A good place for an inexperienced Maternity Nurse to gain self-confidence is the OCN Practitioner’s run by Maternity Nanny Training or the Post Natal Care/ Maternity Nursing Course with N.E.S.T. These are great courses that arm you with the theory and knowledge to help you get started. It will also give you vital information regarding Cot Death Guidelines. These courses are not essential but we have noticed that those who have completed it, make a really good start to their career and often find work much faster than those that don’t.

Advice to Former Nannies and Nursery Nurses

As you may not have had the chance to support a breastfeeding mother, you may feel you need to focus on understanding breastfeeding in more depth. A great book to start with is: ‘Best Feeding - getting Breastfeeding right for you’ by Mary Renfrew, Chloe Fisher, Suzanne Arms. This book has excellent photographs which clearly show how to approach feeding and most importantly, how to latch the baby onto the breast. A badly latched on baby is the most common cause for sore, cracked and bleeding nipples; get this right and you could make the difference between a painful experience and a very fulfilling one.

Another addition to your skills is the ability to view the mother and baby as a complete package. In previous roles, your duties may have revolved solely around the child/baby. Now you will need to consider imparting your knowledge to the mother as well. Particularly for a first time mother, you will need to teach and assist them to build their confidence in their ability to care for the baby. Consider the well being of both - making sure both are feeding/ eating correctly and resting enough.

Advice to Former Midwives and Nurses

Having worked with mothers within the first few days following the birth, Midwives and Paediatric Nurses will have good working knowledge of how to support breastfeeding mothers and are good at supporting demand fed babies. However, one of the main reasons a client will ask for help, is to get the baby into some kind of schedule (many clients are working mothers who need to return to work 3 months after the birth) and building up some knowledge and experience of this will be a great asset.

The approach to a routine varies greatly from the most gentle breastfeeding routines from Tracey Hogg’s ‘The Baby Whisperer’, to much more structured routines from Gina Fords ‘Contented Little Baby’.
We would urge you to read both books as they are the most widely read and each has a lot to recommend them.


Of course, it is not necessary to follow either of these routines to the letter - rather you can use them as a base to create a routine that works for you, the mother and the baby.

The best approach is to sit down at the beginning with the family and discuss their lives and daily routine. Make sure the timings fit with their schedules – for example, does the father want to be involved in the evenings and so on. Use your common sense and make the family feel they have been fully consulted. These small points will make a big difference to the reference you receive at the end of your booking.

Duties With The Baby

You will be expected to do everything to care for the baby and its’ clothes, advise on breastfeeding, help implement a routine, teach the mother (and father) all she needs to know about the baby and make sure the baby is healthy and happy at all times. If you are at all concerned about the child, always advise the client to seek appropriate medical advice. NEVER offer a ‘home diagnosis’ or ‘home remedies’ as this is often a huge cause of anxiety for parents.
Don’t forget, you are also responsible for looking after the nursery and ensuring that it is kept clean, tidy and well prepared.

Conduct and Advice When You Are In a Booking

Please consider all the following points:

• It is important that you are observant of family structures/routines
• Assess requirements of individuals in the family
• Be professional at all times - remember you are there to make a positive difference and not to be a burden
• Be supportive to the mother
• Be respectful and remember that you are living in someone else’s home - keep the nursery tidy and organised; keep your own space tidy; make your bed/change the sheets on your bed before going off duty; don’t leave dirty clothes/ underwear lying on the nursery floor (this has been known); don’t leave your dirty cup/plate in the sink for someone else to clear up after you
• Remember you are not only flying the flag for yourself but also for Eden Maternity.
• Be happy – even when you feel tired!
• Be helpful and pro-active - there may be other things you could help with around the house
• Be confident and positive about your work. Always explain why you do things in a certain way, but be flexible
• Remember your role is also an educational one, to help equip parents to care for their babies once you have gone
• Approach your work as a place of constant learning - each job will be different. Ask the professionals questions and remember to call on them should you have any concerns for you charges, or even if you don’t, but the parents do
• Be prepared and think ahead. Many parents find coming home with a new baby/ babies very daunting. Plan the feeding schedules, think about pre-term babies and the special care and equipment they may require. Parents feel more relaxed when things are organised and they know what is required of them

Recording Your Work

All-important is a clear routine for yourself and a record of the day’s routine for the baby.

Keep a record of feeding times: - quantity of milk consumed, whether breast or bottle, length of time for breast feeding and so on.

