Accessibility statement

Complicated Maternities - HEA00027I

« Back to module search

  • Department: Health Sciences
  • Module co-ordinator: Miss Emma Clark
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
C Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

  • To prepare the student midwife to actively participate in the care of women and babies whose pregnancy and/or birth is complicated by either medical, obstetric or psychological factors.
  • To examine the management of care by the multi-professional team identifying the contribution made by team members and the role of the midwife in particular.

Module learning outcomes

This module will enable the student to:

  1. Analyse the concept of concept of risk, complication and abnormality in pregnancy and childbirth.
  2. Debate the ethical dilemmas involved in the management of complicated maternities.
  3. Discuss the physical and pathological conditions which impact on the woman's physiological adaptation to pregnancy and experience of childbirth and fetal development and neonatal well-being.
  4. Discuss the etiology, development and inter-professional management of obstetric conditions which may be detrimental to maternal and fetal/neonatal health.
  5. Discuss the role of the multi-professional team in the care of the family unit following the birth of a sick or preterm neonate.
  6. Evaluate the use of pharmacological and complementary therapies in the care of a woman/newborn when health is compromised.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Closed exam : Complicated Maternities Exam		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Reassessment exam: Complicated Maternities		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Students are provided with collective exam feedback relating to their cohort, within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.

Indicative reading

  • Billington, M. and Stevenson, M. (2007). Critical care in childbearing for midwives. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
  • Boyle, M. (Ed.). (2011). Emergencies around childbirth. Oxford: Radcliffe.
  • Klee, H., Jackson, M. et al. (2002). Drug misuse and motherhood. London: Routledge.
  • Frith, L. and Draper, H. (2003). Ethics and midwifery. Issues in contemporary practice. London: Elsevier.
  • Jordan, S. (2002). Pharmacology for midwives - the evidence base for safe practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
  • Macdonald, S. and Magill-Cuerden, J. (2011). Mayes Midwifery. A textbook for midwives. 14th edn. Edinburgh: Bailliere Tindall.
  • Nelson-Piercy, C. (2015). Handbook of Obstetric Medicine. 5th edn. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
  • Robson, S.E. and Waugh, J. (2013). Medical Disorders in Pregnancy A manual for midwives. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
  • Symon, A.E. (2006). Risk and choice in maternity care. Edinburgh: Elsevier.
  • Wilson, J. and Symon, A. (2002). Clinical risk management in midwifery. The right to a perfect baby. Oxford: Books for Midwives.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.