NMHS20700

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

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Teaching methods:
Lecture Face to Face Virtual, Asynchronous, group discussions, role play, reflective learning, enquiry & problem-based learning, case-based learning student presentations

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy

 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

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.

Baker, P., Smith, J.P., Garde, A., Grummer-Strawn, L.M., Wood, B., Sen, G., Hastings, G., Pérez-Escamilla, R., Ling, C.Y., Rollins, N. and McCoy, D., 2023. The political economy of infant and young child feeding: confronting corporate power, overcoming structural barriers, and accelerating progress. The Lancet, 401(10375), pp.503-524.

Brown, A. Jones, W. (2020) A Guide to supporting Breastfeeding for the Medical Profession. London: Routledge

Frawley, T. and McGuinness, D., 2023. Dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D‐MER) and its implications for mental health nursing. International journal of mental health nursing, 32(2), pp.620-626.

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)

McGuinness, D., Coughlan, B. and Power, S., 2014. Empty arms: supporting bereaved mothers during the immediate postnatal period. British Journal of Midwifery, 22(4), pp.246-252.

McGuinness, D., Frazer, K., Brennan, S., Bhardwaj, N., Cornally, P., Mhurchu, S.N., Cantwell, M., Pardy, A., McHugh, L., Cullen, W. and Vickers, N., 2025. Breastfeeding related knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices of primary healthcare professionals in Ireland: A national cross-sectional survey. PloS one, 20(4), p.e0320763.

O'Connell, M.A., Leahy‐Warren, P., Kenny, L.C., O'Neill, S.M. and Khashan, A.S., 2019. The prevalence and risk factors of fear of childbirth among pregnant women: A cross‐sectional study in Ireland. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 98(8), pp.1014-1023.

O'Connell, M.A., Leahy‐Warren, P., Khashan, A.S., Kenny, L.C. and O'Neill, S.M., 2017. Worldwide prevalence of tocophobia in pregnant women: systematic review and meta‐analysis. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 96(8), pp.907-920.

Paul, P. and Chouhan, P., 2020. Socio-demographic factors influencing utilization of maternal health care services in India. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 8(3), pp.666-670.

Paul, G., Vickers, N., Kincaid, R. and McGuinness, D., 2024. ‘It’s far from the norm’: breastfeeding beyond 1 year in the Republic of Ireland. Health Promotion International, 39(4), p.daae088.

Peahl, A.F., Smith, R.D. and Moniz, M.H., 2020. Prenatal care redesign: creating flexible maternity care models through virtual care. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 223(3), pp.389-e1.

Pérez-Escamilla, R., Tomori, C., Hernández-Cordero, S., Baker, P., Barros, A.J., Bégin, F., Chapman, D.J., Grummer-Strawn, L.M., McCoy, D., Menon, P. and Neves, P.A.R., 2023. Breastfeeding: crucially important, but increasingly challenged in a market-driven world. The Lancet, 401(10375), pp.472-485. (revised)

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

Pramono, A., Smith, J. and Desborough, J., 2025. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding programs: applying the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Spread, Scale up, Sustainability (NASSS) health technology adoption framework to analyze challenges to hospital implementation in Australia and Indonesia. International Breastfeeding Journal, 20(1), p.62.

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.

Steen,M. (2025) The Handbook of Midwifery Research. Wiley, USA/UK.

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.

Whelan, C. 2025. Practical Breastfeeding. An Illustrated guide for parents. Canbury, London.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.