Perinatal Mental Health and Wellbeing

Code

MIDW2016

School

Midwifery

Level

2

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

This course considers:

a)    Normal mental and emotional changes during pregnancy and childbirth
b)    Challenges to mental well-being to include antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal
c)    Contributing risk factors 
d)    Definitions of mental health disorders
e)    Guidelines / policies related to care of women with mental health
f)     Stigma  / social attitudes to mental health
g)    Care of women with mental health issues to include multi-professional team and other agencies
h)    Diagnosis and referral pathways
i)    Mental Capacity Act / women with learning disabilities
j)    Fetal Loss and Bereavement
k)   Spiritual Safety
l)    Serious Mental Illness, including Suicide

Target Students

Pre-registration student midwives

Classes

200 hours of learning delivered by a variety of methods, including self-directed study

Assessment

• 100% Assignment: Up to 3000 word written essay to assess knowledge and understanding

Assessed by end of designated period

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
1.    Differentiate between physiological and pathological mental health and the midwife’s role within the multi-professional team in the promotion of positive mental health in childbirth;

2.    Review the research into the effects of maternal-mental health conditions on the mother-baby dyad, examining the impact of fetal and neonatal loss on the family

Intellectual skills
3.    Apply evidence to the provision of care for women with a range of mental health needs.

Professional practical skills
4.    Demonstrate the skills for health promotion and the assessment of health needs;

5.    Apply knowledge to support women with mental health problems in the perinatal period and the impact of perinatal mental health on childbearing.

Transferable Skills
6.    Inter-professional working.

Conveners

• Ms Traci Hudson