Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
Course Title: Newborn Provision of Care
Credits: 0.5
Course Description: This course covers the care of the newborn during its transition into
extrauterine life and in the weeks after birth. Emphasis is placed on understanding the normal
physiology of newborn transition, and how this understanding relates to care provided by the
midwife. Management of common concerns and routine post-natal care is also included in this
course. This course uses current research in midwifery and obstetrics to broaden the student’s
understanding of the following NARM skills and MANA core competencies learned under
clinical supervision:
NARM Skills:
I. Midwifery Counseling, Education and Communication
(1)-I A. Provides interactive support and counseling and/or referral services to the mother
regarding her relationships with her significant others and other healthcare providers
(6)-I F. Educates the mother concerning the natural physical and emotional processes of
pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum
(7)-I G. Applies the principles of informed consent
(8)-I H. Provides individualized care
(9)-I I. Advocates for the mother during pregnancy, birth and postpartum
I J. Provides education, counseling and/or referral, where appropriate for:
(19)-I J 10. Newborn care including normal/abnormal newborn activity, responses, vital signs,
appearance, behavior, etc
(135)-V E. Provides direction for care of circumcised and uncircumcised penis
VII. Well-Baby Care
(149)-VII A. Provides well-baby care 2-6 weeks
(151)-VII C. Provides treatment for common newborn conditions such as cradle cap, diaper rash,
thrush and colic
MANA Core Competencies:
I. Guiding Principles of Practice.
The midwife provides care according to the following principles:
1 A. Midwives work in partnership with women and their chosen support community throughout the
care giving relationship.
1 B. Midwives respect the dignity, rights and the ability of the women they serve to act responsibly
throughout the care giving relationship.
1 D. Midwives understand that physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual factors
synergistically comprise the health of individuals and affect the childbearing process.
1 F. Midwives understand that the childbearing experience is primarily a personal, social and
community event.
1 H. Midwives recognize the empowerment inherent in the childbearing experience and strive to
support women to make informed decisions and take responsibility for their own well-being.
1 J. Midwives synthesize clinical observations, theoretical knowledge, intuitive assessment and
spiritual awareness as components of a competent decision making process.
1 K. Midwives value continuity of care throughout the childbearing cycle and strive to maintain
continuous care within realistic limits.
1 L. Midwives understand that the parameters of “normal” vary widely and recognize that each
pregnancy and birth is unique.
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
II. General Knowledge and Skills
The midwife provides care incorporating certain concepts, skills and knowledge from a
variety of health and social sciences including, but not limited to:
2 C. Community standards of care for women and their developing infants during the childbearing
cycle, including midwifery and bio-technical medical standards and the rationale for and limitations
of such standards
2 M. The ability to develop, implement and evaluate an individualized plan for midwifery care.
2 N. Woman-centered care, including the relationship between the mother, infant and their larger
support community.
2 O. Knowledge and application of various healthcare modalities as they apply to the childbearing
cycle
IV. Care During Labor, Birth and Immediately Thereafter
The midwife provides health care, support, and information to women throughout labor,
birth and the hours immediately thereafter. She determines the need for consultation or
referral as appropriate. The midwife uses a foundation of knowledge and/or skill which
includes the following:
4 L. Understanding of and appropriate support for the newborn's transition during the first minutes
and hours following birth.
VI. Newborn Care
The entry-level midwife provides health care to the newborn during the postpartum period
and support and information to parents regarding newborn care. She determines the need
for consultation or referral as appropriate. The midwife uses a foundation of knowledge
and/or skill which includes the following:
6 A. Anatomy, physiology and support of the newborn’s adjustment during the first days and weeks
of life
6 B. Parameters and methods for evaluating newborn wellness including relevant historical data
and gestational age.
6 C. Nutritional needs of the newborn.
6 D. Community standards and state laws regarding indications for, administration of, and the risks
and benefits of prophylactic bio-technical treatments and screening tests commonly used during
the neonatal period.
6 E. Causes of, assessment of, appropriate treatment and emergency measures for neonatal
problems and abnormalities.
Learning Activities:
A. Student reads appropriate sections from the Learning Materials/Resources.
B. Student answers the questions listed in the Learning Objectives by researching the
Learning Materials/Resources for the course and correctly cites the sources and page
numbers for each of their answers.
C. Student presents answers the questions listed in the Learning Objectives for review by
preceptor.
D. Student participates in preceptor elaboration/discussion of Learning Objectives.
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
E. In the case that the required texts are more than 5 years old, the student must research,
prepare & present a summary of current best midwifery care/practices appropriate to a
topic covered in this course from a current journal article/study, less than 5 years old.
F. Recommended Role-playing and/or Clinical Interactions
Note: The clinical requirement of NARM /Clinical Skills is completed at any time
throughout the ASM apprenticeship during actual clinical practice and is NOT a
requirement to complete this academic course.
Activities specific to NARM skills learned in this section:
1. Role play with your instructor or another student all of the steps for immediate care
of the newborn at birth. Practice all the steps on a doll. Talk through your
observations and assessments.
2. Create a handout for your clients describing the anticipatory guidance for newborn
care in the first 24 hours of life.
3. Create a handout for your clients describing the anticipatory guidance for newborn
care from the second day of life through six weeks of age.
4. Role play with your instructor or another student how you would educate parents on
their options for routine newborn procedures and treatments immediately after birth.
Learning Materials / Resources:
Please use textbooks less than 5 years old or most recent edition.
