What exactly is a maternity nurse?

A maternity nurse is a great help for a short (or long) period after a mother has h had her baby and left the hospital. Not only is she very tired but also, despite all her love for her child, she may feel unsure of how to handle the problems of a new baby. The maternity nurse will give the mother the confidence to cope quickly and can give the baby and mother a routine to follow to suit the family needs.

The main responsibilities of a private maternity nurse is to care for the baby and assist the mum in establishing a routine within the home environment. The duties of a maternity nurse also involve supervising and tidying the baby's room and day-to-day laundry for the baby in addition to all areas of caring for the baby.

If the mum is planning to breast feed then the maternity nurse will support and encourage this. If you are going to bottle feed then the maternity nurse will be responsible for sterilising and making up the bottles for the baby.

A maternity nurse is on call for 24 hours a day either 5 or 6 days per week. She is entitled to at least 2-3 hours free time during the day to rest or take a walk. She however is on call should you need her assistance. Her time off per week consists of one full day and one full night; during this time the maternity nurse can ask to sleep alone or take time off outside the home.

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