Cardiac disease is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality both in Australia and worldwide. Midwives play a vital role in early detection and intervention, helping to prevent serious injury or death by recognising and addressing cardiac complications promptly.

The Nurses for Nurses Network has provided this unique Seminar in response to compelling global recommendations for our Midwifery Colleagues.

Alignment with Global Recommendations:
International maternal safety initiatives—including those from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and national obstetric bodies—highlight the critical need for ongoing education of midwives in cardiac assessment, maternal collapse, and resuscitation. In response, the Nurses for Nurses Network has partnered with cardiac educator Anne Evans-Murray to deliver targeted support, education, and practical guidance tailored specifically for midwives managing increasingly complex maternal health needs through various learning modalities.

Global data indicate a pressing need for midwives to develop advanced assessment skills to identify early warning signs of cardiovascular deterioration during pregnancy, labour, and postpartum. Because symptoms of heart disease often overlap with normal pregnancy changes, experienced midwives must distinguish between typical pregnancy symptoms and those that suggest serious cardiac disorders.

For You to Think About: Do you really need to update your cardiac knowledge?

You might think, “I’m a midwife, not a cardiac nurse.” But before you decide, reflect on these questions to see if this seminar is right for you:

• Did you know cardiac disease is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide—and global recommendations increasingly require midwives to enhance their cardiac knowledge?
• Have you ever encountered a situation where a woman’s cardiac condition was missed or diagnosed late during pregnancy or postpartum?
• How prepared would you be to respond if a woman suddenly became unconscious during labour, but the cardiac monitor showed a normal rhythm? Do you know what this arrhythmia is called and the appropriate steps to take?
• If a patient tells you she’s on antidepressants and sometimes feels faint, do you recognise these as potential red flags for Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), a cardiac disorder that is rising in pregnancy and postpartum—and can lead to sudden cardiac death?
• Do you know how to perform a 12-lead ECG and recognise conditions like Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), a critical cause of myocardial infarction in younger women that midwives must not miss?

If any of these questions made you pause or say “I’m not sure,” then this seminar is designed for you.

This one-day Cardiac Midwifery seminar provides essential support and guidance for midwives at all levels of experience. Pregnancy places added stress on the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heart-related complications that require a multidisciplinary response. The emergence of “cardio-obstetrics” or “Pregnancy-Heart Teams” highlights the importance of midwives’ cardiac knowledge—they are key to activating timely team responses when deterioration is recognised.

It is well documented that midwives have not had enough access to cardiac education and support to meet the challenges of managing women with complex pregnancy complications. This seminar addresses these needs by offering current knowledge, practical strategies, and a supportive learning environment.

Pregnant women may develop cardiac problems or have pre-existing conditions that complicate pregnancy. Early identification by midwives can be crucial to preventing maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. By enhancing cardiac assessment skills, midwives can detect potential red flags that might otherwise go unnoticed, enabling earlier intervention and improved outcomes.

Furthermore, this knowledge reduces legal and professional risks by demonstrating an active, informed approach to maternal health—particularly important given the rising incidence of cardiac-related maternal mortality during pregnancy and postpartum.

Register here