Dr Alyson Einion

Dr Alyson Einion
Associate Professor
Interprofessional Studies
Telephone: (01792) 518527
Room: Office - 120
First Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

Associate Professor of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Dr Alys Einion first trained as a nurse in Bangor and then as a midwife at Thames Valley University and Ealing Hospital, London, where she gained a First Class Honours in her degree. She worked as a midwife and nurse in a range of settings, gathering a PGCE along the way and studying two MA programmes simultaneously, one in Professional Development, and the other in Creative Writing, before starting her academic career at UWE, Bristol in 2005, and then moving to Swansea in 2009, whilst studying her PhD part time at Aberystwyth University.   She gained her PhD in 2012, studying the intersection between women’s life writing, fiction and representations of sexual violence.

Her main teaching responsibilities focus on issues relating to the psychosocial and political context of women’s lives, pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood, alongside the history, context and culture of midwifery and equality and diversity. She also supervises PhD students, and MA students in Education for Health Professions, Maternal and Child Health and contributes to post-graduate teaching in these areas. She contributes to modules in the Social Sciences and was instrumental in developing the new BA Social Sciences.  Committed to excellence in teaching and learning, she has investigated innovative approaches to learning and assessment. She conceived of and developed the innovative HE Certificate in Maternity Care at Swansea University, a widening access programme which prepares students for careers in maternity care and health, and is an active and prolific writer, publishing regularly with The Practising Midwife Journal. Her research on student midwives’ learning journals and the language and narratives of midwifery has been presented to international audiences and published in a number of media, and she continues to research midwifery and maternal narratives and experiences. She is a midwife complementary therapist, hypnobirthing practitioner and is currently researching hypnobirthing and its impact on birth experiences.

She regularly contributes to books on midwifery and motherhood, and to books about LGBT+relationships and parenting.

Alys also worked for 10 years for the Open University in Wales, teaching the course SK277, Human Biology.

Alys is also a novelist, published by Honno Welsh Women’s Press www.honno.co.uk

Areas of Expertise

  • Midwifery
  • Women's Health
  • Qualitative Research Methods
  • Feminism
  • Gender
  • Sexuality
  • Education
  • Equality and Diversity
  • Narratives and Narratology
  • Creative Writing
  • Complementary Therapies
  • Hypnobirthing

Publications

  1. & (2019). Paediatric nurses' adoption of aseptic non-touch technique. British Journal of Nursing 28(2), S16-S22.
  2. Inshallah. Aberystwyth, UK: Honno.
  3. (2017). REPORT REVIEW State of the world's fathers: time for action. (The Practising Midwife No. 20).
  4. (2017). We are the stories we tell about ourselves: rewriting the landscape of midwifery. Presented at Seminar on Childbearing Women And Families In A Multicultural Europe, hosted by Childbearing in Europe – The Qualitative Research Network Research – BfiN and Network for Women’s Health in Childbearing, with the focus on Migrants and Minorities – WoMBH-net. Metropolia University,, Metropolia University, Helsinki: Seminar on Childbearing Women And Families In A Multicultural Europe, hosted by Childbearing in Europe – The Qualitative Research Network Research – BfiN and Network for Women’s Health in Childbearing, with the focus on Migrants and Minorities – WoMBH-net. Metropolia University,.
  5. (2017). Gender, Women and the F Word. Presented at 2nd Annual LGBT+ Equality in Higher Education Conference, Swansea University: 2nd Annual LGBT+ Equality in Higher Education Conference.

See more...

Teaching

  • SHM100 Academic writing for Health & Social Care

    This module prepares students for studying at degree level. Students are supported to work and learn together in a community of practice at the level required in Higher Education. They are encouraged to develop a questioning approach, to structure an argument, to write academically and to avoid plagiarism.

  • SHM111 Introduction to Maternity Care

    This module explores current family policy and introduces learners to the context of maternity services including aspects of physiology and maternity care.

  • SHM121 Introduction to the Profession of Midwifery

    This module will introduce the student to the role of the midwife and the maternity services, and will give an introductory overview of childbirth and midwifery skills in preparation for practice.

  • SHM123 Midwifery and Public Health

    This module will introduce the student to the role of the midwife in health promotion and antenatal education. The skill of critiquing research papers will also be introduced as well as the consideration of ethical issues in relation to public health.

  • SHM125 Building the Foundations for My Midwifery Practice

    This module will introduce the student to the practice of midwifery and will take place on placement with mentors in a variety of maternity settings.

  • SHM127 Psychosocial Dimensions of Pregnancy and Parenting

    This module introduces learners to the psychological and social dimensions of pregnancy and parenting, covering basic psychological theories, the psychological and emotional impact of pregnancy and parenting, social dimensions of pregnancy, birth and the family, and the social context of motherhood.

  • SHM130 Working as a Doula 1

    This module introduces learners to the role of the doula and key concepts and skills relating to doula practice.

  • SHM132 Working as a Doula 2

    This module builds on the outcomes of Working as a Doula 1 and enables learners to explore the role of the doula in depth, developing knowledge, skills and understanding to provide woman and family-centred care in the private sector.

  • SHM242 Psychosocial and Cultural Context of Childbearing

    This module introduces the student to key sociological and psychological concepts and theories, allowing them to understand the context of midwifery care and the dimensions of the social world locally, nationally and globally, enabling them to adapt to the changing dynamics and demands of responsive reproductive health care. Students will address issues which challenge women within the social context, and will develop the knowledge and skills required to promote a holistic approach to individualized care within the maternity setting.

