-
MWM100
Foundations of Maternity Care
This engaging module lays the groundwork for understanding the physiological and emotional journey of maternity care. You¿ll explore the fascinating world of human reproductive anatomy and hormonal changes, gaining essential knowledge about the normal processes of pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postnatal period. Whether you're preparing for a career in midwifery, nursing, or another support role, this module equips you with the scientific foundation to practice safely and confidently.
But maternity care isn¿t just about biology, it¿s also deeply personal. This module dives into the psychological and emotional transitions that individuals and families experience as they become parents. You¿ll examine how feelings, relationships, and identity evolve during this life-changing time, helping you develop empathy and insight into the lived realities of those you¿ll support.
Finally, you¿ll take a broader look at how culture, society, and structural systems shape maternity experiences. From inclusive care practices to woman-centred approaches, you¿ll learn to reflect critically and respond compassionately. This module encourages you to think beyond the textbook and embrace the complexity of real-world maternity care.
-
MWM101
Supporting Birth, Feeding and Early Parenting
This module equips learners with the essential knowledge and practical skills to support expectant families through labour, birth, infant feeding, and the early stages of parenting. Grounded in compassionate, rights-based care, students will explore the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of the childbearing journey. Aligned with Federation of Antenatal Educators (FEDANT) and National Occupational Standards (NOS), the module prepares learners for maternity support roles by developing core competencies in communication, advocacy, and evidence-informed care.
Whether you're new to maternity care or looking to deepen your understanding, this module offers a warm and inclusive learning environment where you¿ll build confidence in supporting families during one of life¿s most transformative experiences. Through hands-on practice and real-world scenarios, you¿ll learn how to provide comfort, promote informed choices, and respond sensitively to common concerns during birth and early parenting. It¿s about learning to be present, supportive, and skilled - when it matters most.
Ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of new families? This module is your gateway to a rewarding career in maternity care. With a focus on compassionate support and practical know-how, you¿ll gain the tools to advocate for parents, offer guidance through feeding choices, and be a steady presence during labour and beyond. Join us and become the kind of maternity support professional every family hopes to meet.
-
MWM102
Communication and Inclusive Practice in Maternity Care
This module provides students with the essential communication, safeguarding, and inclusion skills needed to thrive in maternity care support roles. With a strong emphasis on ethical awareness and professional boundaries, learners will explore how to work confidently and compassionately with diverse families across hospital and community settings. The curriculum is aligned with Federation of Antenatal Educators (FEDANT) and National Occupational Standards (NOS), ensuring students are well-prepared for roles such as doulas, antenatal educators, and maternity support workers.
Through engaging activities and real-world scenarios, students will develop interpersonal competence and learn how to apply communication theories in practice. You'll explore how empathic listening, reflective practice, and culturally safe approaches can transform maternity care experiences. The module also delves into safeguarding procedures and inclusive practice, empowering you to advocate for the rights of marginalised populations and support informed decision-making in sensitive and complex situations, and within multi-disciplinary teams.
If you're passionate about making maternity care more inclusive, respectful, and empowering, this module is for you. It¿s designed to help you build confidence, deepen your understanding of health promotion, and become a trusted support for families navigating pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. Whether you're just starting out or expanding your skills, you¿ll gain the tools to communicate with compassion and uphold the highest standards of care.
-
MWM103
Education, Identity and Practice in Maternity Support
This module empowers students with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to design, deliver, and evaluate inclusive perinatal education. Grounded in adult learning theory, reflective practice, and professional standards, learners will explore how to facilitate antenatal and early parenting sessions across diverse settings. The curriculum aligns with Federation of Antenatal Educators (FEDANT) and National Occupational Standards (NOS), preparing students for roles such as doulas, antenatal educators, and maternity support workers through a focus on ethical facilitation, professional identity, and sustainable support practices.
Students will engage with foundational theories of adult education and group facilitation, gaining the tools to create structured, accessible, and culturally sensitive learning experiences for expectant and new families. You¿ll explore the emotional labour and values that shape maternity support work, while building confidence to deliver health education that promotes informed decision-making and positive outcomes. Whether in hospitals, community centres, or online spaces, you¿ll learn how to lead with empathy and clarity.
If you¿re passionate about supporting families through education, this module is your chance to step into a meaningful role. It¿s designed to help you become a confident facilitator who can guide parents through the journey of birth and early parenting with compassion and skill. Join us to explore what it means to teach, support, and inspire, while shaping your own professional identity in the world of maternity care.
-
SHM136
Pregnancy and the Professional Midwife
Welcome to your journey into midwifery! This module is your starting point, introducing you to the role of the midwife as a professional, accountable, and autonomous practitioner, and exploring how midwives work across a range of maternity services and models of care to support women and families.
You¿ll begin to understand pregnancy as a healthy, physiological event in the life continuum, and learn how midwives play a vital role in optimising outcomes and promoting wellbeing throughout the pregnancy journey. Alongside this, you¿ll start developing essential midwifery skills, with a particular focus on continuity of care in the community and across the pregnancy continuum.
