Postnatal Care of The Family and Promotion of Early Attachment (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

Course 5 cr. consists of:
Highrisk postpartumtime 1.5 cr, in the late autumn semester 2025 or in the early spring semester 2026, and postpartum check-up 0.5 cr , which takes place in small groups either in the early autumn semester 2025.
Breastfeeding instructor training 1.5 cr, which will take place in the autumn semester 2025.
Newborn nursing work 0.5 cr, which will be completed in the late autumn semester of 2025.
Maternal psychology and early interaction 1 cr, which will take place in the spring semester 2026.

Objective

The purpose of the course
In this course you will learn the midwifery theory of postpartum care of woman and her family

Competences of the course
Sustainable development
Professional competence in midwifery
Client competence in midwifery
Clinical competence as a sexual and reproductive health promoter midwife

Learning outcomes of the course
After completing the course, you will understand the principles and goals of sustainable development in guaranteeing the health and well-being of families who have given birth

You will understand and be able to justify the factors related to the safe encounter of women given birth and their families.

You will able to identify, assess, and anticipate factors that contribute to the sexual and reproductive health of women given birth, newborns and their families, as well as postpartum recovery and risks and complications after birth based on evidence.

You will know and able to justify the key midwifery interventions, methods of helping and digital solutions and technology in caring the woman, newborn and their family after birth.

You will be able to make empowerment-based and evidence-based decisions in planning and evaluating the multi-professional midwifery work of a woman, newborn and their family after birth.

Content

In this course you will learn the midwifery theory of postpartum care of woman and her family.
In this Study Course, you will familiarize yourself with the following themes:

The principles and goals of sustainable development in guaranteeing the health and well-being of families who have given birth
Legislation, recommendations and service system governing midwifery and nursing care for women who have given birth and families
Encountering and cooperating with a woman who has given birth and a family, and identifying and addressing difficult and sensitive issues
Principles, methods and main contents of sexual and reproductive health promotion of women who have given birth and families
Postpartum recovery, postpartum risks and complications, and nursing care for newborns requiring special monitoring
Midwifery interventions and nursing methods for women who have given birth, newborns and families
Evidence-based treatment process for the sexual and reproductive health of the woman who gave birth and the family
Supporting the relationship and sexuality for the woman who gave birth and the family
Supporting growth, early interaction and mental health in maternity parenting and family parenting, and maternal psychology
Competence in accordance with WHO breastfeeding counseling training
Postpartum checkup

Materials

Deufel M. & Montonen E. (toim.) 2017. Onnistunut imetys. Duodecim. e-kirja.
Deufel M. & Montonen E. toim. 2016. Lapsivuodeaika. Duodecim.
Metsäranta, M & Sankilampi, U. (toim.). 2019. Vastasyntyneiden akuuttihoito. Duodecim
Hakulinen T., Otronen K. & Kuronen M. Kansallinen imetyksen edistämisen toimintaohjelma vuosille 2018-2022. THL.
Kallad M. & Sinkkonen J. (toim.). 2011. Varhaislapsuuden tunnesiteet ja niiden suojeleminen. Helsinki. WSOY.
Klemetti, R. & Raussi-Lehto, E. (toim.) 2014. Edistä, ehkäise, vaikuta. Seksuaali- ja lisääntymistervyden toimintaohjelma 2014-2020. THL.
Paananen,U.& Pietiläinen,S. & Raussi-Lehto, E. & Väyrynen, P. & Äimälä, Ä-M (toim) Kätilötyö, 2021.Edita.

Teaching methods

In this course, you will study midwifery for women and families who have given birth by completing the following modules: postpartum midwifery, newborn care, breastfeeding guidance, maternal psychology and early interaction, and postnatal check-up. As an active learner, you will participate in contact teaching of postpartum midwifery, newborn care, and breastfeeding guidance, as well as online teaching of postnatal check-up, and practice in a laboratory environment. The teaching will use various teaching methods and they require you to prepare for the teaching as described in the Moodle learning environment. During postpartum midwifery, you will successfully complete an online test on postpartum pregnancy prevention, an online exam, and participate in online discussions. In newborn care, you will demonstrate your competence using a learning diary. In breastfeeding guidance, you complete an 8-hour breastfeeding guidance training within the midwifery training for women who have given birth and their families. During training you demonstrate your competence in an evaluable breastfeeding guidance situation and through a training assignment. You demonstrate your competence in the psychology of motherhood and early interaction through an exam. For the postnatal check-up, you successfully complete an online exam.

