Dr Holly Morse

Lecturer in Midwifery, Midwifery

+44 (0) 1792 205678 ext 1265

h.a.morse@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 126
First Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7408-3417

Scopus

About

After completing a degree in International Relations, Holly begun studying the health and wellbeing of women and families whilst working within social services in 2004.

The birth of her first baby in 2005 ignited a passion for parenting and birth education, along with lifelong friendships formed via NCT antenatal classes. She went on to study HE Diplomas in antenatal education and birth support, and also graduated from Swansea University with a Master’s in Child Welfare in 2007.

After then also qualifying as a Midwife from Swansea University, Holly moved into research, completing her PhD in 2023. Her doctoral research explored midwifery input to online breastfeeding support, producing a series of five papers.

Holly took up a midwifery lecturing post at Swansea University in 2020. She is passionate about engaging midwives, students and academics in the creative use of digital innovations for midwifery education, and has presented these at national and international conferences. In 2023 she was shortlisted for two RCM Awards for excellence in research and excellence in midwifery education.

Areas Of Expertise

Digital and social media
Breastfeeding
Public Health

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Digital creativity

Academic writing

Breastfeeding

Public health

Research Award Highlights Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2021). Accessing local support online: Mothers' experiences of local Breastfeeding Support Facebook groups. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 17(4)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13227, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57020
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2022). The benefits, challenges and impacts of accessing social media group support for breastfeeding: A systematic review. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 18(4)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13399, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60259
Morse, H. & MORSE, H. (2023). Facebook, mothers and midwives: the role of social media in breastfeeding support services
https://doi.org/10.23889/SUthesis.63455, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63455
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2023). UK midwives’ perceptions and experiences of using Facebook to provide perinatal support: Results of an exploratory online survey. PLOS Digital Health, 2(4), e0000043
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000043, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63907
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000043
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2022). Mothers’ experiences of using Facebook groups for local breastfeeding support: Results of an online survey exploring midwife moderation. PLOS Digital Health, 1(11), e0000144
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000144, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65792
Morse, H. (2019). Do birth plans mean bigger caesarean scars?. Practising Midwife, 22(10)
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65793
https://eds.p.ebscohost.com/abstract?site=eds&scope=site&jrnl=14613123&AN=160467469&h=pw9whBPSjQt0OlH%2fzbPRhiPZRw1ewipmTTPIr2JKCsrpZNkO7wVvfeBf6HRDKAAK4ksJGp3vKXe57oFQxYCMmw%3d%3d&crl=c&resultLocal=ErrCrlNoResults&resultNs=Ehost&crlhashurl=login.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler%26jrnl%3d14613123%26AN%3d160467469
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (n.d.) Using Facebook groups to support families: midwives’ perceptions and experiences of professional social media use. medRxiv
https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.12.22273813, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65794
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2022). “Running on goodwill and fairydust” - midwives’ experiences of facilitating and delivering local breastfeeding support via Facebook groups: a qualitative descriptive study. medRxiv
https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.10.18.22281224, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65795

All Research

Journal Articles

Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2023). UK midwives’ perceptions and experiences of using Facebook to provide perinatal support: Results of an exploratory online survey. PLOS Digital Health, 2(4), e0000043
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000043, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63907
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000043
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2022). Mothers’ experiences of using Facebook groups for local breastfeeding support: Results of an online survey exploring midwife moderation. PLOS Digital Health, 1(11), e0000144
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000144, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65792
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2022). “Running on goodwill and fairydust” - midwives’ experiences of facilitating and delivering local breastfeeding support via Facebook groups: a qualitative descriptive study. medRxiv
https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.10.18.22281224, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65795
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2022). The benefits, challenges and impacts of accessing social media group support for breastfeeding: A systematic review. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 18(4)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13399, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60259
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (2021). Accessing local support online: Mothers' experiences of local Breastfeeding Support Facebook groups. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 17(4)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13227, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57020
Morse, H. (2019). Do birth plans mean bigger caesarean scars?. Practising Midwife, 22(10)
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65793
https://eds.p.ebscohost.com/abstract?site=eds&scope=site&jrnl=14613123&AN=160467469&h=pw9whBPSjQt0OlH%2fzbPRhiPZRw1ewipmTTPIr2JKCsrpZNkO7wVvfeBf6HRDKAAK4ksJGp3vKXe57oFQxYCMmw%3d%3d&crl=c&resultLocal=ErrCrlNoResults&resultNs=Ehost&crlhashurl=login.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler%26jrnl%3d14613123%26AN%3d160467469
Morse, H. & Brown, A. (n.d.) Using Facebook groups to support families: midwives’ perceptions and experiences of professional social media use. medRxiv
https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.12.22273813, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65794

Other Research Outputs

Morse, H. & MORSE, H. (2023). Facebook, mothers and midwives: the role of social media in breastfeeding support services
https://doi.org/10.23889/SUthesis.63455, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63455

Taught Modules

SHM112 Working as a Doula

This module introduces learners to the role of the doula and key concepts and skills relating to doula practice.
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.
SHM129 Optimising Health and Wellbeing in Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting

This module introduces to basic skills in health promotion, illness prevention, and optimization of health and wellbeing in childbearing.
SHM136 Pregnancy and the Professional Midwife

This module will introduce the student to the role of the midwife as an accountable, autonomous, professional practitioner. It will introduce pregnancy as a normal physiological process and consider the midwife¿s role in working to promote positive outcomes.
SHM137 The Journey to Birth

This module will continue to build on the student¿s knowledge of pregnancy and introduce labour and birth as a normal physiological process, focusing on the midwife¿s role in working to promote positive outcomes.
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.
SHM248 Additional Care for Women with Complex Needs

This module will prepare students to identify and manage the care of women with additional care needs including management of both pre-existing and emergent conditions. The module will explore the evidence base to equip students to use current statistical data to inform their practice. Students will also further develop their understanding that the care needs of women and families may relate to physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual factors.
SHM249 Parenting and Neonatal Care: supporting additional needs

This module will further develop the students¿ knowledge and understanding of the role of the midwife in caring for women, newborn infants and their families during the transition to parenthood. This includes caring for women, babies and families where there are complications and additional care needs. This module will build on pre-existing knowledge and develop the student¿s holistic and critical approach to both the care of the newborn and the transition to parenthood.
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.
SHM337 The Third Stage: Managing Clinical Complications and Becoming a Colleague and Scholar

This module will be comprised of two parts: The first will prepare students to appropriately identify and manage complications and emergencies in childbearing. The second part will further develop health promotion knowledge, including approaches to and models of health promotion, health inequalities and ethical issues. It will prepare students to search for, identify and critically analyse evidence and data in order to inform their practice. Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret and disseminate their findings to colleagues.

Dr Holly Morse

Telephone number

Email address

Twitter Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Other Research Outputs

Taught Modules

SHM112 Working as a Doula

SHM127 Psychosocial Dimensions of Pregnancy and Parenting

SHM129 Optimising Health and Wellbeing in Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting

SHM136 Pregnancy and the Professional Midwife

SHM137 The Journey to Birth

SHM243 Complex Needs in Pregnancy

SHM248 Additional Care for Women with Complex Needs

SHM249 Parenting and Neonatal Care: supporting additional needs

SHM328 Becoming a Midwife - the Final Push

SHM337 The Third Stage: Managing Clinical Complications and Becoming a Colleague and Scholar