• Are Maternity Nurses qualified ?
• What is normal duty?
• Who is responsible for Tax and National Insurance ?
• When should I look for a Nurse?
• How long can I book?
• Will we be met from Hospital?
• What if our baby has Special Needs? 
• How do I engage a Nurse ?
• Can I engage a Nurse for nights only?
• What are Neonatal stages?
• What is a baby Nanny?
• Will they help with the other children?
• What is the rate of pay?
• Any additional costs?
• Finders fee?

• Suggested payment scales

What is Maternity & Baby Nurses (MBNs) and what can I expect ?
MBNs are experienced infant baby care specialists who have made a career caring for newborns+. The predominant role of your Maternity & Baby Nurse, infant care, baby specialist is to provide unique expertise in all aspects of care for your new baby during the post delivery recovery period and to help initiate a routine for your newborn which can then continue upon MBNs departure.

Your MBN is engaged as a team member, a teacher, an educator and a coach (a valuable team member on loan) to both you and your spouse during this new and exciting time.

Maternity & Baby Nurse are specialised in all duties associated with the care of your newborn, including:
· Helping to establish nursing. (Breast-feeding)
· Establishing routines feeding, sleeping etc.
· Bottle sterilising etc
· Bottle feeding (if not nursing)
· Keeping a daily journal of baby's schedule.
· Re-stocking baby care products (or reminding you if so wished).
· Nursery (Baby) Duties including laundering of baby clothes, linens (hand washing where needed).
· Checking the safety, sterilisation & cleanliness of all equipment associated etc for the baby.

At all times your Maternity & Baby Nurse is working as a Team Member to help nurture and care for your baby whilst providing education for you and your family.  They will never "take over", so to speak unless they are requested to do so by you.

Are Maternity and Baby Nurses Qualified Medical Nurses ?
In general 'No'… Some MBNs may start as maternity nurses, experienced nanny/baby nanny &/or qualified nurse practitioners, or as maternity practitioners (OCN accredited award) with baby experience, but are not usually from a hospital setting.
Many of our MBNs have a medical background and bring their expertise in the field with them which may include midwives, RGNs, RSCN etc. All MBNs are highly experienced infant care specialists who are also first aid certified and hold an enhanced police disclosure.

What is the "Norm" for a Maternity & Baby Nurse to be on Duty/Work ?
The "norm" for an MBN to be on duty/available 24hrs a day for six days, with one full 24hr day off.
MBN will also occasionally need to have some "time out" (few hours sleep/rest) especially if have been up with a very wakeful night….this will only be taken/judged when you are comfortable and baby is settled.
More recently, we are receiving odd requests for bookings based on 24hrs per day for five days. Whereas both parents are actively able/want to be involved at the weekends with their baby themselves. e.g. Maternity & Baby Nurse then commencing Sunday evening & finishing Friday when spouse arrives home from work/travels.

Who is responsible for the Maternity and Baby Nurses Tax & National Insurance ?
Maternity & Baby Nurses etc. are self-employed; therefore they are required to look after their own tax and national insurance.

When should I start to look for a Maternity and Baby Nurse…Time factor?
Flexibility is a prerequisite for our infant care specialists and they are usually reserved 3-6mths+ in advance, or after you're first scan. It has been known some of our families who have the additional new sibling/s to book as soon as known to be expecting again, especially if wishing to engage the same Maternity & Baby Nurse!

How long can I book a Maternity & Baby Nurse for?
The duration of the MBN within your home differs from family-2-family … this is your decision. We do however suggest a minimum of 10 days in order for you and your new baby to receive optimum benefit of a Maternity & Baby Nurse's stay.
Usual bookings/engagements - an MBN is often booked for 4 - 6 weeks, however longer or shorter periods may also be available where, when required …. The choice is yours.

Will Maternity and Baby Nurse meet us from the Hospital ?
Yes…. It has been known for our MBNs to meet you and baby at the hospital so you all can return home together.  Some clients choose to have their MBN arrive   1 - 2 days before baby arrives home from the hospital to help get the nursery prepared.  Alternatively they may arrive after Mother and baby are at home - the choice is yours. Once baby has arrived home, your MBN will work with you to establish a routine, this will mean more rest for mummy, more time for the cuddles and love.

What if our Infant has Special Needs or is on a Monitor ?
Because of the wide range in background of our maternity and baby nurses, we will only attempt to find you a staff member who has experience with high-risk babies.
We will always conduct a search for a Maternity & Baby Nurse based upon your specific needs.