• Record any poos & wees, vomits and medication given, as well as the quantity and time administered and if appropriate, also take note of their temperature. (Remember that if you are giving medication, parents will need to have signed a consent form allowing you to do so)
• Record observations in a ‘routine’ notebook. The front could hold details such as: birth details, weight, how the baby is being fed and so on. Make a note of any changes in the child’s behaviour and new milestones of development
• Keep an easily accessible list of important telephone numbers: e.g. the parents contact numbers, Paediatrician, GP, midwife, health visitor, and also your mobile number and details. Make sure the parents help you keep this record up to date .

Allowing Plenty of Family Time

This seems like common sense, but from feedback we have received, it is clearly not obvious to all maternity nurses,. Having a new baby can throw a family into turmoil and some new fathers can feel jealous and resent the new baby/babies. The mother may spend hours feeding and caring for the baby and the father can feel hopeless and left out. Also, having a maternity nurse 24/6 can be a great intrusion on a couples’ privacy. You should therefore encourage as much parental time together as possible. Don’t outstay your welcome in the evening; be considerate in your TV viewing (if you have the time to watch it). Encourage parents to have an evening out whilst you are still in the booking.

Main Causes of Tension

To be successful, all relationships need work and a little give and take on all sides. This is no different for a maternity nurse’s relationship with the client, so we thought it would be helpful to highlight the things that can possibly cause tension:

• A maternity nurse’s behaviour and attitude towards the baby. e.g. some can takeover completely and make the parents feel redundant.
• A lack of integration of the baby into the family.
• A maternity nurse’s constant use of the kitchen/cooking and not cleaning up afterwards.
• Not cooking/offering to cook/help a mother who has had a caesarean section or is unwell.
• Too much sleeping and TV watching.
• Not being able to/or bothering to communicate important information to the parents.
• Not knowing what the maternity nursing duties are.
• Not being pro-active and carrying out duties without always being asked.
• Leaving a family no better off for your being there.
• Leave a care plan for the parents and a chart/list of the developmental observations of the baby whilst you were there)
• Lack of communication whilst on the job. Be tactful – say what you think should be going on and then ask parents what they think.
• Not being organised, clean and respectful.

Above all you MUST remember that you are in somebody else’s house AND that you are there in a professional capacity and being paid.

Resolving Issues

Make sure you deal with things swiftly in order to nip them in the bud:

• Be firm and polite and talk to the parents about the situation
• Speak to your agency contact, they can act as a third party and may be able to help diffuse the situation
• Be flexible and remember that it is not always about what you want to do for the babies, but what is workable for the parents once you have gone. You are there to help them best achieve that
• Be prepared to say sorry, clear the air and start again
• If a situation is irreconcilable you may all come to the conclusion that it would be best for you to leave and for the agency to replace you.

Your Appearance and Presentation

• It is best to have a separate set of clothes for work; - smart, lightweight washable trousers and a washable top.
• Remember when you come on duty to change into your work clothes and wash your hands. Try not to handle newborns or premature babies in clothes you have travelled in and been wearing in public places.
• Tie your hair back if it is long, for hygienic purposes and so that you look presentable.
• Remember your pyjamas and don’t wear skimpy shorts or tight fitting low neckline tops. Just remember the type of signals you are giving out.
• It is useful to carry a proper nursing uniform and give the parents the option of you wearing it.
• Above all present yourself appropriately and professionally.

General Advice

If you have decided to become a maternity nurse, be certain you know what to expect. Be prepared to work hard and acknowledge the sleepless nights involved. Be confident in your knowledge of newborns, their personal care, breastfeeding, minor ailments and the signs of major ones. Give yourself plenty of opportunities to read around the subject, be informed with current knowledge and have books on hand for reference, both for yourself and parents. Learn about proven and new products and the companies providing them.

This is a wonderful job, full of happy moments. You are a privileged addition to a family at an amazing time, but which can be full of overwhelming joy and many fears. You can help new parents become confident, loving, positive parents. As parents and carers, we are investors in people. Babies who have positive, loving input with good sensory and physical stimulation and good routines become more confident, loving and caring adults. Your role as a maternity nurse is far reaching. You have the ability to change a child’s life and to help make better parents. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone more experienced than you. Don’t be afraid to say you got something wrong. We are all constantly learning. Remember to leave knowing that you have done a good job, have given of yourself and are leaving the family enriched and better equipped to cope by having spent time with them. You should be able to leave a family knowing that if you turned up on their doorstep, they would open the door and welcome you back. You will then know your job has been well done.

One final point to consider is insurance, you will need to be covered in case of an accident. You might like to look at a company called Morton Michel who can cover you for £60 a year. For more advice and information you can contact them on 0845 2570 900.

Good Luck!

Compiled by the Eden Maternity Team.
Please contact Vanessa Willimott for further help and advice on 01460 242 685