Maternity Nurses
Written in conjunction with Ruth Reckitt, The Maternity Nurse Company

• ·         A maternity nurse is on duty 24 hours a day five or six days a week. There is also the option to have a maternity nurse on a daily or nightly basis only. Most recently some maternity nurses operate a consultancy service for specific issues.

  ·         The role is helping 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 feeding 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, providing guidance and support in all areas of baby care.

  ·         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
There are a variety of qualifications relevant to maternity nursing, for example: Midwifery & Nursing Diplomas; NNEB Certificate; BTEC Nursery Nursing; TRAC Maternity Practitioner Award; NEST PNC Diploma; NAMCW. The essential qualification in this field is hands on newborn experience.  Also there are many excellent maternity nurses who have no formal qualification, but who have been maternity nursing for 20 yrs +

Duties:

• ·         A Maternity nurses provide total care for mother and baby. They advise on breast feeding and any problems arising from it, teaching first time mothers how to bath and become comfortable around baby, helping establish a routine and providing moral support for the mother when she most needs it.

  ·         Maternity nurses will deal with all the baby's laundry, sterilise bottles and prepare light meals for the mother if she is not up to it.

  ·         Maternity nurses should involve any other children in the house with the baby but shouldn't be expected to look after other siblings - they are there primarily for the care of mother and baby, unless additional arrangements are agreed prior to commencement of the booking.

Cost:

• ·         Maternity nurses earn anything from £700 per week when newly trained, to over £850 per week when fully qualified and experienced.  With twins and triplets you can expect to pay substantially more – around £1200 per week for an experienced maternity nurse. This is for 6-day pw cover.

  ·         Daily or Nightly maternity nurses earn between £14-20 per hour.

  ·         They are responsible for 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 normally charges half pay for each week of waiting. So it is important to consider carefully the start date of your booking.

  ·         Most maternity nurses have their own contracts, which should be reviewed before confirming a booking. It is normal for a maternity nurse to ask for 1-weeks salary as a deposit at the time of booking – which is then used as her last weeks pay. Or retained if the booking is cancelled.

  ·         Maternity nurse fees may be claimed from a private healthcare provider if your nurse is 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 five or six days a week. However, they must be given at least one full day off a week. Or it is possible to book someone for 6-8 hours per day or 10-12 hours at night.

Points to think about when interviewing a maternity nurse:

• ·         Find out their views 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 whether they smoke.

  ·         Find out what their views are on routines. Make sure you are happy about them before making a booking.

  ·         What are their views 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 they have and which her first aid qualifications they hold.

  ·         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 they would help you deal with them.

  ·         The weeks after the birth are a special time for you as a family, so talk about eating schedules and time off. You want to make sure they are 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 the agency search on bestbear.co.uk 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' nurse.

Best bear 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 feedback@bestbear.co.uk