92356 Transitions to Parenthood
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
The transition from pregnancy to parenthood is a significant but normal life event, and the midwife plays an important role in the early days of parenting. Supporting and promoting breastfeeding is a key focus of this subject. The subject explores theories of maternal-infant attachment and bonding, and addresses public health issues such as safe sleeping. Students also develop knowledge, skills and attitudes required to work with women whose transition is complicated by perinatal mental health issues.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Explain the importance of supporting early maternal-infant attachment and bonding. |
|---|---|
| B. | Apply the principles of the Baby Friendly Health Initiative in their practice. |
| C. | Develop the knowledge and skills required to support women with breastfeeding challenges. |
| D. | Explain the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to support women, their partners and families as they transition to parenthood. |
| E. | Explore perinatal mental health issues and the impact on the family. |
| F. | Understand the midwife’s role in health promotion in relation to ensuring women have the necessary information as they transition to motherhood. |
| G. | Apply the current research, guidelines and policies in relation to safe sleeping for infants, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI). |
| H. | Apply legal, ethical and professional responsibilities to midwifery practice. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Practice woman-centred care (1.0)
- Appreciate the centrality of the relationship with each woman to the practice of midwifery (1.2)
- Provide an optimal child-bearing environment for each woman (1.4)
- Demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment that is based on evidence and reflects appropriate reasoning within the relevant professional codes and guidelines (2.2)
- Demonstrate competence in all clinical skills at the level of a new graduate midwife and be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for registration as a midwife (2.5)
- Practice and promote the principles of self-care that build resilience and foster human flourishing (4.1)
- Practise midwifery within a primary health care philosophy (5.1)
- Communicate and provide effective care for women from diverse backgrounds and needs (5.4)
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes when supporting women and their families during their transition to parenthood.
ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Students access the varied online learning resources via UTS Canvas in the weekly “Before class activities” to be completed prior to the scheduled tutorials. These learning resources include podcasts,and videos. Online resources enable students to clarify complex concepts and terminology and to engage with sensitive or confronting topics at their own pace. Online activities are then discussed in class to share learning, experiences, and reflections.
TUTORIAL CLASSES
Tutorials will be undertaken face-to-face on campus and will take place in the scheduled tutorial timeframe as per myTimetable (accessed via https://mytimetable.uts.edu.au/) after you have enrolled into your subjects via My Student Admin. Tutorial activities are provided to enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts.
CASE STUDIES AND STORIES FROM PRACTICE
Case studies and stories from practice depict people and their families in clinical, community and social situations. Students use these scenarios to learn concepts, interpret information and develop creative solutions. Students develop critical thinking through analysis, interpretation of and reflection on issues or situations especially during the early parenting period.
PRESENTATIONS
In groups and as part of an assessment task, students will undertake a presentation to the class during the tutorials. Students receive feedback from the lecturer not only on their knowledge of a subject area, but also their ability to communicate their thoughts and relevant information in a clear, coherent and confident manner.
Content (topics)
Early parenting
- Attachment theory
- Support for the partner and family as the woman transitions to motherhood
- The importance of continuity of care
- Engagement of partners in care
- Psychosocial screening
- Community resources available to women, partners and families
Supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding challenges
- Baby Friendly Health Initiative
Primary health care and health promotion
- Parenting support and referral networks
- The influence of culture on parenting
- Newborn and early infant health – the role and responsibilities of the midwife and the effective transition to the child and family health practitioner, immunisations, development, newborn screening tests
- Safe sleeping, SIDS and SUDI
- Modern contraceptive methods and choices
- 6-week postnatal check including cervical screening
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Group presentation
| Intent: | Working in small groups, students research a topic on an aspect of care related to early parenthood, which they present to the class. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, D, E and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 1.4, 2.2 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 1. 15 minutes |
Assessment task 2: Site report
| Intent: | This assessment is intended for students to broaden their understanding of the strategies and services that are available in their local health district which support parents as they transition to parenthood. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, D, E and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.2, 2.5, 4.1, 5.1 and 5.4 |
| Type: | Report |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 1500 words |
References
Many of these texts are available as e-books and can be accessed via the UTS Library.
Austin, M-P., Highet, N. and the Expert Working Group (2017). Mental Health Care in the Perinatal Period: Australian Clinical Practice Guideline. Melbourne: Centre of Perinatal Excellence.
Barnes, M. & Rowe, J. (2008). Child, youth and family health: strengthening communities, Churchill Livingstone, Sydney.
beyondblue. (2011). Beyond babyblues: Detecting and managing perinatal mental health disorders in primary care, viewed 27 September 2015, http://thinkgp.com.au/education/beyond-babyblues-detecting-andmanaging-perinatal-mental-health-disorders-primary-care
Bick, D., MacArthur, C. & Winter, H. (2009). Postnatal care: evidence and guidelines for management, 2nd edn, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
Brodrick, A., & Williamson, E. (2020). Listening to women after childbirth . Routledge, New York.
Campbell, S. H. (2021). Lactation : A Foundational Strategy for Health Promotion. Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
Catling, C., Cummins, A. & Hogan, R. (2016). Stories in midwifery: Reflection, inquiry, action, Elsevier, Sydney.
Dalzell, J., Rogerson, E. & Martindale, L. (2010). Breastfeeding: contemporary issues in practice and policy, Radcliffe, Oxford.
Kingsley, E.A & Wheeler, B.J. (Eds.). (2020). Breastfeeding: Short and Long-Term Benefits to Baby and Mother. MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, Western Sydney.
Melo, K. S. (2020). New research on breastfeeding and breast milk . Nova Medicine & Health, New York.
Riordan, J. & Wambach, K. (2015). Breastfeeding and human lactation, 4th edn, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury.
Quatraro, R. M., & Grussu, P. (2020). Handbook of perinatal clinical psychology: from theory to practice (English ed.). Routledge, New York.
Other resources
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