MW4005 - Universal Care and Physiology of labour and birth

What will I learn on this module?

You will learn about the physiology and care relating to labour and birth. This will include physiology of labour processes, and universal care practices during this period, in keeping with the Framework for Quality Maternal and Newborn Care (QMNC) (Renfrew et al, 2014) and professional standards. You will learn about fetal and maternal wellbeing during labour and birth, transition from pregnancy to motherhood and transition from fetus to neonate. You will be introduced to pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain relief and other medications used during birth. In addition, you will consider the assessment, screening and care planning for mother and baby during labour, birth and the immediate postnatal period, utilising current evidence to support the approaches used. You will explore the values and professional attributes required to support a diverse population through labour, birth and the immediate postnatal period. All topics explored will be relevant to the beginning of your professional journey. You will be assisted to apply this knowledge in supporting and promoting physiological processes for childbearing women through class discussions of midwifery orientated case scenarios related to universal care.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through interactive lectures, seminars, practical, guided and independent learning. The lectures will cover theories that will enable you to complete guided work, which will then be discussed in seminar and practical sessions. Reflection on practice experiences will allow you to apply current evidence and ensure you are appropriately prepared for practice as a midwife.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will include feedback from tutors during group work within interactive lectures and seminars, which will allow questions to be answered promptly. The seminars will also provide an opportunity for you to receive feedback on how your academic abilities are developing. In class and online formative tests will be used throughout the module, to allow you to assess your personal learning. Extensive support is available online, as part of the University’s commitment to technology enhanced learning. This includes the use of BlackBoard Ultra as the electronic platform for all module content. Resources will be available to you on the electronic learning platform (BBU) and tutors may be contacted for support. A group tutorial will provide academic support focussed on the assessment task.

The University Libraries at both Coach Lane Campus and City Campus offer an extensive collection of material, both hard copy and electronic, access to international databases and training in information retrieval. The module will be supported by University library staff and resources, including study skills support packages. 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 include those located in both university libraries.

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. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Identify and describe the relevant theory and physiological processes that underpin care practices through which midwives may support labour, birth and the immediate postnatal period.
2. Discuss the care required to monitor the wellbeing of a woman and her fetus/neonate during labour, birth and the immediate postnatal period.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Reflect on the professional practice required to establish working relationships with women, their families and other professionals within the boundaries of the NMC Code and Standards of proficiency for midwives

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Demonstrate an awareness of the professional attributes required to provide care which recognises the diversity of women’s circumstances and needs during labour, birth and the immediate postnatal period.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment:
Formative assessments will be available to you on BBU and via in class tests; to enable self-assessment of knowledge and understanding of relevant theory and physiological processes relating to labour, birth and the immediate postnatal period.

Verbal formative feedback will be provided in each taught session to enhance your understanding of professional practice relating to physiological processes and care of women during labour and birth, in line with the NMC Code and Standards of proficiency.

Summative assessment:

2000-word essay
MLO’s 1-4; 100%

Marking rubric and qualitative feedback in BBU.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

By working in partnership with women and families, midwives provide an essential role in supporting safe, physiological birth processes. During this module you will explore physiology and universal care processes that all women need during birth and the immediate postnatal period for positive outcomes. Discussions relating to the evidence informing care and practice will be embedded throughout the module. All module content will explore and account for social, emotional, spiritual and cultural differences relating to labour, birth and care experiences. Professional attributes and values will be core to all care discussed within the module.

Course info

UCAS Code B730

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time

School Healthcare and Nursing Sciences

Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2026

Fee Information

Module Information

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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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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We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

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