Evidence-based Care for Normal Birth (Level 6, 20 credits)
Part-time
One semester
February 2025
In a nutshell
You can take this course as a single module for continuing professional development.
You will:
- increase your confidence to practice autonomously
- develop skills to promote normal birth
- become confident in challenging the medicalisation of birth
All about the course
The module will explore:
- Normal birth
- Physiology of birth
- Autonomy and the midwife
- Historical and contemporary influences on birth practices
- Importance of normal birth with reference to psychology (experiences of women and their families), sociology (impact on society, cultural issues), midwifery (the role of the midwife), public health (long-term outcomes)
- Different models of birth, social, biomedical, holistic
- Factors optimising a woman's chances of normal birth
- Midwifery skills to support difficult births
- The purpose of pain in labour
- Physiology and psychology of pain and pain relief
- Non-pharmacological pain relief: aromatherapy, reflexology, hypnotherapy
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real world impact.
Our courses are informed by the latest research and we work closely with organisations from both the public and private sector to ensure our teaching is at the forefront of practice.
What about after uni?
This module is available as standalone for the purposes of continuing professional development. You will also be able to develop your confidence to practice autonomously.
Career Links
We work with over 100 health and social care organisations so our links with industry are very strong. These relationships will be of direct benefit to you because our academic team work in practice in some of these organisations at a senior level so are able to keep you at the forefront of developments in the sector which in turn help you provide a better service.
What you need to know
Previous study and experience
You will need to have current professional registration in the UK and the ability to study successfully at Level 6.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time | 2025/26 | £925 per 20 credit module |
| Part-time | 2026/27 | £965 per 20 credit module |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.