  • SHM243 Complex Needs in Pregnancy

    This module has been designed to develop the student¿s understanding and application of altered health, complex childbearing anatomy and physiology, relevant psycho-social issues and midwifery care provision across the entire childbearing continuum. This includes a range of psycho-social and health complexities impacting on or associated with childbearing women, neonates and their families. Content covered offers the student an overview of these complex processes on childbearing, childbirth and the postnatal period with a specific focus on further developing midwifery knowledge and skills. The theoretical components aim to prepare students for placements where they will continue to deepen their learning and continue to apply knowledge to practice.

  • SHM244 Complex and Urgent Maternity Care

    This will enable students to develop their competence in dealing with complex and emergency situations in maternity care. Student midwives are supported to build on the knowledge gained in their training to date, in order to develop their clinical and theoretical knowledge and skills further. Understanding risk and focusing on holistic practice will further enhance their decision making and assessment skills.

  • SHM245 Developing My Midwifery Practice

    This module will continue to develop the student¿s practical skills in midwifery and will take place on placement with mentors in midwifery and other health care settings.

  • SHM245W Datblygu Bydwreigiaeth Ymarferol

    Bydd y modiwl hwn yn parhau i ddatblygu sgiliau ymarferol bydwreigiaeth y fyfyrwraig/myfyriwr, a bydd yn cael ei gynnal ar leoliad gyda¿r mentoriaid o fewn gosodiadau bydwreigiaeth.

  • SHM247 Study Skills for Midwifery

    This module will introduce the student to the skills of reflection and the conventions of essay writing at undergraduate level.

  • SHM326 Using research to inform my practice

    This module supports student midwives to build on the knowledge gained in their education to date, and explore research knowledge to develop skills in critical appraisal and be able to determine good quality evidence on which to base their practice. In order to provide the broad knowledge base required for practice this module also includes further bioscience and psycho social knowledge.

  • SHM327 Preparing for Professional Practice

    This module will enable the student to explore and analyse healthcare policy making, how policy is implemented in practice and how the implementation may be managed in the clinical setting. The student will also consider essential aspects of management such as leadership, motivation and the management of change. The student will become familiar with the legal and ethical aspects of midwifery practice, reviewing Montgomery and applying legal and ethical principles to current practice issues.

  • SHM328 Becoming a Midwife - the Final Push

    The module aims to enhance and build on the student¿s ability to critically evaluate their personal development in order to prepare them for practice as qualified midwives.

  • SHM329 Consolidating My Midwifery Practice

    This module will continue to develop the student¿s practical skills in midwifery and will take place on placement with mentors in midwifery and other health care settings.

  • SHM336 Centred Birth Hypnobirthing - Practitioner Course

    Centred Birth Hypnobirthing teaches practitioners the theory and practice of hypnotic induction and relaxation, alongside empowering and inclusive pre-conception and antenatal education, to enable them to provide hypnobirthing classes for pre-conception, pregnancy and birth. Approved by professional regulators, this module provides all the skills, knowledge and direction needed to implement Centred Birth Hypobirthing classes within the NHS and privately.

  • SHMM00 Developing Expertise in the Supervision of Midwives

    The aim of the module is to develop the expertise of the student to be able to meet the required standard of competence and knowledge to practice effectively as a Supervisor of midwives.

  • SHTM34 Teaching and Learning for the Health Professions' Educators

    This module has been designed to prepare educators from a variety of health professions for a role in teaching, supervising and assessing students and trainees in practice and academic settings. It aims to prepare educators to work within a developmental framework in the context of interprofessional learning and modern day health services. This module will form part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Education for the Health Professions.

  • SHTM35 Researching Educational Practice

    This module aims to develop participants¿ awareness of the key issues, principles and practice of educational research and to provide the knowledge and understanding required to conduct small-scale research into their own practice.

Supervision

  • 'A global ethical and legal approach to the permissibility and legalisation of abortion; From confrontation to common ground' (current)

    Student name:
    PhD
    Other supervisor: Mr Richard Griffith
    Other supervisor: Dr Alyson Einion

  • 'How can we better support women in Oman who have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes?' (current)

    Student name:
    PhD
    Other supervisor: Dr Alyson Einion
    Other supervisor: Prof Amy Brown

  • Student-Staff Partnership in Curriculum Design in Higher Education (current)

    Student name:
    PhD
    Other supervisor: Dr Alyson Einion
    Other supervisor: Prof Jayne Cutter

  • The Experience, Outcomes and Impact of Hypnobirthing: A Mixed Methods Study in South Wales. (current)

    Student name:
    PhD
    Other supervisor: Dr Sarah Norris
    Other supervisor: Dr Alyson Einion

  • Understanding the reporting behaviour of men who experience violence, or other harmful behaviour, in the context of them transacting sex. (current)

    Student name:
    PhD
    Other supervisor: Mrs Deborah Jones
    Other supervisor: Dr Alyson Einion

External Responsibilities

  • External Examiner, Oxford Brookes University

    2013 - 2015

  • The Practising Midwife Journal, Editorial Board Member

    2015 - Present

Administrative Responsibilities

  • Co-Chair, Swansea University LGBT+ Staff Network - Swansea University

    2014 - Present

Career History

Start Date End Date Position Held Location
2003 2005 Midwife Southmead Hospital
2005 2009 Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Midwifery University of the West of England
2006 2016 Associate Tutor in Human Biology The Open University in Wales

Calling from outside the UK?

+44 1792 518527

Alys Einion

alyseinion