop critical thinking through analysis, interpretation and reflection on issues or situations. Students are provided with case studies in class (or online) that focus on the changes experienced by women through pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period.
SIMULATION ACTIVITIES
Simulation activities are practical learning experiences that are used to expose students to a range of scenarios that may be encountered in clinical practice especially supporting breastfeeding, providing information in the antenatal period and providing social and emotional support.
Content (topics)
Midwifery knowledge and practice
- Application of anatomy and physiology related to pregnancy, childbirth, the postnatal period
- Antenatal period: screening, tests and assessments
- Physical and emotional changes in the antenatal period and their potential effects on women’s lives and wellbeing, socio- cultural influences, midwifery care
- Application of maternal and fetal adaptations to childbirth
- During labour and birth: physiological process, psychological and socio-cultural influences
- Postpartum period: physical and emotional changes in the postpartum period and their potential effects on women’s lives and wellbeing, socio-cultural influences, midwifery care
- Application of the physiology of lactation in relation to the effective establishment and maintenance of lactation and the BFHI best practice standards
- Application of knowledge on the physiology of lactation to support women as they commence breastfeeding (including effective attachment and positioning)
- Newborn period: physiological adaptation and normal behaviour
Midwifery as primary health care
- Community resources available to women and families
- The importance and value of midwifery continuity of care in the transition through pregnancy to new motherhood
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Report
| Intent: | Pregnancy, birth and the transition to parenthood is a significant life event for women and their families. Midwifery students will demonstrate an understanding of the physiology a woman is experiencing during the childbearing period. Through critical thinking the midwifery student provides choices in providing woman centred midwifery care throughout pregnancy, birth and the early parenting period. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .0 and .0 |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 1500 words |
Assessment task 2: Exam
| Intent: | Pregnancy, birth and the transition to parenthood is a significant life event for women and their families. Midwifery students will be assessed on their understanding of the physiology the woman is experiencing during the childbearing period. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B, D and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .0 and .0 |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | Two (2) hours |
Assessment task 3: Workbook
| Intent: | Accuracy of recall and application of information related to anatomy and physiology will assist the midwifery student with understanding the physical and emotional changes a woman experiences during pregnancy, birth and the puerperium. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B |
| Weight: | 20% |
References
Department of Health, 2018, Clinical Practice Guidelines: Pregnancy Care. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health.
Gray, J. & Smith, R. 2018, Midwifery essentials, 2nd edn., Elsevier, Sydney.
Gray, J., Smith, R. & Homer, C. 2018. Illustrated dictionary of midwifery, 2nd edn., Elsevier Australia, Sydney.
Johnson, R. & Taylor, W. 2016, Skills for midwifery practice, 4th edn, Churchill Livingston, Edinburgh.
Marshall, J.E. & Raynor, M.D. 2014, Myles' textbook for midwives, 16th edn, Churchill Livingston, Sydney.
Leap, N., Hunter, B., 2016, Supporting Women for Labour and Birth, A thoughtful guide, Routledge, London New York.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2018, Midwife Standards for Practice, NMBA, Melbourne.
Page, L., McCandlish, R. 2006, The New Midwifery, Science and Sensitivity in Practice, 2nd edn, Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier, UK.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H. & Dixon, L. (eds) 2018, Midwifery: preparation for practice, 4th edn, Book 1, Elsevier, Sydney.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H. & Dixon, L. (eds) 2018, Midwifery: preparation for practice, 4th edn, Book 2, Elsevier, Sydney.
Waugh, A. & Grant, A. 2014, Ross & Wilson anatomy and physiology in health and illness, 12th edn, Churchill Livingstone, Sydney.
Wickham, S. (ed), 2008, Midwifery Best Practice Volume 5, Butterworth Heinemann, Elsevier, UK.
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