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A Practical Guide to Core Obstetric Principles for Healthcare Professionals

What you'll learn

Understand the evolution of obstetrics and its relevance to modern practice

Understand the steps required to perform a systematic examination of the gravid abdomen

Develop a clear understanding of the stages of labour, mechanisms of normal delivery, and key maternal emergencies

Gain competence in interpreting partograms and the basics of cardiotocography (CTG)

Develop foundational skills for managing the postnatal period and maintaining accurate obstetric documentation

Requirements

There are no formal prerequisites, however, a basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system is highly recommended.

Key concepts are briefly reviewed, but additional resources may be required for learners who are entirely new to these topics.

Relevant supplementary materials and external links will be provided throughout the course for deeper exploration.

Description

This introductory obstetrics course is designed to provide a foundational understanding of key concepts and practical skills necessary for managing pregnancy, labour, delivery, and postnatal care. The course is divided into four modules, each focusing on essential aspects of obstetric practice, from history and examination to emergencies and fetal monitoring.This course does not cover advanced or highly specialised topics, but it lays the groundwork for learners to build further expertise in obstetrics.By the end of this course, learners will:Understand the evolution of obstetrics and its relevance to modern practice.Be able to perform a systematic examination of the gravid abdomen.Have a clear understanding of the stages of labour, mechanisms of normal delivery, and key maternal emergencies.Gain competence in interpreting partograms and the basics of cardiotocography (CTG).Develop foundational skills for managing the postnatal period and maintaining accurate obstetric documentation.How is this course structured?The course is divided into four modules, each comprising a combination of videos, readings, and interactive quizzes. Learners must complete all components to proceed to the next module. At the end of each module, there will be a graded quiz to reinforce the concepts learned.How do you pass this course?To successfully pass this course, learners must:Achieve a minimum grade of 80% on all quizzes and assessments.Complete all readings, videos, and quizzes in each module.Pass the final course assessment with a minimum grade of 80%.Learners are allowed a maximum of two attempts per 24-hour period for each quiz. Upon successful completion of all course components, learners will receive a certificate of completion.Last updated: May 2025The course was developed under the leadership of Dr V. Njisane (MBChB, MMSc-Med Ed) with contributions from Dr D. Padayachee (MBChB, Dip HIV Man)

Overview

Section 1: Introduction to Obstetrics

Lecture 1 Course Overview

Lecture 2 The History of Obstetrics

Lecture 3 Clinical Assessment of a Pregnant Patient

Section 2: Maternal and Fetal Assessment

Lecture 4 The Basics of Antenatal Care

Lecture 5 The Partogram

Lecture 6 Introduction to Cardiotocographs

Lecture 7 Approach to Analysing Cardiotocographs

Section 3: Labour and Delivery

Lecture 8 Stages of Labour

Lecture 9 Normal Vertex Delivery

Lecture 10 Mechanisms of Labour

Lecture 11 Obstetric Emergencies

Section 4: Transition to Postnatal Care

Lecture 12 The Postnatal Period

Lecture 13 Positive Postnatal Experience

Lecture 14 Maternal Discharge Criteria

Section 5: Assessment

Early-career healthcare professionals and students, including: junior doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and those in training