Pregnancy and Childbirth aims to develop an understanding of pregnancy, fetal growth and function and their consequences in relation to the wellbeing of the...

Pregnancy and Childbirth aims to develop an understanding of pregnancy, fetal growth and function and their consequences in relation to the wellbeing of the mother and baby. The module covers pregnancy and childbirth including physiological changes in pregnancy, placental function and fetal growth, normal pregnancy and antenatal care, antenatal disorders, normal and abnormal labour, maternal mortality, neonatal survival, and psychiatric disorders in pregnancy, ethical dilemmas, and the effect of pregnancy on fetal and maternal outcomes.

After taking this module you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

• pregnancy and childbirth including physiological (maternal and fetal) changes in pregnancy

• placental function and fetal growth

• normal pregnancy and antenatal care, antenatal disorders, normal and abnormal labour

• maternal mortality

• neonatal survival

• psychiatric disorders in pregnancy

• how the fetus is adapted for life in utero and how adaptions in utero may influence the development of health and disease in later life

• the ethical issues relating to pregnancy.

The module consists of lectures taught by leaders in the field of pregnancy and childbirth, tutorials, a journal club discussing a topical research paper in maternal medicine, a debate session that stimulates critical assessment of the evidence underlying an important clinical topic, and a group discussion to develop awareness of and critically discuss issues in global maternal and fetal health.

A course for all Earth Science MSci students with an independent project relating to their specific degree programme, normally to include a literature review,...

A course for all Earth Science MSci students with an independent project relating to their specific degree programme, normally to include a literature review, an element of data acquisition or analysis (laboratory or field-based) and a proposal for future research.