Maternity Nurses

[birchwoodroad]

We are London based and have had two maternity nurses who have come to stay with us to look after DD for a week long each since she was born. Both of them have been quite nervous around us (DH and I) when they arrived, and DH is convinced that they are used to going to really huge houses of very rich people, where they are basically left alone to look after a baby with no intervention from the parents.

We have a two bed flat (maternity nurse and baby in one room, and us in the other.) We also both work from home, so are around most of the time. I am also EBF-ing which means I have to be around every 4 hours or so.

This is an okay set up for a maternity nurse isn't it?

are you saying that both mn left after a week? or they were booked for a week each?

all mn are diff and obv they saw where you live, soif they agreed to work for you and signed a contract etc then i wouldnt worry about the size of your place

how old is your baby?

a mn is there to support and advise the parents in the early weeks of babies life, and used to parents being around

baby is 10 weeks old now.

No they were both contracted for a week, but they were just very nervous the whole time. I want someone who just gets on with it.

DH said he thinks it's because we live in such a small flat that they feel constantly watched

I suppose despite being hired they have to work out what kind of parent you are also. Whether you're a nervous parent who needs lots of advice or if they just need to take baby from you.
Sometimes despite paying for the help, parents can get very defence when it comes to their children, and as you are paying their wages they don't want to offend you.

why do you want a mn? to help get into routine/deal with night feeds etc

maybe you need to say to mn to 'get on with it' some take leads from parents and as you are both about maybe they dont want to tread on your toes

if you want a mn you need to try and have the same one for least 4 weeks rather then lots of diff people

As a maternity nurse I've worked in fully staffed homes to one bedroom apartments it doesn't matter a jot as you are all new parents who need support. I'd say that it is unlikely that where you live is an issue. If a MN thinks she won't be comfortable with a family or its environment then they won't accept position.

That said the first week is quite hard you have to learn how the parents work, get to know the bb and learn household rules including the invisible ones.

If you want a MN to just get on with it then make it clear at interview stage, we aren't mind readers.

If they only stay a week, it does make sense that they don't have time to get to know you, hence feel nervous around you.

Were they really experience Maternity nurses?

*experienced

our marvellous maternity nurse came to us from 4 years working in 3 really serious Hollywood royalty households, where the staff had staff. We were in a 2 bed / one bathroom flat. She mucked in like a trooper, and never once complained. A true magnificent pro. She even took turns cooking in the evening. A wonderful woman with a sense of humour that would get her through any situation.