Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
● identify promptly ‘at risk’ infants in the neonatal period, and the factors that may pre-dispose them to a deviation from the expected norm, and communicate this information effectively to parents and relevant members of the multidisciplinary team.
● identify/prevent/ameliorate feeding challenges where a baby’s condition is complicated or the baby is unable to feed, in collaboration with the baby's parents/caregivers and the multidisciplinary team.
● recognise symptoms of the major congenital, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and endocrine disorders that can occur in the neonatal period, and initiate timely referral to senior midwifery and medical personnel for specialised care and treatment.
● recognise signs of respiratory or circulatory compromise, and can initiate resuscitation measures.
● develop and implement an evidence-based, family-integrated plan of midwifery care for an unwell or at-risk neonate, in collaboration with the baby's parents/caregivers and the multidisciplinary team.
Indicative Module Content:
Indicative Content (theory)
The scope of midwifery practice in neonatal care settings;
the pre-term baby;
small for gestational age and fetal growth restriction;
ethical and legal considerations in neonatal care - periviability; stillbirth, and early neonatal death;
genetic and chromosomal disorders; congenital/structural disorders;
neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and FAS;
safeguarding and child protection issues in neonatal care incl. iatrogenic, accidental and non-accidental injuries;
disorders of the skin & musculoskeletal system;
multiple pregnancy – twins, triplets etc;
the essentials of family-integrated care; neonatal palliative care; essentials of neonatal transport;
disorders of transition to extrauterine life incl. SUPC and review of neonatal resuscitation;
disorders of thermal stability; disorders of metabolic stability incl. hypoglycaemia;
infections of the fetus and neonate;
neurological disorders incl. seizures, HIE;
respiratory disorders incl. TTN and RDS;
haematological disorders incl. Rh and ABO incompatibility;
nutrition and feeding of the sick and/or preterm neonate;
BSc stage 3 shared research theory - revision of the evidence hierarchy; meaning, efficacy, and association study methodologies.
Indicative Content (skills)
Feeding strategies for the sick/preterm baby;
identifying newborn seizures;
examination and assessment of the unwell baby;
urine collection and testing;
Finnegan (NOWS/NAS) scoring;
breaking bad news;
refresher of the initial steps of newborn resuscitation.