Curriculum Information

In this module students will be introduced and enabled to develop a firm grounding in the anatomy and physiology that underpins midwifery practice.

Topics include: The musculoskeletal system, endocrine system, special senses, cells and tissues, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, renal system, immunity, microbiology and infection control, digestive system, nervous system, genetics, thermoregulation, and wound healing. These systems will also be explored in relation to adaptions during pregnancy.

Specific to midwifery additional topics covered will include: The female pelvis and pelvic floor, mechanisms of labour, physiology of labour, physiology of pain in labour, reproductive systems, conception, fertilisation and fertility, embryology, the fetal skull, fetal circulation, placenta and placentation and the puerperium.

Moreover, a holistic approach will be adapted situating midwifery care within genomics, (what it means for them, their clinical practice and for those whom they care). The epigenetics of child, young person and adult will be explored alongside the impact of pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum periods, fetal development, adaptation to life, the newborn infant and early child development.

Psychological, behavioural, and cognitive factors related to the above will also be explored as well as the transition to parenthood and positive family attachment. In addition, students will be challenged to consider how best to optimise normal physiological processes. Screening and diagnostic tests for childbearing individuals and infants will be considered as well as the ethical challenges that maybe faced.
Underpinning this module will be the development of the knowledge to enable students as practitioners to provide childbearing individuals with individualised care planning and integrated assessments to optimise normal physiological processes.