Maternity Care Support QQI L5

Participant Profile:
This programme module aims to equip the learner with the knowledge, skill and competence to assist the midwife in caring for mothers, babies and the family unit. This is a classroom based course NOTE: Skills to Advance funding is available for eligible applicants in employment to up skill. Contact mulgravesta@lcetb.ie for more information.

Programme Description:
• Discuss the philosophy of maternity care • Examine how certain elements of maternity care enhance the Experience of mothers, babies and the family, to include non-judgmental attitudes, individualised care, consistent information, good communication and advice and choice • Summarise the physical, emotional and social needs of the mother during the ante partum, intra partum and post-partum periods • Discuss the benefits of breast feeding while allowing for individual choice • Investigate the importance of infection prevention and control in the maternity care setting • Examine the special needs of the family unit when a baby is diagnosed with a congenital abnormality • Describe the grief process in those affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or maternal death • Explore the impact of relevant current legislation and World Health Organisation (WHO) programmes on maternity care • Identify particular safety and security procedures in maternity care such as application and checking identity tags and operation of security systems to ensure security of babies • Give assistance to mothers in caring for themselves and their babies, to include the mother’s personal hygiene and comfort, baby hygiene, positioning, handling and feeding • Demonstrate a range of clinically related skills, to include preparation of clinical areas and trolleys for maternal and infant care and procedures, assistance of clinical staff during physical examination, measuring, testing and recording urine and reporting changes in mothers and babies condition to the midwife • Execute cleaning of and care for general and specialist equipment such as beds, mattresses, cots, bedpans, incubators, resuscitation equipment, theatre equipment and feeding equipment • Maintain stock levels of specialist maternity stores and equipment • Execute appropriate responses to identified emergency situations experienced by mother or baby to include reporting, patient positioning and clearing of an airway.