Nursery World - All about the role of ... Maternity nurse

With little or no experience of the emotional and physical demands of their new roles, first time mothers and fathers often find their parental responsibilities to be a considerable challenge.

Second and subsequent births present additional demands. Employing the services of a maternity nurse helps to make the transition into parenthood much smoother and has a positive impact on the way that mothers feel.

Maternity nurses (MN), also known as post-natal carers, newborn care specialists or maternity practitioners, are non-medical specialists who work within the field of newborn baby care and the care of post-partum mothers. An MN helps the mother from the time she leaves hospital until both mother and baby are settled into a routine at home - a period of around four to eight weeks. Depending on the agreed contract, working hours are 24 hours a day (with negotiable rest periods), five or six days a week. Some work days only or nights only.

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