Midwifery MSc

University of Bedfordshire

This two-year Masters is for registered adult nurses wishing to become a midwife and will prepare you to fully care for women/birthing people throughout pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. Your time on the course is split equally between practice and University, giving you the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge in the clinical environment. Theoretical knowledge is developed through simulation and scenario-based learning as well as lectures, seminars and group work.

What will you study?

Studying our Midwifery MSc course will equip you with the specialist knowledge and skills to care for women/birthing people through pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. In core areas of study, you will build an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of human development from conception to birth and onward into early childhood in our Universal Care and Human Development unit. On a biological level, you will explore how genes influence growth, development and the functioning of the human body and reproductive system. This will be particularly useful to understand how healthcare professionals screen for genetic disorders to ensure the best start in life for newborn babies.

You will also learn to build relationships with the birthing person and their families while respecting diverse cultural beliefs. To further develop your practice, Public Health and The Accountable Midwife will enable you to recognise and promote uncomplicated pregnancy while allowing you to explore midwifery practice in the public health arena. In Enhancing Quality and Safety in Midwifery, you will also learn to critically analyse research evidence to make informed decisions in providing care while drawing from areas such as epidemiology, public health strategies and safeguarding. In practical areas of study, Midwifery Care in Practice will introduce you to antenatal, labour and postnatal care as you develop your professional skills in an approved maternity placement.

Similarly, Proficiency in Midwifery Care will develop these skills further by allowing you to engage with practice assessments to demonstrate your ability to integrate knowledge and skills in midwifery. The Individualised and Additional Care unit will equip you to act, manage and escalate care in additional and emergency situations within maternity care by learning to anticipate situations that require urgent action and immediate response, and subsequently deliver first-line management through collaborating with the multidisciplinary team. To add to this, you will be encouraged to act as an advocate for women, birthing people, their families and newborn infants.

As a core part of your practice, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to examine newborn babies while also considering the needs of the woman or birthing person and their families in our Examination of the Newborn unit. Furthermore, Developing the Future Midwife will support you in developing your professional practice as a colleague and as a leader. You will recognise your strengths and limitations and learn to effectively communicate with colleagues and within teams. Finally, you will complete a Midwifery Project where you will be able to engage in a critical study into a chosen topic while using this opportunity to pursue an area of interest in the direction of your future practice.

Careers

On completion of this course, you can go on to work as a qualified and registered midwife within the NHS or as an independent midwife. It also gives you the potential to progress into leadership positions and specialist roles in clinical settings or follow a career in management, research and teaching.