Welcome to Advanced Pharmacology for Community-Based Midwives. This course is designed to deepen your understanding of pharmacological principles and prepare you to confidently and safely integrate medication use into your midwifery practice.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain core pharmacological concepts—including absorption, metabolism, half-life, and safety categories—as they relate to pregnancy and lactation
  
  
• Identify and utilize essential medications commonly used in midwifery care, understanding their indications, contraindications, dosage, side effects, and routes of administration
  
  
• Administer medications safely and manage common emergencies with clarity and confidence
  
  
• Understand your scope of practice and legal responsibilities related to prescribing and administering medications, with attention to variations across jurisdictions
  
  
• Integrate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies (such as herbs, homeopathics, and supplements) using an evidence-based approach
  
  
• Communicate clearly and effectively with clients about medication use, safety, and informed consent

What This Course Is Not

This course is not a customizable or jurisdiction-specific guide. Because midwifery practice laws and medication privileges vary significantly across the United States (and internationally), we cannot tailor this course to each individual’s local scope of practice.

It is your responsibility to know and operate within your legal scope—including what medications you are authorized to administer or prescribe in your state or region. We encourage you to use this course as a foundation for critical thinking, collaboration, and ongoing professional development within your legal framework.