With news that Jamie and Jools Oliver employed a Night Nurse/Maternity Nanny to help support them with their fifth child, we thought we’d take a closer look at this particular type of nanny role for those interesting in either hiring one, becoming one, or finding work as one.
Explaining that sleep deprivation is “really, really hard,” Oliver said that, “it hit us hard this year, really hard, because you know we’ve got two teenagers… and you’ve got a 6 and a 7-year-old as well, and they’re up as well, so for the first time ever I’ve got a night nurse, and she started a week ago.”
This is not to say that maternity nurses are only for families welcoming their fifth child into the fold: bringing a baby home is a daunting experience whether it’s your first or your fifth - whether you’ve had a singleton or triplets - and the sleep deprivation that comes with settling a little person (or several little people) into their new surroundings can mean that other aspects of the home can suffer. With this in mind, a maternity nurse’s job is two-fold: they’re on hand to support the parents in feeding, changing, washing and settling the baby, and (especially if they’re employed during the day) they can help with other household tasks which may be neglected during baby’s first weeks or months. Bringing a wealth of experience with them, maternity nurses are also valued for the advice and strategies they can impart to parents, empowering them to feel calmer and more confident with their baby and their development. A maternity nanny can also keep an eye on the whole family’s diet during this disruptive time, making sure that breastfeeding mothers are getting the nutrition and hydration they need to make good milk, as well as making sure that everyone gets as much rest as they can.
Bottle admin alone can be a gargantuan task if you are bottle feeding a newborn as many families do: maternity nannies will keep on top of bottle sterilising and milk preparation, ensuring that areas are kept clean and orderly. If exclusively breastfeeding, maternity nurses are also trained to offer breastfeeding support – something many mothers seek out in the first few weeks of feeding their newborn.
Mothers who have had caesarean sections will need an extra layer of support during the first six weeks of motherhood, and maternity nannies are often asked to prepare meals for the mother and sometimes the whole family, especially when the mother is post-surgery. Nannies who live-in for their booking will normally prepare their own meals and dine with the family if invited to. If their booking is a 24-hour post, a bedroom will be provided if the nanny is not sleeping in the nursery with the baby, and of course rest breaks are scheduled at a time mutually agreed. Night nurses tend to arrive in the evening and leave after breakfast.
If you are interested in training as a maternity nurse, there are plenty of reputable training providers in the UK – get in touch with us and we will be happy to recommend some to you. We are always interested in adding qualified maternity nurses to our portfolio, so do get in touch with us if you’re looking for your first post or a new role.