Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be able to:
o Integrate knowledge of the physiological processes in the puerperium to the provision of evidence-based care to women and
their babies.
o Describe the role of the midwife in the provision of safe, effective, culturally sensitive, individualised midwifery care to women and their babies during the puerperium.
o Describe the importance of providing care in partnership with women and other care providers
o Differentiate between normal findings and deviations from normal and report/refer/respond appropriately.
o Develop the knowledge and skills to support women to breastfeed.
Describe infant feeding cultures, social and political and how these can influence feeding decisions.

Indicative Module Content:

Postnatal Care:

Physiology of the Puerperium
Assessment of Maternal Well-being – Postnatal
Perineal Trauma & Care of the Perineum
Episiotomy – After care/follow up
Parent/baby attachment
Transition to parenthood
Breastfeeding:
• Revision anatomy & physiology of breastfeeding
• Principles & mechanisms of attachment and positioning for effective feeding
• Recognise effective breastfeeding: Assessment of milk production and milk transfer
• Counselling/communication with breastfeeding mothers
• Expressing, storing & transport of breast milk
• Supplementation/Alternative methods of feeding (Cup feeding, syringe, supplementer)
• Early maternal breastfeeding challenges (Engorgement, sore nipples, cracked & bleeding nipples)
• Late maternal breastfeeding challenges (Blocked duct, mastitis, abscess, thrush)
• Medication and breastfeeding
• Maternal illness and breastfeeding
• Anatomical variation nipples & breasts (breast surgery)
• Contraception and breastfeeding LAM, Weaning
• Discharge planning
Discharge planning and advice
Six Week Postnatal Examination
Family Planning
Birth Registration
Bereavement care
Mental Health – postnatal blues, depression, psychosis

Related Clinical Skills:

Breastfeeding workshop: (Online Autumn Trimester due to Covid 19)
• Management of Breastfeeding (History taking, Position & Attachment, supply and demand, Cup Feeding, Hand Expressing) Postnatal examination
OSCE Workshop Online
Documentation:
• NMCMS
• Irish Maternity Early Warning Score (IMEWS)

Student Effort Type	Hours
Lectures	24
Practical	12
Specified Learning Activities	35
Autonomous Student Learning	54
Total	125

Not applicable to this module.

Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  

Description	Timing		Component Scale		% of Final Grade
Class Test: In class test to be completed throughout the module	Throughout the Trimester	n/a	Graded	Yes	30
Practical Examination: Video Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) = 70% Student midwives demonstrate a breastfeeding OSCE pre recorded video by student	Unspecified	n/a	Graded	Yes	70

 

Resit In	Terminal Exam
Summer	No

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

Students will receive feedback and feedforward during class preparation sessions. Once the exam results are published the students can arrange to meet the module coordinator for detailed feedback on both the OSCE and MCQ's.

Alberdi G, O’Sullivan E, Scully H, Kelly N, Kincaid R, Murtagh R, Murray S, Mc Guinness D, Clive A, Brosnan M, Sheehy L, Dunn E and McAuliffe F. (2018) A Feasibility study of a Multidimensional Breastfeeding Support Intervention in Ireland. Midwifery. (58) p. 86-92.
American Academy of Pediatrics (2022) Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Paediatrics’, 129 (3). 827-841.
Aaserud T, Tveiten S and Gjerlaug A. (2017) Home visits by Midwives in the early Postnatal Period. Norwegian Journal of Clinical Nursing.12: p.1-12.
Anderson, J., Kuehl, R. A., Drury, S.A.M., Tschetter, L., Schwaegerl, M., Hildreth, M., Lamp, J. (2015). Policies aren’t enough: The importance of interpersonal communication about workplace breastfeeding support. Journal of Human Lactation, 31(2), 260-266
Atabay, Efe, Moreno, Gonzalo, and Nandi, Arijit (2015) ‘Facilitating Working Mothers’ Ability to Breastfeed: Global trends in guaranteeing breastfeeding breaks at work’, Journal of Human Lactation, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 81–88
British Association of Perinatal Medicine (2017) Identification and Management of Neonatal Hypoglycaemia in the Full Term Infant. - A Framework for Practice.
Bruk-Lee, V., Albert, D., & Stone, K. L. (2016). Lactation and the working woman: Understanding the role of organizational factors, lactation support, and legal policy in promoting breastfeeding success. In Research perspectives on work and the transition to motherhood (pp. 217-239). Springer, Cham.
American Academy of Pediatrics (2012) Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Paediatrics’, 129 (3). 827-841. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827.full
Bramson L, Lee J, Moore E, Montgomery S, Neish C, Bahjiri K and Melcher C. (2010) Effect of Early Skin-to-skin Mother Infant Contact During the First Three hours following Birth on Exclusive Breastfeeding During the Maternity Hospital Stay. Journal of Human Lactation. 26: p. 130-137.
Brown, A. Jones, W. (2020) A Guide to supporting Breastfeeding for the Medical Profession. London: Routledge

Hale, T., Rowe, H.E. (2017) Medication and Mothers Milk. 17th Edition. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
HSE. (2016). Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016 – 2021. Health Service Executive: Tullamore
HSE (2017) National Maternity Strategy Revised Implementation plan 2021-2026. Available https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/
HSE. (2019). HSE National Infant Feeding Policy for Maternity and Neonatal services. Health Service Executive: https://www.hse.ie/file-library/infant-feeding-policy-for-maternity-neonatalservices-2019.pd
Ip S, Chung M, Raman G, et al. (2007) Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries. Evidence Reports/Technology Assessments, No. 153: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); Rockville (MD)
Pérez -Escamilla R, Martinez JL, Segura-Pérez S. Impact of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on Breastfeeding and Child Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Maternal Child Nutrition. 2016; 12(3): p. 401-417. Doi: 10.1111/mcn.12294.
Pickett, E. (2022) Supporting Breastfeeding Past the first Six Months and Beyond. London, Jessica Kinsley Publishers.
Pollard, M. (2023) Evidence Based Care for Breastfeeding Mothers. A resource for midwives and allied health care professionals. Third Edition, London: Routledge
Purdy, J., McAvoy, H. and Cotter, N. (2017) Breastfeeding on the Island of Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Health in Ireland.
Rollins N, Bhandari N, Hajeebhoy N, Horton S, Lutter C, Martinez J, Piwoz E, Richter L and Victora C. (2016) Why Invest, and what it will take to Improve Breastfeeding Practices? The Lancet. Vol. 387: p.17 - 30.

Rollins, N.C., Bhanderi, N., Hajeebhoy, N., Horton, S., Lutter, C.K., Martines, J.C., Piwoz, E.G., Richter, L.M. and Victora, C. G. (2016) Why invest and what will it take to improve breastfeeding practices. The Lancet; Vol. 387
Victora, C.G., Bahl, R., Barros, A.J.D., Franca, G.V.A., Hotron, S., Krasevec, J., Murch, S., Sankar, M.J., Walker, N., Rollins, N. C. (2016) Breastfeeding in the 21st Century: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. The Lancet; Vol. 387

Wambach K and Spencer, B. (2019) Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Enhanced 6th Ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett.
Walker, M. (2017) Breastfeeding Management for the Clinician. Using the Evidence. Second Edition. Boston: Jones and Bartlett

Name	Role
Dr Lorraine Carroll	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Margaret Folan	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Denise O'Brien	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Autumn
Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 1, 2, 6, 7, 9	Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 11	Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Laboratory	Offering 1	Week(s) - 3, 5, 12	Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 4	Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Exam Winter (ALU)	Offering 1	Week(s) - 12	Tues 10:00 - 12:50
Autumn