How do I Engage a Maternity and Baby Nurse etc. ?
We at Maternity and Baby Nurses will ask for your details including taking due dates, length of booking required, informing you of costs and sending out our literature, if you have not filled out Client Request.

· We will then contact you to have a chat & thereafter start to locate a prospective MBN for you. We will put you in contact with each other and where possible both of you can arrange to meet for an interview.

· The Maternity and Baby Nurse will bring their portfolios with them to the interview & we ourselves will/have also forward the MBNs application forms, documentation, references etc., that we hold on each candidate registered in our database.

If you both decide to go forward and accept each other's Terms & Conditions, booking/s etc. Maternity and Baby Nurses will then invoice you for the finder's fee.

· Top professional MBNs require a non-refundable deposit (irrespective of whether the position/booking is no longer required, regardless of circumstances) to secure the booking.  Due to the fact they will remove themselves from the market in order to guarantee you and your new baby a reserved booking for your required dates.

The remaining engagement/working salary will be paid directly to your MBN at the end of each working week/fortnightly, at the request of your MBNs as signed and agreed by both parties within the Maternity & Baby Nurses "Terms & Conditions" contract.

Can I Engage a Maternity and Baby Nurse to work Nights Only ?
Yes… we have supplied night maternity & baby nurses and/or baby nannies who are happy to work the overnight shift.. Pending availability, location etc. Often bookings are from 10pm - 7am, although other earlier starts / later finishes are considered.

As we have discussed "the norm" for an MBN is 24hrs/6days per week.  This is really about availability and location of our registered staff at that time.  If we are unable to assist you then we may be able to recommend another agency who may be able to assist you further!

What is classed as the Neonatal Stages ?
The neonate stage is a baby of 0 - 4 weeks i.e. the first four weeks after birth.

What is a Baby Nanny?
Within the childcare industry certain titles can imply different meanings.  At Maternity and Baby Nurses, we would refer to a Baby Nanny as someone who is experienced with young babies, not necessary full neonatal care, but often with a baby of 4 weeks plus.
· Some Baby Nannies have a number of baby &/or newborn experiences especially when they have worked as a live-in / daily sole charge nanny with newborns that have followed after their current charge/s.

· Some Baby Nannies have gained their experience as a Night Baby Nanny etc.

· Most Baby Nannies are waiting to get on the ladder for their 1st Maternity Booking.

At Maternity and Baby Nurses, we will only place a Baby Nanny who does not have a number of new baby experience within the confident family who are on their additional plus babies. The Baby Nanny whenever possible may help with other siblings within the family.

I have other children.  Will the Maternity and Baby Nurse also be responsible for them as well as the new baby ?
No…Maternity and Baby Nurses sole responsibility is the new baby and mother. Of course the MBN will happily involve the additional sibling/s age appropriate to … help alleviate (if any) sibling jealously etc.

What am I expected to pay a Maternity and Baby Nurse ?
Salaries vary according to the experience of the maternity and baby nurse.  This also depends upon the number of neonates, babies in their charge e.g.  multiple births.  Please see "Costs & Fees" for more information.

Are there any additional costs I am responsible for ?
Other than the finder's fee which is charged. (See info re finders fee below).
Experienced Maternity Nurses, Maternity Nanny, Baby Nanny etc., who are not local are all accustomed to having reasonable (which should be agreed in advance) traveling expenses reimbursed whether they are travelling for an interview or when commencing their engagement/booking with your family. This arrangement must be accepted or declined prior to interview with the MBN.

Sadly the odd family in the past have wasted Maternity Nurses time - we all know traveling costs soon add up and can become very expensive to both of you. After the MBN has telephoned to introduce themselves, have a chat etc … if you feel this MBN personality etc is not for your family please do not have them attend for an interview just to compare them with others. If you both are not keen…thank you but no thank you is sufficient.  If you feel it is not in your nature to say, please telephone us and we will convey the message on your behalf.

What is a Finders Fee & why is there also a booking fee charged by the agency ?

Maternity and Baby Nurses will only invoice you with a "finders Fee" which is used as a non refundable deposit when a Maternity & Baby Nurse, Maternity Nanny, Baby Nanny etc., has agreed/accepted a booking/engagement from you. (Please see** Costs & Fees)

· Booking fees, minus the already paid finders fee, will be invoiced to you 6 - 8 weeks prior to your MBNs commencing her booking/engagement dates with your family.

· Invoices must be paid in full before commencement.

The finder's fee will not be refundable if the position / engagement is no longer required regardless of circumstances.  Due to administration costs and effort that is carried out within Maternity and Baby Nurses in locating and introducing the MBNs for your position / engagement etc. 

Suggested payment scales