At Executive Nannies we pride ourselves on the calibre of Maternity Nurses we are able to provide. The majority of our Maternity Nurses have been registered and working with the agency for a number of years.

The caring expertise of a Maternity Nurse is invaluable during the first stages of a newborns life. The knowledge, support and guidance that a Maternity Nurse can provide allows new parents to gain confidence with their recent addition as well as helping them to establish and maintain a solid and ongoing routine. In the case of multiple births, that extra pair of knowledgeable and experienced hands can be invaluable. For families already with children the Maternity Nurse allows the parents to get a good nights rest as well as establishing a solid routine from the onset of the baby’s life. The Maternity Nurse allows the mother to get vital rest and recuperation, leaving her more relaxed to care for and bond with her new child.

Qualifications

Within Ireland there is no single definitive qualification for a Maternity Nurse. At Executive Nannies it is more often the case that highly experienced Nannies, that have extensive experience working with newborns, make the transition into becoming Maternity Nurses in the later stage of their careers. We also have RGN’s and midwives on our books that have chosen Maternity Nursing as their career path.

Their Role

A Maternity Nurse will help the transition into parenthood to run as smoothly as possible. She is there to care for both mother and baby from the time they leave the hospital. The Maternity Nurse will assist in establishing a suitable routine for the baby and is able to advise on all aspects of care, hygiene, feeding and sleeping. If the mother intends to breast-feed the Maternity Nurse will encourage, support and assist in this. If the mother intends to bottle-feed the Maternity Nurse will take responsibility for this during her stay.

Length of Stay

The length of stay of a Maternity Nurse is dependent on many factors, such as first time parents, multiple births to special care mothers or babies. Maternity Nurses work a 12-hour night shift from 8pm-8am or similar hours convenient to you. Maternity Nurses can also be booked for 24-hour care. Bookings for maternity night cover can start anywhere from 3 nights and the usual booking is for 3-4 weeks for full 24 hour cover. Bookings can be extended to 3-4 months depending on individual needs and the Maternity Nurse employed. Maternity Nurses can work between 1-6 nights a week and are entitled to a full 24 hours off during a 7-day period.

Salaries

Maternity nurses are self-employed and are responsible for their own tax and insurance. Maternity Nurses are paid hourly and the rate is dependent on the number of babies.

Agency Fees

Booking a Maternity Nurse

As many of our Maternity Nurses are booked for months in advance, early bookings are strongly advised, i.e when the expectant mother is 3-4 months pregnant in order to allow sufficient time for interviewing and to avoid disappointment. It is also advisable not to prolong the process of booking your Maternity Nurse as their availability can change at short notice. In the event of an overdue baby, the Maternity Nurse should be retained on 50% of the agreed salary from the original date of the booking in order to secure her services.