This module is designed to help you build a strong foundation both academically and professionally as you begin your training to become a qualified midwife. It¿s about developing your confidence, curiosity, and commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care.
-
SHM137
The Journey to Birth
This module deepens your understanding of labour and birth as a normal physiological process, while preparing you to provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care.
You¿ll explore the midwife¿s role in promoting health and wellbeing, supporting parents through education, and optimising the conditions for a positive birth experience and outcomes. Together, we¿ll examine how physical, psychological, and emotional changes during labour and birth interact, and how midwives can enhance these natural processes while preventing complications. Alongside this, you¿ll develop your knowledge of safe medicine administration and continue building your academic skills.
This module helps you connect theory with practice and supports your journey toward becoming a knowledgeable, reflective, and compassionate midwife ready to advocate for women and families and to promote positive outcomes throughout the birth experience.
-
SHM138
Beyond Birth: the transition to parenthood
Welcome to Beyond Birth: The Transition to Parenthood. This module explores the incredible changes that take place for women, newborn infants, and families after birth. You¿ll deepen your understanding of the midwife¿s role in supporting this vital transition, promoting wellbeing, and helping to prevent complications during the postnatal period.
You¿ll learn about the anatomy, physiology, and behaviour of both the mother and the newborn, including how babies adapt to life outside the womb and begin to develop in their earliest weeks. The module also explores infant feeding, early parenting, and the emotional and physical recovery that follow birth.
Through a blend of theory, practical learning, and digital engagement, you¿ll gain confidence in supporting parents with infant feeding, postnatal care and early bonding. You¿ll also begin to understand how genetics, epigenetics, and environment influence early development and family health.
This module will help you grow as a compassionate, reflective midwife who can provide safe, evidence-based, and family-centred care supporting parents and babies as they begin their journey together.
-
SHM248
Additional Care for Women with Complex Needs
This module equips you with the knowledge and skills to care for women experiencing pre-existing, current, or emerging complications during pregnancy and childbirth. You¿ll learn how to identify additional care needs and begin to apply first-line management strategies, while supporting women to make informed choices about their care.
You¿ll explore how complex needs can arise from a range of physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual factors, and how midwives work in partnership with women and families to promote safety, dignity, and positive outcomes.
The module also focuses on developing your ability to critically engage with evidence-based practice, using current research and statistical data to inform your clinical decisions. You¿ll further enhance your digital literacy, learning how to access, analyse, and share research findings confidently and professionally.
This module prepares you to provide safe, responsive, and inclusive care to women with complex needs building your confidence as a midwife who can navigate challenging situations with skill and compassion.
-
SHM249
Parenting and Neonatal Care: supporting additional needs
This module builds on your existing knowledge of postnatal and neonatal care, focusing on how midwives support families when complications or additional care needs arise during the transition to parenthood.
You¿ll deepen your understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the newborn, and learn to recognise when referral to the multidisciplinary team is needed to ensure safe, responsive care.
You¿ll explore potential complications related to fetal development, adaptation to life outside the womb, and very early child development, and consider how these impact both babies and their parents. The module also examines the midwife¿s role in supporting infant feeding, particularly when challenges emerge, and how to promote positive family attachment even in complex situations.
This module prepares you to deliver thoughtful, evidence-informed care to families with additional needs ensuring you can respond confidently and compassionately during one of life¿s most vulnerable and meaningful transitions.
-
SHM337
The Third Stage: Managing Clinical Complications and Becoming a Colleague and Scholar
This module supports your transition into professional midwifery practice, helping you develop the advanced knowledge and confidence needed to manage clinical complications and contribute to the wider healthcare community.
You¿ll explore how to identify, manage, and respond to emergencies in childbearing, building the skills and judgment required for safe, effective care. Learning focuses on recognising clinical deterioration, escalating appropriately, and working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
Alongside this, you¿ll strengthen your understanding of health promotion, research, and
evidence-informed practice. You¿ll learn to critically analyse and apply evidence, exploring how health inequalities, ethics, and social factors shape maternity care and outcomes.
This module prepares you to enter professional practice as a competent, reflective, and scholarly midwife equipped to lead, advocate, and deliver safe, equitable, and evidence-based care for women, newborns, and families.
-
SHM338
Becoming a Midwife - the final push
This final academic module marks the culmination of your midwifery journey, preparing you to step into autonomous professional practice with confidence, compassion, and leadership.
You¿ll explore the midwife¿s role as a compassionate leader and change-maker, learning how to influence care environments and improve outcomes for women, families, and colleagues.
The module focuses on leadership, quality improvement, and professional development giving you the tools to lead safely, ethically, and effectively within modern maternity services.
You¿ll also reflect on your personal and professional growth, preparing for employment and life-long learning as a registered midwife. By the end of this module, you¿ll be ready to graduate as a confident, reflective, and forward-thinking practitioner equipped to make a meaningful impact in the world of midwifery.