Employer connections

Visiting lecturer

Exam schedules

Online exam for high risk postpartumtime at the end of the lectures
Exam of maternal psychology and early interaction in the spring semester of 2026
Postnatal check-up online test.

Student workload

Highrisk postpartumtime 40.5h: contact hours 4.5h, online discussions 6h, independent study 30h
Breastfeeding guidance training 40.5h: contact teaching 15h, training and competence demonstration 8h and independent study 25.5h
Newborn nursing 13.5 h: contact teaching 7.5 h and independent study 6 h
Maternal psychology and early interaction 27 h: independent study 27 h
Online study of postpartum check-up 17 h

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient 1
You can describe the possibilities of midwifery in guaranteeing the health and well-being of families who have given birth

You can describe the factors involved in the safe encounter of women who have given birth and their families.

You can name the factors that promote the health, as well as sexual and reproductive health, of the woman given birth. You can also name the factors of childbirth and postpartum recovery as well as name the postnatal risks and complications of woman and newborn based on evidence.

You can describe the interventions and helping methods of midwifery for a woman given birth, newborn and family, and the related digitalisation and treatment technology.

You can describe empowerment-based and evidence-based process in planning and evaluation of midwifery work for women given birth, newborn and families.

Satisfactory 2
You can describe the possibilities of midwifery in guaranteeing the health and well-being of families who have given birth

You can define the factors involved in the safe encounter of women who have given birth and their families.

You can define the factors that promote the health, as well as sexual and reproductive health, of the woman given birth, newborn and family. You can also define the factors of childbirth and postpartum recovery as well as define postnatal risks and complications of woman and newborn based on evidence.

You can define the interventions and helping methods of midwifery for a woman given birth, newborn and family, and the related digitalisation and treatment technology.

You can define empowerment-based and evidence-based process in planning and evaluation of midwifery work for women given birth, newborn and families.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3
You can justify the possibilities of midwifery in guaranteeing the health and well-being of families who have given birth

You can justify the factors involved in the safe encounter of women who have given birth and their families.

You can justify the factors that promote the health, as well as sexual and reproductive health, of the woman given birth, newborn and family. You can also justify the factors of childbirth and postpartum recovery as well as justify postnatal risks and complications of woman and newborn based on evidence.

You can justify the interventions and helping methods of midwifery for a woman given birth, newborn and family, and the related digitalisation and treatment technology.

You can justify empowerment-based and evidence-based process in planning and evaluation of midwifery work for women given birth, newborn and families.

Good 4
You can evaluate the possibilities of midwifery in guaranteeing the health and well-being of families who have given birth

You can evaluate the factors involved in the safe encounter of women who have given birth and their families.

You can evaluate the factors that promote the health, as well as sexual and reproductive health, of the woman given birth, newborn and family. You can also evaluate the factors of childbirth and postpartum recovery as well as evaluate postnatal risks and complications of woman and newborn based on evidence.

You can evaluate the interventions and helping methods of midwifery for a woman given birth, newborn and family, and the related digitalisation and treatment technology.

You can evaluate empowerment-based and evidence-based process in planning and evaluation of midwifery work for women given birth, newborn and families.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
You can critically evaluate the possibilities of midwifery in guaranteeing the health and well-being of families who have given birth

You can critically evaluate the factors involved in the safe encounter of women who have given birth and their families.

You can critically evaluate the factors that promote the health, as well as sexual and reproductive health, of the woman given birth, newborn and family. You can also critically evaluate the factors of childbirth and postpartum recovery as well as critically evaluate postnatal risks and complications of woman and newborn based on evidence.

You can critically evaluate the interventions and helping methods of midwifery for a woman given birth, newborn and family, and the related digitalisation and treatment technology.

You can critically evaluate empowerment-based and evidence-based process in planning and evaluation of midwifery work for women given birth, newborn and families.

Further information

The evaluation of the course is based on the evaluation criteria of the course.

Assessment methods:
- self-assessment
- peer review
- qualitative assessment by the teacher
- network tests
- written exam
- learning tasks