Midwifery

Midwives are fully accountable as the lead professional for the care and support of women and their families. They provide evidence informed care and work as part of the multidisciplinary team, liaising closely where necessary with obstetricians, general practitioners, health visitors/public health practitioners and maternity support workers/maternity care assistants.

Midwives have a public health role aiming to meet the challenges of reducing inequities and improving maternal and family health. Midwifery education, whilst rooted in promoting physiological birth, prepares midwives to care for all women including those with complex medical, obstetric and social needs. It prepares and develops midwives to be skilled and safe, empathic and trustworthy, developing skills of autonomy and accountability within multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams.

Midwives provide holistic care, which requires them to be ‘with woman’. The 21st century midwife needs to understand and value the importance of one-to-one care, continuity and the critical importance of the midwife-woman relationship.

Key features

• Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) with eligibility to register with the NMC upon graduation enabling extensive career opportunities in the UK and worldwide (subject to country-specific criteria)

• The course is split evenly between theoretical teaching and practical placements, giving you the chance to develop your skills in NHS hospitals, midwifery-led units and community areas including the home birth team, with support from practising midwives

• You will study a range of topics to meet the NMC standards for midwifery education. This will enable you to be proficient in providing universal care to women with uncomplicated pregnancies and to care for women and babies with additional care needs. You will qualify with the NIPE qualification (Newborn and Infant Physical Examination)

• Benefit from an established breastfeeding clinic hosted by students and staff, where you can put theory into practice working alongside lecturers who are all qualified midwives

• Awarded Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation, acknowledging DMU’s high standard of breastfeeding education and equipping you with the skills needed to support new mothers

• Gain international experience related to your studies through our DMU Global programme, which has enabled students to understand the healthcare provision in Amsterdam, witness midwifery care in Peru and teach children about health-hygiene in India

FIRST YEAR:
Principles of Universal Midwifery Care
The Social Context of Childbearing
Biological Sciences and Child bearing
Practice Module One

SECOND YEAR:
Appreciating Research and Evidence in Midwifery Practice
The Newborn Infant
Additional Care Needs and Midwifery Practice
Practice Module two

THIRD YEAR:
Shaping and Advancing Midwifery
Preparation for Professional Midwifery Practice
Universal Care and Midwifery Practice
Practice Module Three

A wide variety of teaching and learning methods are used, putting you at the centre of learning. This includes enquiry based learning which encourages thinking and application of theory to practice.

You maintain an electronic professional portfolio throughout the course, which assists with your continuous assessment in practice. Theory is assessed by exams, assignments and presentations throughout.

You must attend all theoretical and practice-based teaching. The theoretical teaching is normally 30 hours per week but varies as the course progresses with more self-directed learning and additional reading.

Clinical practice placements are currently based on a 37.5 hour week but because of the shift patterns allocated they may be more one week and less the next.