Midwifery Studies BSc (Hons)

This is the first of the modules in your programme to develop you as a student and a scholar in line with the NMC Future Midwife Standards. The module will give you a strong foundation in understanding midwifery as a profession, understanding yourself as an aspiring professional, and understanding the academic and scholarly skills you will need to progress through the programme and practice as a midwife.

You will learn about the professional expectations of midwives, drawing on the history of the profession and exploring the NMC Code and future midwife standards (SPM 1.7). Concepts such as consent, informed choice, raising concerns and confidentiality will be introduced within the framework of the Code, human rights, ethical concepts and UK Law (SPM1.14).

Self-reflection on your personal values, attitudes, emotional and physical wellbeing will enhance emotional intelligence, and how such factors may impact on your developing professional practice will be explored (SPM 1.19, 1.26, 1.27, 5.14), as will an introduction to communication skills. Communication will focus on the understanding of self and others with a focus on building effective relationships with women (SPM 1.11, 1.12, 1.14).

Preparation for academic study at university will be a key part of the module with opportunities to reflect on effective learning styles and study skills, academic writing and referencing skills (SPM 1.23). Understanding the university library and the resources available to support your scholarly development including digital literacy will be central to your preparation for academic life (SPM 1.23).

Evidence based practice is central to the professional expectations of midwives and the module will introduce sources of knowledge and types of evidence as well as the skills required to effectively search for and locate reliable information (SPM 1.4, 1.5). Differing approaches to research will be introduced as will practice development and improvement methodologies (SPM 5.16, 5.17).

Peer support will facilitate reflection on your personal and professional development and support you in creating a personalised learning plan to enhance wellbeing and professional capability (SPM 1.26, 1.27, 5.13.1).

This module will introduce you to the theories, models and concepts which underpin the provision of universal midwifery care.

You will be introduced to the universal care that is provided by midwives; this midwifery provision is to women, neonates, partners, fathers, young adults/adolescents and families at entry to, during, and on exiting the childbirth continuum (SPM 3.11, SPM 3.12.1, SPM 3.12.2, SPM 3.12.3, SPM 3.12.4). This will include principles of assessment and screening (SPM 3.20) and the role of the midwife in providing information and support for example about minor disorders, lifestyle changes during pregnancy and the care needs of the newborn (SPM 4.4.2, SPM 4.4.3). You will also learn about the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, the principles and knowledge to plan care for a woman in labour and the midwife's role in providing care after the birth for women and babies.

Physiological adaptations will be explored, including female and male reproductive physiology, changes in pregnancy, the process of labour and adaptations following birth. You will study the development of the embryo, placenta, fetus and newborn (SPM 3.13.1, SPM 3.13.2 SPM 3.13.3), as well as an overview of body systems, such as the cardiovascular and immune system.

Evidence based practice is central to the provision of midwifery care and the module will develop your ability to identify and use appropriate evidence to support your practice. Equally important will be the recognition of the diverse needs of women, partners and fathers and all topics will be considered with reference to the professional expectations of respect and inclusivity as described in the Code (NMC 2019) and the Future Midwife Standards (NMC 2019). You will study the principles of public health including an understanding of the concept of health and the role of the midwife in promoting health and heathy lifestyle choices and optimising normal processes across the childbirth continuum (SPM 3.5, SPM 3.21).

This module will introduce continuity of care as a fundamental part of the Future Midwife Standards (NMC, 2019) and a key concept in your development as a professional midwife. The module will build on your learning about universal care in semester one and engage you thinking about how midwives can promote and provide continuity of care. (SPM 2.5). Midwifery philosophy will be explored as you are encouraged to reflect upon your personal and developing professional values. The value of listening to women and women’s experiences (SPM 1.10) as evidence for midwifery practice, especially as evidence of the needs of those in vulnerable groups, will be discussed.

Holism as an approach to health and health care provision will be explored through considering primary health care and assessment of care needs for women, very young children (SPM 3.13.4, SPM 3.22) and families. Adolescent health and wellbeing (SPM 3.16.1) as transition from child to adult will be explored in the context of young mothers and fathers. Holistic approaches to care (SPM 2.7) will include topics such as spirituality and cultural awareness. Health promotion and parenting education (SPM 3.16.2) will also be introduced and applied to midwifery practice.

You will learn about the organisation of care within the maternity services, the history of the NHS (SPM 2.1) and current health and public health policy including Better Births and its foundation of personalised care through partnership working (SPM1.13). Differing models and approaches to midwifery practice (SPM 2.2) will be introduced and will be linked to exploration of care planning, place of birth and alternatives to NHS service provision. Central to this theme is the evidence base for continuity of care and the Quality Framework for Maternal and Neonatal Care (SPM 3.25).

You will be introduced to multi professional and multiagency working and explore the relationships and communication needed to provide seamless integration of health and social care (SPM 2.4). Topics will include team working, understanding others’ roles and the importance of professional communication You will have opportunities to explore how you demonstrate value and respect for each other through peer review developing skills in building relationships which promote wellbeing and develop capability.

