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Complicated Maternities - HEA00079H

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  • Department: Health Sciences
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module will run

None

Module aims

  • To enhance the midwife's knowledge and skills in relation to the care of women and babies whose pregnancy and/or birth is complicated by either medical, obstetric or psychological factors.
  • To critically examine the management of care by 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. Critically analyse the concept of complication, abnormality and the concept of risk in pregnancy and childbirth.
  2. Debate the ethical dilemmas involved in the management of complicated maternities.
  3. Examine the physical and pathological conditions which impact upon the woman's physiological adaptation to pregnancy and experience of childbirth and fetal development and neonatal well-being.
  4. Examine the etiology, development and inter-professional management of obstetric conditions which may be detrimental to maternal and fetal/neonatal health.
  5. Critically analyse the role of the multi-professional team in the care of the family unit following the birth of a sick or preterm neonate.
  6. Critically evaluate the pharmacology and complementary therapies in the care of a woman/newborn

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100.0

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100.0

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.
  • Fraser, D.M. and Cooper, M.A. (Eds.). (2009). Myles' textbook for midwives. 15th edn. London: Churchill Livingstone. 
  • Frith, L. and Draper, H. (2003). Ethics and midwifery: issues in contemporary practice. 2nd end. London: Elesvier.
  • Jordan, S. (2002). Pharmacology for midwives - the evidence base for safe practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
  • Mander, R. (2006). Loss and bereavement in childbearing. 2nd edn. London: Routledge.
  • 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 constantly explores 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. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.