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My role as a Maternity Nurse |
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To provide a smooth introduction to helping mum and baby settle into family life. My aim is to aide the mum’s recovery after the birth and then by allowing her plenty of rest and by providing relevant information, I will encourage mum’s involvement and help her to develop confidence in handling her new baby and promote a positive relationship between other siblings and the newborn. I will do everything possible to help baby establish a good routine, with the aim to be sleeping well through the night, although of course there can be no guarantee that he/she will be by the time I leave! If mum chooses for me to be responsible for the night feeds, then please remember that it is tiring for us maternity nurses too, and require breaks throughout the day, to include at least a 3 hour block where I am able to do sleep catch up. That usually fits in well in the morning, handing baby to mum after the night and it also enables mum to have some time alone with her baby which is so important for the bonding process and for mum to build up her confidence in being able shortly to care for her baby on her own. After all maternity nurses are not there for ever! A maternity nurse is able to provide physical and emotional support to the mum. If mum is breastfeeding then I will bring baby to mum at night for the feeds and then re-settle baby back to sleep afterwards. If this is the case the baby and maternity nurse usually share a bedroom. Some maternity nurses adopt an old fashioned approach to their role, and insist on rigid, structured routines. I am happy to be flexible and have as little or as much involvement with baby as you would like. Some mums are very unsure at first and will want everything done by the maternity nurse, others will want to be as independent as they are able to be and my role then is to be there to provide support and encouragement and be that extra pair of hands when needed. We can discuss different types of routine and I will explain the benefits and disadvantages of them with mum so that her decision about the routine for her baby is her choice and an informed one. A maternity nurse can give mum confidence and encourage her . She is there to answer questions and concerns that mum may have. Think of them as an extension to guidance and support already received from the midwives. Maternity nurses are not expected to look after siblings, but do encourage their involvement with mum and baby. |
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