Maternal and infant nutrition

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

Level of Unit in Course

AQF Level(s) of Course

Level of Unit in Course

Introductory

Intermediate

Effective Term:

2026/05

Institute / School :

Institute of Health and Wellbeing

Unit Title:

Maternal and infant nutrition

Unit ID:

MIDBM3002

Credit Points:

15.00

Prerequisite(s):

Nil

Co-requisite(s):

Nil

Exclusion(s):

Nil

ASCED:

060303

Other Change:

Brief description of the Unit

Maternal and infant nutrition is a vital area of study that focuses on the dietary needs and health considerations of mothers, infants, and their families. This unit examines nutritional requirements during pregnancy and lactation, the influence of maternal diet on fetal development, and common nutritional deficiencies, along with strategies for prevention and management. Public health initiatives aimed at improving maternal and infant dietary outcomes will also be examined. Students will gain an understanding of the physiological basis for healthy weight gain during pregnancy, including evidence-based guidelines informed by pre-pregnancy health status. The implications of both insufficient and excessive weight gain, including the retention of gestational weight and its effects on long-term maternal health, will be discussed. Particular attention will be paid to the prevalence and consequences of under- and overweight in pregnancy, as well as the influence of weight stigma and its impact on care provision. The unit also provides an in-depth examination of infant feeding practices, including breastfeeding, formula feeding, the use of human milk banks and milk sharing. Students will learn how to assess feeding, develop feeding plans, and offer culturally safe, context-sensitive support that reflects the lived experiences and preferences of women and families. By the end of this unit, students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence maternal and infant nutrition. They will be equipped to apply this knowledge in midwifery and public health contexts.

Grade Scheme:

Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)

Work Experience Indicator:

No work experience

Placement Component:

Supplementary Assessment:Yes

Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment

Course Level:

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge:

K1.	Analyse the impact of maternal diet on fetal development and overall pregnancy outcomes.

K2.	Identify the essential nutritional requirements and common deficiencies in pregnancy, lactation, and infants and effective strategies to address these.

K3.	Understand the physiological process of weight gain in supporting pregnancy and lactation, prevalence of under and overweight in pregnancy, associated risks, and strategies for prevention and management.

K4.	Identify strategies to manage infant feeding issues in the perinatal period.

Skills:

S1.	Communicate evidence-based guidelines to women using supportive, non-stigmatising language for healthy weight gain during pregnancy that also addresses any potential risks of abnormal weight gain.

S2.	Recognise the complexities inherent for women in decision-making regarding infant feeding.

S3.	Develop skills necessary to conduct feeding assessments for infants receiving breastmilk with or without breastmilk substitutes.

S4.	Evaluate the retention of gestational weight gain and its long-term effects on future pregnancies and maternal health.

Application of knowledge and skills:

A1.	Develop and implement feeding care plans for women and families with complex infant feeding needs.

A2.	Apply knowledge of maternal and infant nutrition to public health initiatives and health education to support the wellbeing of mothers and their babies.

Unit Content:

The ANMAC National Accreditation Standards for the Midwife (2021); NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018); NMBA Code of Conduct for the Midwife (2018); and the NMBA Code of Ethics for the Midwife (2014) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit.

Topics may include:

· Essential nutritional requirements during pregnancy

· Impact of maternal diet on fetal development and pregnancy outcomes, including pregnancy variations such as hyperemesis gravidarum, gestational diabetes, anaemia, vegan/vegetarian or other diets.

· Guidelines for healthy weight gain during pregnancy

· Potential risks of abnormal weight gain during pregnancy

· Retention of gestational weight gain postpartum and its long-term effects on maternal health and future pregnancies

· Prevalence of over and under-weight in pregnancy and associated risks, and management

· Review of sociocultural, economic, and relational contexts' influence on women’s infant feeding decision-making

· Benefits, challenges, and nutritional considerations of breastfeeding and formula feeding

· Common nutritional deficiencies in mothers and infants

· Effective strategies to address nutritional deficiencies

· Role of public health initiatives in promoting optimal maternal and infant nutrition

· Application of maternal and infant nutrition knowledge in clinical and public health settings as strategies to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2.1 and 2.2

Graduate Attributes:

Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptor		Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
FED TASK and descriptor		Level
FEDTASK 1 Interpersonal	Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.	Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context
FEDTASK 2 Leadership	Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative	Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context
FEDTASK 3 Critical Thinking and Creativity	Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving.	Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context
FEDTASK 4 Digital Literacy	Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities.	Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 5 Sustainable and Ethical Mindset	Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life.	Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context

	Learning Outcomes Assessed	Assessment Tasks	Assessment Type	Weighting
1.	K1, K2, K3, K4, S2, S3, A1	Application of theoretical concepts to a complex infant feeding/maternal nutrition scenario	Written task	40-60%
2.	K2, K3, S1, S2, S4, A2	Demonstrate health promotion concepts related to maternal/infant nutrition	Audio-visual presentation	40-60%

Adopted Reference Style:

APA ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:

Standard / Competency