EHPLE Midwifery study plan

Build a one-page antenatal schedule map linking each routine visit window (booking, 10-13 weeks, 18-20 weeks, 25-28 weeks, 31-34 weeks, 36 weeks, 38-41 weeks) to the specific assessments and screening offered at that point, citing the rationale for each.

Explain in writing the physiological adaptations of pregnancy by system (cardiovascular, haematological, respiratory, renal, endocrine, musculoskeletal) and state for each adaptation one normal finding that can mimic pathology and how to distinguish it.

Practise interpreting antenatal red-flag vignettes: write 12 short case stems (e.g. itching with abnormal liver enzymes, reduced fetal movements, symphysis-fundal height lagging by 3 cm, painless bleeding at 32 weeks) and for each record the differential, the immediate action, and the referral pathway.

Map the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia without and with severe features, HELLP, eclampsia) onto a single comparison table covering diagnostic criteria, maternal and fetal risks, and first-line management principles.

Draft a personal list of the 15 antenatal facts you are least confident about and mark each as 'know', 'verify', or 'unknown' after checking a current guideline.

Interpret 10 cardiotocograph traces and biophysical/Doppler-style scenarios drawn from written descriptions, assigning each a category (normal, suspicious, pathological) and justifying the call with the defining features.

Compare the screening and diagnostic pathways for gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, rhesus alloimmunisation, and preterm birth risk, noting the gestational timing and the test that confirms each diagnosis.

Summarise the midwifery management of early pregnancy complications: miscarriage types, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, and hyperemesis, with the safety-netting advice given to each woman.

Explain the antenatal counselling content for a woman with a multiple pregnancy, including chorionicity determination, surveillance schedule, and preterm birth planning.

Write 20 single-best-answer questions on antenatal care and answer them closed-book, then review every wrong answer and record why the correct option is correct.

Describe the mechanism and physiology of each stage of labour, including cervical change, myometrial contractility, fetal axis accommodation, and the cardinal movements of birth, and explain how each contributes to progress.

Build a decision tree for interpreting fetal heart rate patterns: baseline rate, variability, accelerations, decelerations (early, variable, late, prolonged), and the action required at each level of concern, including intrauterine resuscitation measures.

Analyse 10 written labour-progress scenarios (e.g. prolonged latent phase, arrested dilatation, second-stage delay, suspected obstructed labour) and state the diagnosis, immediate midwifery actions, escalation, and options for augmentation or operative birth.

Summarise the evidence-based care of a woman in spontaneous labour: mobility and positioning, hydration and nutrition, continuous support, pain relief options and their effects on labour and the fetus, and perineal protection at birth.

Explain the midwifery response to the obstetric emergencies of shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse, uterine rupture, and postpartum haemorrhage, listing the actions in the order they would be performed.

Sequence the newborn resuscitation algorithm for a term and a preterm infant, stating the assessment, the intervention, and the timing at each step, including when to consider positive pressure ventilation, chest compressions, and medications.

Explain the Apgar score components and their limitations, and distinguish the Apgar score from the decision to resuscitate.

Describe the physiological transition from fetal to neonatal circulation and identify the clinical signs of delayed transition.

Summarise the initial newborn assessment: tone, breathing, colour, temperature, heart rate, and the examination findings that require urgent referral.

Answer 25 mixed intrapartum and neonatal questions under timed conditions and review the rationale for each answer.

Map the postpartum physiological changes by system across the first 6 weeks and link each to the observation or assessment a midwife performs.

Explain the assessment and management of the common breastfeeding problems (engorgement, sore or damaged nipples, mastitis, low milk supply, oversupply) and the referral triggers for each.

Describe the components of the newborn examination, including the hips, eyes, heart, spine, and skin, and list the findings that mandate referral.

Summarise the prevention, recognition, and management of postpartum haemorrhage and puerperal sepsis, including the observations that trigger escalation.

Explain the principles of newborn feeding, including the physiology of lactation, skin-to-skin contact, and the support of exclusive breastfeeding.

Build a drug reference table for the medicines most relevant to midwifery practice (oxytocin, ergometrine, carboprost, misoprostol, magnesium sulphate, antibiotics, anti-D immunoglobulin, vitamin K, and common analgesics), covering indication, route, dose range, key contraindications, and monitoring.

Explain the principles of safe prescribing and medicines administration, including the prescription requirements, the meaning of off-label use, and the midwife's responsibilities for a medicine prescribed by another clinician.

Describe the pharmacological management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, including magnesium sulphate toxicity and its antidote, and the monitoring required.

Explain the pharmacology of the common methods of pain relief in labour and the effects of each on the mother and the fetus.

Answer 15 pharmacology questions and write a short justification for each answer.

Explain the legal and ethical framework of midwifery practice, including consent, capacity, confidentiality, record keeping, and the duty of candour, and apply each to a short scenario.

Describe the safeguarding process for a woman or baby at risk, including the recognition of indicators, the referral pathway, and the midwife's documentation responsibilities.

Explain the principles of professional accountability, including the scope of practice, delegation, supervision, and the reporting of concerns about colleagues.

Apply the mental capacity framework to a pregnant woman refusing a recommended intervention and write the reasoning step by step.

Answer 15 ethics, law, and safeguarding questions and record the principle behind each correct answer.

Summarise the health-promotion content relevant to midwifery: preconception care, folic acid, vitamin D, smoking and alcohol cessation, immunisation in pregnancy, and the promotion of breastfeeding.

Explain the sexual and reproductive health topics relevant to midwifery practice, including contraception after birth, sexually transmitted infection screening, and the support of a woman following pregnancy loss.

Complete two full-length mock examinations under timed conditions and review every incorrect answer.

Revisit your personal list of uncertain facts and resolve each one, recording the source.

Write a final one-page summary of the highest-yield facts across all eight domains.