Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

good/bad experiences of employing a maternity nurse?

16 replies

silvermum · 02/07/2008 19:43

i'm thinking of taking on a maternity nurse for our second LO and would be interested in tips from anyone else who's used one. this would be a huge cost for us so i want to think carefully about whether it is worth it and for how long we might have her for. i have no family nearby and managed pretty much by myself first time round with la few hours help from a postnatal doula and lots of help from DH but it was really tough and i had no chance at all to recover from a very long traumatic labour and birth. needless to say it was absolutely worth it and i'm sure it will be much easier second time round, but the thought of someone helping with the nights is very appealing. obviously a mat nurse is a massive luxury and we are lucky even to be able to consider it. my DS will be 20 months old when the LO comes along.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

tyaca · 02/07/2008 19:48

my SIL had a live in MN from 3 weeks to 3 months. it was her first child and i know she found it enormously helpful - i was quite ... not so much at the sharing of the workload but at someone telling her what to do! also helped her to get thru BF those first few weeks when the consultants were telling her to FF cause her dd was losing weight. based on her experiences, i'd do it in a shot. she's still in touch with the nurse (dd now 7months) and i know it been invaluable. if you've got the money go for it i say, i would have done

Original poster

silvermum · 02/07/2008 19:58

we def couldn't afford 3 months but perhaps six weeks....i think it would be brilliant. feels like a bit of a cop out since i now know what i'm doing more than the first time but...the thought of actually getting some sleep in those first weeks ...at the time you're going through it you'd pay anything for the break

OP posts:

margoandjerry · 02/07/2008 19:59

I had a nighttime nat nurse because I had phlebitis (leg problems) after birth and I was very immobile. It was a real help and I would do it again now that I have a toddler to look after too.

spottedandstriped · 02/07/2008 20:01

I had a maternity nurse - very good experience. We don't have family near to and I knew v little about babies. It particularly helped as I had c-section.

CaraLondon · 02/07/2008 20:05

Loved my maternity nurse, even though she was a bit too chatty when I was so tired. I only had mine for two weeks, but it was so worth it.

Just book yours early - to give you a chance to interview and also not to pay the "emergency" rates.

CaraLondon · 02/07/2008 20:05

Loved my maternity nurse, even though she was a bit too chatty when I was so tired. I only had mine for two weeks, but it was so worth it.

Just book yours early - to give you a chance to interview and also not to pay the "emergency" rates.

Original poster

silvermum · 02/07/2008 20:23

caralondon, are you based in London? how did you find her and would you recommend her personally? i quite like the idea of chatty. my DH not chatty enough!

OP posts:

margoandjerry · 02/07/2008 20:40

Cara wonder if we had the same one...

kitstwins · 02/07/2008 21:35

Had one for first twelve weeks (booked for 8 and then we extended) for my twins. Expensive beyond belief but I have no family, had utterly shIte caesarean and aftermath and it was AMAZING. Got me through and she was fab - I love her like a sister for how she looked after us.

If you can afford it, I say do it. Even for the first two weeks just to get some sleep and to take the pressure off. If I ever had another baby I'd have a maternity nurse again (prob for just four weeks at absolute most). This time I'd know what I was doing (I was absolutely clueless and shellshocked first time around) but the extra pair of hands and the ability to catch up on sleep would be an amazing prospect.

Good luck.
Kx

slinkiemalinki · 02/07/2008 23:29

We thought quite carefully about it for #1 - have known a lot of people have them. Mixed reports. But my mum is fab and came for a week, I had a decent birth, and have a lot of cleaning/washing/ironing help anyway. So I would just not want a stranger living in my pocket for all that time. In retrospect I am very glad I didn't do it - think it would have driven me mad. I know one girl who had her mum and a MN for 6 weeks and it was a case of too many cooks, she said. If it would be a significant cost for you why don't you look into a night nanny? I know people who've had these 3-5 nights a week, it takes the pressure off without being quite so intrusive, and is cheaper than full time.

spottedandstriped · 03/07/2008 18:29

As you already have a toddler, MN may be useful to make sure you spend enough time with him and to make sure he doesnt feel excluded by arrival of the baby

phraedd · 05/07/2008 16:40

a night nanny is often a similar price as a maternity nurse and they offer different services.

If you are happy to have someone living in your home, them a maternity nurse is very cost effective!

You could have a night come on 3 or 4 nights a week and a few hours during the day to make life easier on you without the "I have lost all of my privacy" aspect.

I am a night nanny (amongst other things!).

Feel free to email me if you'd like some help and advice or even just to "chat" about any concerns or worries you may have!

[email protected]

Original poster

silvermum · 05/07/2008 18:05

thanks paula, i've had a look at your website. it's a shame you're not london based, you sound wonderful! i will look into the night nanny option. our flat is quite small so it might end up being a better option than having someone living in for a long period.

OP posts:

phraedd · 06/07/2008 11:20

where abouts in London are you? If you are north London, I can be accommodating

If you need someone to talk to about anything, feel free to get in touch and I will do my best to help

Original poster

silvermum · 06/07/2008 21:21

thanks phraedd, we're in barnes i'm afraid. (SW13)

OP posts:

slinkiemalinki · 07/07/2008 11:39

If you're interested, a friend used this agency twice and was very happy - she interviewed the candidates both times [http://www.sleepingbabies.co.uk/services/]

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread