• A maternity nurse is on duty 24 hours a day six days a week.
  
• Her role is to help new mothers in all aspects of caring for the newborn, from breast feeding to establishing a routine and bathing, and helping mum get back on her feet.
  
• Maternity nurses generally sleep with their charges and either bring the baby to mum for breast feeding during the night or bottle feed the baby themselves so that the mother has a chance to recover from the birth.
  
• The maternity nurse is there to provide the mother with a sense of security during those physically and mentally exhausting first few weeks after childbirth.
  
• For those mothers who don't have family support close at hand or who have had twins or a caesarean it can be an invaluable help. A comforting presence and a willing pair of hands at 3am can make an enormous difference.

Qualifications
People tend to assume that maternity nurses are nurses with some kind of specialist qualification in the field of newborns. This is rarely the case, most maternity nurses tend to be very experienced nannies. However some are registered nurses, ex-midwives or health visitors.

Duties:

• A Maternity nurse provides total care for mother and baby. She advises on breast feeding and any problems arising from it, teaches first time mothers how to bath and become comfortable around baby, helps establish a routine and provides moral support for the mother when she most needs it.
  
• The maternity nurse will deal with all the baby's laundry, sterilize bottles and prepare light meals for the mother if she is not up to it.
  
• The maternity nurse should involve any other children in the house with the baby but shouldn't be expected to look after other siblings - she is there primarily for the care of mother and baby.

Cost:

• Maternity nurses earn anything from £450 + per week. (It can be even more for twins).
  
• Daily maternity nurses earn up to £75 per day.
  
• They usually take care of their own tax and National Insurance contributions because they are self-employed.
  
• If the baby hasn't arrived by the time the nurse is due to start work, she should be paid half pay for the first week and full pay for the second week of waiting.
  
• Maternity nurse fees can be claimed from BUPA or PPP if your nurse is an SRN (a registered midwife) and you have had a caesarean or other birth complications.

Hours:
This is where the cost begins to make sense! The maternity nurse is on duty 24 hours a day six days a week. However they must be given at least one full day off a week..

Points to think about when interviewing a maternity nurse:

• Find out how she feels about bottle vs. breast-feeding. You want to find someone who will support you in any decision you make rather than forcing you in one direction or the other.
  
• Find out if she is a smoker.
  
• Find out what she feels about routine. If she has a very strict routine that she likes to adhere to then make sure you're happy about it before you book her.
  
• Find out how she works with you as a mother. You want to be a team rather than feeling pushed out by her. Remember that it is a very sensitive time.
  
• How does she feel about you popping in to see the baby whenever you wish? You may, in the middle of the night, have an overwhelming urge to check your baby is alright and you must be able to feel that you can go to the baby's room and see your baby without upsetting your nurse.
  
• If you want to use any special equipment such as a breathing monitor on the cot tell your maternity nurse about it before hand.
  
• Find out what sort of emergencies your maternity nurse has had to deal with and check that her first aid is up to speed.
  
• Think about what sort of maternity nurse you want. Some have very definite ideas about a baby's first weeks and will start encouraging routines as soon as they arrive, others are laid back and go with the flow.
  
• Talk about the sort of problems that you might encounter during the first few weeks such as colic and reflux and ask how your nurse would help you deal with them.
  
• The weeks after the birth are a special time for you as a family, talk to your nurse about her eating schedules and how she relaxes, you want to make sure that she is sensitive to your needs to be alone with your family and new baby.

Where to find a maternity nurse:

• Most maternity nurses are registered with agencies and are booked up months in advance. Don't leave it until the last minute. If you want a good maternity nurse you really need to start looking as soon as you know you are pregnant to guarantee a good selection to choose from. Try our agency search to find a recommended agency near you.
  
• If you are desperate it is possible to get last minute bookings. Mothers who are finding it hard to cope or who have delivered early and want help until their proper maternity nurse starts can call the agencies to find them an 'emergency'.

Mums own tips on maternity nurses:
"A good question to ask a maternity nurse is what sort of routine they like to encourage. A really good nurse will say that she likes to see the baby before starting on any routine, it means that they look at each child as an individual". Marianne Derby, Edinburgh.

If you have any tips on maternity nurses please email help@bestbear.co.uk