MIDI6591
10 units
6000 level
Course handbook
Description
This course builds upon basic knowledge provided in pre-registration midwifery courses. It concerns how to optimise the biological, environmental, social, emotional and psychological factors that interact to create the conditions that women and babies experience during the childbearing year.Topics review and extend students understanding of normal psychophysiology and factors which optimise maternal and fetal health from prior to conception to six weeks postpartum. This encompasses pre-conceptual health and nutrition of both parents. Genetics and epigenetics are reviewed to consider the impact of the women's environment on her physical and emotional health and the way in which this can affect the baby's growth and development. The ideal birth environment is critically examined with reference to the birth space, mindfulness and the role of the midwifery guardian in creating and maintaining a safe and nurturing environment. Inter-professional collaboration is optimising normal physiology of labour, birth, bonding and breastfeeding is examined with particular reference to cortisol, adrenaline, oxytocin, prolactin and endorphin. The provision of woman-centred midwifery care, design of birthing services and related policy and practice is evaluated.
Availability2024 Course Timetables
Online
- Trimester 3 - 2024
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
1. Critically discuss pre-conceptual counselling in relation to the health and nutrition for both parents and its impact on future offspring.
2. Identify the social, emotional, psychological and physical environmental factors that effect genetic expression and maternal/fetal well-being.
3. Critically analyse the conditions that optimise the normal maternal and fetal psychophysiology during pregnancy, labour, birth and the immediate postpartum including the role of the midwifery guardian, birth territory and inter-professional collaboration.
4. Synthesise knowledge on the initiation and regulation of labour as a holistic phenomenon, with particular emphasis on the role that the autonomic nervous system and hormonal cascade play in mediating the physiology of labour, birth, breastfeeding and bonding.
5. Evaluate the policy and practice of implementing woman-centred care and birthing services and the ability to provide primary level midwifery care within a tertiary level facility.
6. Critically reflect on own midwifery practice to examine the care you provide that either honours or diverts a woman's pathway towards optimal birth in her particular circumstances.
Content
Module 1: Revision - understanding maternal and infant psychophysiology
Module 2: Pre-conceptual counselling, and impact of the woman's environment on genetic expression and maternal and fetal psychophysiology during the childbearing year
Module 3: Impact of the birth environment on the physiology of labour, birth and breastfeeding including the production, regulation and interactions of cortisol, adrenaline, oxytocin, prolactin and endorphin
Module 4: Inter-professional collaboration and the policy and practice of implementing women-centred midwifery care and birthing services
Assumed knowledge
A Bachelor degree in Midwifery (or equivalent) or completion of a Graduate Diploma in Midwifery together with current midwifery registration and minimum of one year postgraduate experience.International Applicants must be a registered midwife or a registered nurse working in a maternity environment in their own country, with a minimum of one year's experience as documented in a professional curriculum vitae.Principles of investigative approaches in midwifery concepts and theories relevant to practice, contemporary nursing or midwifery issues. Academic reading and writing skills, ability to access and evaluate information from a variety of sources, skills in critical analysis, critical judgement, synthesis and evaluation.
Assessment items
Quiz: Assessment 1 - Quiz
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.
Written Assignment: Assessment 2 - Written Assignment
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.
Written Assignment: Assessment 3 - Written Assignment
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.
Contact hours
Trimester 3 - 2024 - Online
Online Activity-1
- Online 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s)
Self-Directed Learning-1
- Self-Directed 8 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s)
Course outline
Course outline not yet available.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.