On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Examine the role of the midwife in the provision of woman centred midwifery care during late pregnancy, labour and birth and the immediate post-birth period.
2. Relate anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, labour and birth to the care of a woman.
3. Describe the parameters of normal in relation to maternal and fetal wellbeing during labour, birth and the post-partum period
4. Discuss how to facilitate normal physiological labour and birth and support the breastfeeding woman.
5. Discuss the roles of family members and support persons during labour and birth.
6. Identify strategies to facilitate culturally safe care for the woman, her partner and her family during labour and the immediate post-birth period
7. Identify strategies for providing culturally safe maternity care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their communities, in urban, rural and remote settings.
8. Describe the role of the midwife in the initial care and assessment of the infant at birth

1. Antenatal Care
- Caring for A woman postdates
- Individual and group-based education and preparation for birth and parenting; Groups with different needs (Adolescents, CALD women, Fathers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women)
- complementary medicine and alternative approaches to support for labour and birth
- promoting normal birth
- Normal birth Policies /Guidelines; Place of birth, Role of the birth support person / fathers, family and significant others, The impact of support on birth outcomes, Supporting the support person
2. Labour
- Continuing The partnership and Continuity of care
- Assessing labour - phone/Home/hospital
- identify culturally Safe labour and birth care
- Working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from other culturally diverse groups
- facilitating normal physiological labour
- positions for labour
- reducing perineal Trauma
- legal requirements of documentation in labour
- professional communication and listening effectively
3. Options for Pain Relief in Labour and Birth
- facilitating normal birth
- preparation for birth
- positions for birth
- Welcoming The newborn
- Maternal/infant interactions
- Understanding The APGAR score
- Actioning The plan for birthing The placenta (physiological and active)
4. Care Following Birth
- Maternal and newborn assessment and observations
- inspection of The placenta with The woman/family
- cultural practices around The placenta
- The evidence for skin to skin and The nine instinctive stages
- The initial breastfeed Maternal / infant attachment
- The family - cultural celebrations, support siblings, grandparents, family dynamics