What will I learn on this module?
As a midwife you will care for and support women, newborn infants and their families who require additional care. This module introduces you to the range of knowledge required to begin to recognise and care for women and their families with additional needs and their families throughout the childbirth continuum (SPM 4.1). You will study a range of subjects to facilitate this learning and support your development as a practitioner.
The module will introduce epidemiological data on local, national, and international prevalence and risk, to develop knowledge and awareness of additional care needs that may affect women, newborn infants, and families. This will include consideration of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality and initiatives such as Safer Births (SPM 4.2). The concept of health studied in semester one will be developed to consider ill health, health inequality and determinants of health (SPM 1.17.1, SPM 3.2).
You will be involved in first line identification, assessment and management of social, medical, obstetric, neonatal, and mental health complication for women, babies and families. Public health challenges such as obesity, alcohol and drug misuse will be explored alongside the impact of childbirth on long term health outcomes for women and neonates (SPM, 3.5, SPM 4.4.3). Common long term health conditions such as asthma and hypertension and their impact on pregnancy and childbirth will be considered (SPM 4.3). Learning activities will build on your understanding of normal physiology to explore the pathophysiology of these conditions. The role of the midwife in the care and management of these conditions will be explored alongside the role of other professionals and the need for referral, working collaboratively with parents and with other professionals and agencies when additional needs arise (SPM 2.9, SPM 4.9). Additionally, mental health and ill health will be introduced, including high prevalence concerns such as stress, anxiety and depression.
Your understanding of women’s health will be developed so that you understand common gynaecological conditions and sexually transmitted infections and their impact of women’s physical and emotional wellbeing (SPM 4.3). This will include an introduction to early pregnancy complications and loss (SPM4.11). Common neonatal conditions which occur within the scope of term newborn care will also be introduced so that you understand when referral may be appropriate (SPM 4.4.3).
You will develop knowledge around the cultural and spiritual elements that can create additional needs for women. The concepts of diversity and disability will be discussed considering the additional care needs for women and the role of the midwife in ensuring anti discriminatory practice (SPM 1.8, SPM 1.9). Approaches to inclusive practice will be further explored considering other protected characteristics such as ethnicity and differing health outcomes. You will be supported to reflect on your personal values and cultural awareness by the module team.
How will I learn on this module?
You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, and directed study. Activities will be blended to create a mix of face to face and online activities supported by the University’s Electronic Learning Platform Seminars will be smaller group sessions designed to facilitate collaborative team learning developing your inquiry and communication skills and signpost further reading and learning activities. There will be opportunities to reflect on learning in practice and to discuss the care needs of the women and the families you have met in your clinical learning on your programme thus far. Hearing the voice of the service user enables collaborative and partnership approaches with parents; the module offers opportunities to engage with service users (and/or their representatives) who have a diverse range of needs – for example those with learning disabilities. A range of resources will be used to consolidate your searching and retrieval skills, including technology enhanced learning.
You will be introduced to the University Library and the digital resources to support your academic development. A fundamental aspect of learning on the module will come from self-reflection of your own academic and professional development supported by your personal tutor.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
The module will utilise a flexible approach to learning whilst developing independence and confidence in your abilities to managing your own learning and development. Learning activities encourage you to set goals and reflect on your progress, working collaboratively to share resources.
Seminars utilise peer review and feedback as an introduction to the evaluative and feedback skills required for effective professional practice and lifelong learning. A group tutorial focuses on preparing you for the module assessment and there is a discussion board within the Electronic Learning Platform for individual queries. The module team will also provide support and feedback during learning activities and in relation to the module assessment strategy. Lecturers and Personal Tutors will also signpost you to support services available at the university.
The University Library can help you develop a variety of learning skills, including academic writing, academic reading, searching, and referencing.You can access the interactive training via the library webpages or the following link: http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/learning-skills
Ask4Help online (accessed through your student portal) provides a comprehensive range of answers to frequently asked questions and is of benefit to students as a central point of reference for information about many different topics. Ask4Help face to face service points are located at Coach Lane Library (ground floor).
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Identify and describe the social determinants of health and ill health across the childbearing continuum, from a local, national, and international perspective.
2. Recognise and understand the impact of a range of additional needs for women, neonates, and their families.
3. Describe the physiology and psychology of common conditions in women and neonates.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. Demonstrate the midwife’s role in recognising and caring for pregnant women, newborn infants and their families with additional care needs.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Identify personal values and demonstrate the self-awareness required to enable inclusive, respectful engagement with all women and their families.
How will I be assessed?
Formative Assessment
Informal formative assessment through formative knowledge quizzes, seminar feedback from peers and the module tutor(s).
Summative Assessment
Essay (2000 words) which addresses module outcomes 1-5 (100%) MLO 1, 2 ,3, 4 & 5
Feedback through ESAF platform via marking rubric and qualitative feedforward comments
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
This first year module will introduce you to a range of midwifery skills for contemporary practice. It will complement the universal care module in semester one. There will be an introduction to the key concepts around health and ill health and their influences on the childbirth continuum for a variety of perspectives. Whilst exploring a range of issues related to physical and psychological wellbeing of women and families. You will develop an appreciation a range of physical, psychological, cultural, and social care needs that may arise throughout pregnancy and childbirth, with consideration for perinatal mental health. Exploring women’s health to gain an understanding of some long-term conditions and gynaecology. There will be an introduction to effective collaborative working to consider the impact of inter-disciplinary teamworking. The module content is directly relevant to your practice experience and the achievement of the Future Midwife proficiencies (NMC, 2019). The module will be assessed via a 2000-word essay.
Course info
UCAS Code B725
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time (45 weeks per year)
Department Nursing, Midwifery & Health
Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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