As a midwife you will care for and support women, newborn infants and their families who require additional care. This module introduces you to the range of knowledge required to begin to recognise and care for women and their families with additional needs and their families throughout the childbirth continuum (SPM 4.1). You will study a range of subjects to facilitate this learning and support your development as a practitioner.

The module will introduce epidemiological data on local, national, and international prevalence and risk, to develop knowledge and awareness of additional care needs that may affect women, newborn infants, and families. This will include consideration of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality and initiatives such as Safer Births (SPM 4.2). The concept of health studied in semester one will be developed to consider ill health, health inequality and determinants of health (SPM 1.17.1, SPM 3.2).

You will be involved in first line identification, assessment and management of social, medical, obstetric, neonatal, and mental health complication for women, babies and families. Public health challenges such as obesity, alcohol and drug misuse will be explored alongside the impact of childbirth on long term health outcomes for women and neonates (SPM, 3.5, SPM 4.4.3). Common long term health conditions such as asthma and hypertension and their impact on pregnancy and childbirth will be considered (SPM 4.3). Learning activities will build on your understanding of normal physiology to explore the pathophysiology of these conditions. The role of the midwife in the care and management of these conditions will be explored alongside the role of other professionals and the need for referral, working collaboratively with parents and with other professionals and agencies when additional needs arise (SPM 2.9, SPM 4.9). Additionally, mental health and ill health will be introduced, including high prevalence concerns such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Your understanding of women’s health will be developed so that you understand common gynaecological conditions and sexually transmitted infections and their impact of women’s physical and emotional wellbeing (SPM 4.3). This will include an introduction to early pregnancy complications and loss (SPM4.11). Common neonatal conditions which occur within the scope of term newborn care will also be introduced so that you understand when referral may be appropriate (SPM 4.4.3).

You will develop knowledge around the cultural and spiritual elements that can create additional needs for women. The concepts of diversity and disability will be discussed considering the additional care needs for women and the role of the midwife in ensuring anti discriminatory practice (SPM 1.8, SPM 1.9). Approaches to inclusive practice will be further explored considering other protected characteristics such as ethnicity and differing health outcomes. You will be supported to reflect on your personal values and cultural awareness by the module team.

This module is the first of your programmed practice learning modules and enables you gain a strong foundation in understanding physiological processes to develop your clinical knowledge and skills towards becoming a ‘The midwife as Skilled Practitioner’ (SPM - Domain 6 proficiencies). This will enable you to support, care and work in partnership with women through all aspects of the childbirth continuum.

The emphasis of your learning will be the underpinning theory and clinical skills that are essential for safe and effective midwifery care. To do this you will work alongside clinical midwives to develop your interpersonal skills, to understand professional midwifery practice in the clinical setting (SPM 1.1, SPM 1.2) as well as consolidating the clinical skills you simulated within the university setting.

You will experience the 24-hour/seven-day care provision during your clinical practice experiences, enabling you to develop an understanding of women, their babies and family’s needs; the continuity requirement for you to follow the journey of a number of women through your first year enables you have an appreciation of maternity care from service users’ perspectives. You will work in partnership with women (under supervision) (SPM 3.23) to ensure a woman centred approach to care. Throughout the module, you will have the opportunity to reflect upon your skills and personal development, as an individual and as a group. This will also include preparation for placement including preparation for being supervised and assessed.

Safe practice is embedded in the module as you develop knowledge and skills such as infection control, life support, safe moving and handling techniques, and the management of medicines. Using case scenarios and reflection these will be applied to situations from your practice experience which include for example peri- operative care, surgical birth and neonatal care. Discussion will include an introduction to childbirth emergencies (SPM4.7. Patient safety, human factors and safeguarding will also be introduced as you begin to consider the wider aspects of healthcare provision and how midwives contribute and communicate within this context (SPM 1.24, SPM 2.10, SPM 3.15, SPM 5.6). The UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards will form an important part of the module too, in relation to infant feeding and early relationship building.

The theory and practice experiences you will encounter in this module will enable you to work towards the required NMC Standards of proficiency for midwives (Towards Domain 6 proficiencies). A variety of skills will be taught on this module including venepuncture, safe management of medication (including drug calculations via SafeMedicate) (SPM. 1.23, SPM 3.19), injection techniques, infant feeding including breastfeeding (positioning, attachment and hand expression) and safe artificial feeding (SPM 3.6), abdominal palpation and fetal heart auscultation, examination of the newborn, vital observations, infection prevention, control and antimicrobial stewardship (SPM 3.10,), and simulation of common labour and birth events. These taught skills enable you to rehearse the technical skill away from clinical learning and care provision so that you can have protected time for considering the theory and physiology that underpins these techniques. Opportunities for peer coaching will be available from across the midwifery programme to enhance learning experiences.