A Maternity Nurse can help provide a smooth introduction to new parents and their baby into family life. A maternity nurse has a wealth of experience to offer first time parents and can be a great source of help and advice, not only about the development and well being of the baby, but also that of the new mother. Maternity nurses, encourage parent's involvement and confidence in handling their new baby and promote a positive relationship between other siblings and the new addition.

A maternity nurse should understand the impact of a baby's arrival on new parents, and offer advice on the mother's diet and rest. The nurse will also help in establishing and maintaining breast-feeding, or offer advice about bottle-feeding and help establish a workable feeding and sleeping routine.

Maternity Nurse Duties

General duties: As well as advising on, and helping new parents with feeding their baby, a maternity nurse is responsible for all the physical needs of the baby. This will include bathing, changing and settling the baby, as well as taking care of the baby's laundry, equipment and nursery.

Duties with bottle fed babies: The maternity nurse is responsible for preparation of all the milk feeds and ensuring all bottles and feeding equipment is clean and sterilised during the day and night. The maternity nurse is responsible for feeding the baby, day and night and establishing a good feeding and sleeping routine as discussed with the parents.

Duties with breastfed babies: The maternity nurse should observe the mother when she is feeding during the day and night and be able to offer advice where necessary on helping her maintain breast-feeding, and establishing a good feeding and sleeping routine. After feeding, the maternity nurse should take the baby and resettle it during the day and night.

Rest: A maternity nurse is expected to be on duty for 24 hours and will therefore get very tired from broken sleep, especially after a night with a fretful or unsettled baby. It is important that the nurse has time to rest and take breaks so that she can remain professional and effective at all times. The maternity nurse should be given a chance for a 2-3hour break during day, which will be made by arrangement with the family and if appropriate they can leave the house during that time off.

Accommodation: The maternity nurse may share the baby's room or have her own room. Either way, the room must be kept clean and tidy at all times. There may be a separate bathroom for the nurse or she may share a bathroom with the baby and/or other siblings. All meals will be provided for a maternity nurse during a booking.

Food: The maternity nurse will be expected to cook her own meals and clean up after herself. If eating with the family, she should offer to help with either the preparation or the clearing up afterward and not expect the family to do all of this for them. It is not the duty of the maternity nurse to cook for the family, however if the mother is breastfeeding or recuperating from a c-section the maternity nurse should be sensitive enough to bring the mother a snack/lunch and make sure she is maintaining her fluid intake.

Time off: Maternity nurses are booked for a 6-day week and are on call 24 hours a day. The nurse should have 24 hours off every 7th day and can either arrange to stay at the house with no duties at all during the time or leave completely for the day off.

Salary: Maternity nurses are all self-employed and are therefore responsible for their own income tax and National Insurance contributions in Britain.

Salary Guide:
Maternity Nanny - £660-840 per week gross for 6 days 24 hours
1 baby £780 - £900pwg
Twins £950 - £1200pwg
Triplets £900+ pwg
[Salary according to age and experience.]

A nurse will receive 50% of her gross weekly salary from the day she is booked until she begins work. The nurse should be on call at this time and begin her booking upon request.

Communication with parents: A maternity nurse should always discuss every aspect of the babies care and development with the parents. If the nurse has any concerns about the baby or the baby becomes ill the nurse should inform parents and a doctor/ paediatrician immediately. The nurse should always know the whereabouts of the parents and their contact details and ensure she has the necessary contact details at hand at all times. The maternity nurse should keep a record of all feeds and should encourage the family to continue with this record on her day off.

Interviewing: Due to the nature of their work, it can at times be difficult for a maternity nurse to attend interviews. We would therefore suggest an initial telephone interview, followed by a meeting at a time convenient to both parties. If the nurse is required to travel to an interview from another town or city they may ask to have their interview expenses reimbursed. This will be discussed and agreed upon prior to the interview.

Booking a nurse: If a maternity nurse is booked, Eden Maternity will request confirmation information from the employer regarding: the booking, start date, length of booking and weekly salary. Written confirmation can be sent by fax or post or confirmation by e-mail is fine and must be sent to Eden Maternity to secure the booking. Some nurses may request a retainer from the employer and this would be by arrangement between the nurse and employer and the retainer would be deducted from the nurse's first weeks salary.

Maternity Nanny: Will work to fulfil the same role as a maternity nurse, although they may have less experience.. They should however be proactive at finding the answers and be a good team player. Maternity Nannies are an excellent choice for mothers who already have older children and are looking for support with both the older siblings and the new baby. Maternity Nannies have a muck in attitude and will be more helpful with the whole family. They will need a break in the day if they are covering the nights with the baby and the days with the older children.

Night only maternity nurse: Night maternity nurses may live in but usually live out and will work for up to six nights per week. They specialise in getting particularly wakeful babies to sleep through the night and are great for confident parents who are looking for extra sleep. They can work between 10 – 12 hours a night and can come to you between 1 – 6 nights a week.

Daily maternity nurse: Daily maternity nurses generally live out and usually work between 10 and 12 hours per day up to six days per week. Daily maternity nurses are ideal for families who have limited space or who prefer not to have someone living in, but still feel they need the benefit and the experience a maternity nurse can offer.

Introduction fee: The introduction of a nurse to a client by Eden Maternity is confidential and such introductions are made individually. A full fee will be charged for any nurse engaged as a consequence or resulting from an introduction by Eden Maternity, even if the introduction is made indirectly.