What is a Maternity Nurse?

A maternity nurse is a person, with or without formal qualifications, who looks after you and your baby for a few weeks after the birth.

There is no ‘one’ qualification for a maternity nurse. About 50% may not have professional qualifications but boast years of experience. The majority of the rest are NNEB’s, often with newborn experience, or have other childcare experience. Some are midwives and some specialise at working with twins

Maternity nurses’ specialise in the care of newborn infants and are on duty for 24 hours a day with one whole day off (24 hours) a week, usually Sunday, after the first week. They take naps when they can! They tend to work for a month at a time with two weeks off between assignments but they may take bookings of anything from 3 weeks to 3 months.

Maternity nurses are normally only responsible for the welfare of mothers and babies, not for the other children or for household chores. They may sleep with the baby, just bringing him/her to the mother for breast-feeding; or they may feed the baby at night with previously expressed milk or formula.

They keep their room, the nursery and baby equipment clean and are entirely responsible for the baby’s laundry. They will usually eat with the family. Their primary purpose is to give you as much rest as possible and, if this is your first baby, to help to give you confidence.

Maternity nurses are self-employed and will take care of their own Tax and National Insurance. They generally charge £750-£1,400 per week, depending on age and experience. (Twins cost more).

Early booking is vital as the best maternity nurses are highly sought after.

If you are looking for a maternity nurse to help care for you and your baby for a few weeks after the birth, Ideal Nannies can help you. Please call us on 020 8994 5888.

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