To understand the distinct long term health benefits for mother and infant of completing the fertile cycle. To recognise the innate homeostatic interactions between mother-infant that depend on mutual sensory stimulation, from birth to the initiation of suckling-lactation, over the first three to four days of external gestation. To understand the negative effects of maternal-infant separation for routine procedures during the first three to four days of external gestation. To recognise the negative effects of maternal-fetal exposure to routine intrapartum practices, on the innate interactions between mother-infant that initiate suckling-lactation over the first three to four days following birth. To select appropriate massage and acupressure techniques to counteract what is currently known about the negative effects of intrapartum interventions and routine separation on the innate interactions that initiate the suckling-lactation phase of the fertile cycle.

On successful completion of the course participants will: understand maternal-fetal-neonatal central and systemic adaptations to labour, birth and maternal-neonatal neurohormonal changes in response to sensory contact and suckling understand current evidence on the long-term health benefits for mother-infant of attachment and completing the fertile cycle. demonstrate the skills needed to promote undisturbed maternal-infant attachment following birth demonstrate the massage skills needed to modulate the effects of pre- and in-labour operative deliveries; pharmacological interventions during labour and routine separation following birth to promote maternal-infant attachment

Information giving sessions will be interspersed with a variety of practice sessions to facilitate reflection and learning from experience. Teaching and learning activities will include micro lectures, discussion and use of audio visual, guided practice and directed reading.

Following the course students will be asked to complete a case study. This will assess scientific knowledge and practice and needs to be presented within 3 months of completing the course. To cover the periods of practice of hospital based midwives and community based lactation consultants, students in hospital will select a woman wishing to breast feed, who has had a pre- or in-labour caesarean section, or has been exposed to pharmacological agents during labour. Students working outside hospital will select a woman during established lactation who has requested an intervention, to enhance milk supply, facilitate milk expression or deal with other stress related issues, to extend the duration of exclusive breast feeding.