Maternity nursing focuses on the care of women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as the health and development of newborns. It encompasses essential knowledge of female reproductive physiology, conception, fetal growth, maternal changes during pregnancy, and the care of both mother and child during antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum stages.
For nursing students, understanding maternity nursing is vital to providing safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care to childbearing families. This course equips students with the skills to support healthy pregnancies, recognize complications, assist in labor and delivery, and ensure optimal newborn care and nutrition—core competencies for both clinical practice and nursing licensure examinations.
Learning objectives
After the completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system and its role in fertility and conception.
- Describe common methods of contraception, their mechanisms of action, effectiveness, and nursing considerations.
- Summarize the processes of conception and fetal development, including key milestones from fertilization to birth.
- Identify normal physiological changes during pregnancy and their implications for maternal health.
- Outline the components of routine prenatal care, including assessments conducted during antepartum visits.
- Recognize complications that may occur during pregnancy and their potential impact on mother and fetus.
- Interpret the principles of intrapartum fetal monitoring and their importance in assessing fetal well-being.
- Discuss the stages of labor and delivery, as well as common complications that may arise.
- Explain essential aspects of postpartum care, including physical recovery and psychosocial adaptation.
- Describe newborn care, common complications, and nutritional needs, with emphasis on evidence-based feeding practices.
Course outline
- Female Reproductive Physiology
- Contraception
- Conception and Fetal Development
- Physiological Changes in Pregnancy
- Antepartum Care: Prenatal Visit
- Antepartum Care: Complications During Pregnancy
- Intrapartum Care: Fetal Monitoring
- Intrapartum Care: Labor and Delivery
- Intrapartum Care: Complications of Labor and Delivery
- Postpartum Care
- Newborn Care and Complications
- Newborn Nutrition
