Description This unit introduces students to complexities in health that emerge during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period which require additional care when the health of the mother and/or neonate may be compromised. This module also focuses on the midwifery care of the sick neonate.
School Nursing & Midwifery
Discipline Midwifery
Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp
Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.
Restrictions Students must be enrolled in 4684 Bachelor of Midwifery.
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
Recognise biological and physiological complications that may emerge during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period or post surgical period for the woman.
Identify, discuss and act on abnormal laboratory test results; antenatal screening investigations; and maternal and fetal assessment for growth and wellbeing.
Discuss the assessment, planning and implementation of specific midwifery care for women and neonates with complexities.
Justify the midwife�fs role in the education and referral of the woman and her family in the ongoing care and safety of newborns with complex needs, and support services available using a Primary Health Care framework.
Explain the medications used in complex maternal and neonatal care.
1. Complexities that may emerge during pregnancy, labour and /or birth
- Complications in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy (such as ectopic pregnancy, abortion, hyperemesis)
- hypertensive disorders of Pregnancy
- Maternal infections/sepsis
- diabetes in Pregnancy
- haemorrhage - antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum
- Pre-term labour and birth, premature rupture of Membranes
- Disordered uterine action
- Induction/augmentation
- Malpresentations - face/brow presentations/transverse lie
- multiple Pregnancy
- Maternal obesity
2. Maternal complexities in the postnatal and post surgical period
- Postnatal Complications such as perineal Trauma, Urinary retention, infections, mastitis, breast abscess
- managing care of The post surgical complex woman eg hysterectomy
3. Vulnerable newborns and their care
- premature newborns
- neonatal Jaundice
- Respiratory distress
- neonatal infection
- Hypothermia
- Kangaroo care
4. Breastfeeding challenges for women with vulnerable newborns
- multiple births/premature infants
- A newborn in A special care unit/separation
5. Pharmacology for complex conditions
- describe The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medications used in complex Maternal and neonatal conditions
- describe The effect of medications on The fetus, The neonate and breastmilk
Assessment
The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.
Item
Length
Percent
Threshold
Individual/Group Task
Case Study
2000 words
50
N
Individual
Final Exam: End of session closed book examination consisting of MCQ, Short answer questions
2 hours
50
N
Individual
Prescribed Texts
Robson, S.E., & Waugh, J. (2013). Medical disorders in pregnancy: A manual for midwives. (2nd ed.). London, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