1. Thureen, et al. Assessment and Care of the Well Newborn. 2nd ed. Elsevier Saunders.
2005.
2. Tharpe, Nell and Farley, Cindy. Clinical practice guidelines for midwifery and women’s
health. 3rd ed. Jones and Bartlett publishers. 2009
3. Fraser, DM, et al. Myles Textbook for Midwives. 15th ed. Churchill Livingstone Press.
2009.
4. Varney, Helen. Varney’s Midwifery. Fourth Edition. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 2004
rd
5. F. Cunningham, et al. William’s Obstetrics. 23 Edition. McGraw-Hill Professional. 2009.
6. Frye, Anne. Holistic Midwifery: A Comprehensive Textbook for Midwives in Homebirth
Practice, Vol. 2: Care of the Mother and Baby from the Onset of Labor Through the First
Hours After Birth. Labrys Press. 2004.
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
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7. Weaver, Pam and Evans, Sharon K. Practical Skills Guide for Midwifery, 4 Edition.
Morningstar Publishing Co. Wasilla. 2007.
8. MEAC Abbreviated NARM Skills Form.
9. MANA Core Competencies for Midwives
10. Midwives Model of Care®.
11. Students must find 1 article/study less than 5 years old. Recommended internet links
as needed for latest developments in midwifery care:
The Cochrane Collaboration
EBSCO
National Library of Medicine
PubMed
Medline
SCIRUS
Medscape
World Health Organization
Evaluation Tools / Methods:
Minimum passing grade for each course is a cumulative 80% / B-. Students and preceptors
are encouraged to work together until the student masters the information.
Final grade for the course is based on preceptor evaluation of the following:
A. Learning Objectives count for 80-90% of the final grade.
The preceptor evaluates each answer based on three elements:
1. Answers should reflect a thorough review of current literature regarding best
current practices in midwifery care.
2. Each answer should be formed in the student’s own words or paraphrased
from the text. The answer should be minimal, not a re-write of the entire text,
but enough to show appropriate comprehension of the learning objective.
3. Student identification of sources and page numbers for each of the Learning
Objectives. (Preceptor should do a random check to determine that sources
cited are correctly identified.)
B. Summary of current journal article / study counts for 10% of the final grade in the case that
other scholarly resources used are more than five years old.
C. Exam counts for 10% of the final grade.
Course credit:
One Academic credit equals approximately 15 hours of formal time plus 30 hours of additional
study or homework. Formal time is defined as the amount of time taken to answer the Learning
Objectives to the level of 80% and to complete any learning activities to the preceptor's
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
satisfaction, including any time spent face to face with the preceptor. Informal time includes
any time spent actively reading relevant sources and textbook/s, researching Learning
Objectives, and studying for examinations.
Learning Objectives:
A. The student must research, prepare & present a summary of an aspect of current best
midwifery care/practices appropriate a topic from this course from a current journal
article/study.
B. Student answers the questions below and cites the sources and page numbers.
1. Define the perinatal period.
2. Define the neonatal period.
3. Describe the process by which the neonate’s respiratory and circulatory system adapts
to extrauterine life.
4. Describe the process by which the neonate begins to thermoregulate during adaptation
to extrauterine life.
5. Describe the changes in acid/base balance that occur during a neonate’s adaptation to
extrauterine life.
6. Describe the changes in blood volume that occur during a neonate’s adaptation to
extrauterine life.
7. Describe the changes in glucose balance that occur during a neonate’s adaptation to
extrauterine life.
8. Describe the process by which the neonate’s gastrointestinal system adapts to
extrauterine life.
9. Describe the process by which the neonate’s renal system adapts to extrauterine life.
10. Describe the process by which the neonate’s hepatic system adapts to extrauterine life.
11. Describe the process by which the neonate’s immune system adapts to extrauterine life.
12. Describe the neonate's ability to deal with stimuli.
13. Describe the neonate's visual capacities.
14. Describe the neonate's auditory capacities.
15. Describe the transitional period of the newborn and discuss newborn reactivity during
this period.
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
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16. Describe the immediate care of the healthy newborn after birth.
17. Describe the importance of keeping the newborn warm after birth and how this is
achieved.
18. Discuss how the umbilical cord is cared for immediately following birth.
19. Describe the psychosocial needs of the neonate, mother, and family immediately
following birth and how the midwife facilitates these.
20. Describe how meeting psychosocial needs also meets maternal and infant physical needs.
21. Discuss the importance of delaying any (non-urgent) newborn procedures until at least
one hour after birth.
22. Describe how to best facilitate the initiation of the breastfeeding relationship between
mother and baby.
23. Describe the nutritional needs of the newborn immediately postpartum.
24. Describe the nutritional needs of the newborn in the first three days of life.
25. Discuss the nutritional needs of the newborn in weeks 1-5 of life.
26. Name the newborn procedures that are most often performed before the midwife
leaves.
27. Discuss whether or not it is important to bathe the newborn after birth.
28. Describe the anticipatory guidance that should be given regarding care of the newborn
postpartum.
29. Describe the status of the newborn that should be observed before the midwife
completes discharge postpartum.
30. Explain the normal course of newborn follow-up visits after the birth.
31. Discuss the how to direct parents in the care of both the circumcised and uncircumcised
infant’s penis.
32. Discuss the management of thrush in the newborn.
33. Discuss the management of colic in the newborn.
34. Discuss the management of diaper rash in the newborn.
35. Discuss the management of a newborn that is having a problem latching on to the
breast.
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
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36. Discuss the management for a newborn with cradle cap.
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