Let’s hear what Malin – our head midwife has to say about her job!
What made you decide to be a midwife?
I always knew I wanted to work with something that involves interacting with people, coaching, teaching and caring, so the choice of education was easy for me, my goal was to become a pediatric doctor, but the road was too long at that time. There is also a vast variety in my job as a community midwife which is important to me as I know I have the tendency to get a bit fidgety if still for too long! Also, my passion for babies is unlimited.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
Every day is a different day for me and that’s how I like it, every baby and Mum have their own requests and as a result of that, every day I learn something new, I learn a new skill and I am often tested, this is something that humbles me, and that suits my personality perfect!
Is there a typical Career path for a midwife?
I would say no, Midwifes comes in all shapes with different backpacks filled up with different experiences, I have worked as a barista, hotel receptionist, waitress, ski instructor, personal assistant, anesthetic nurse, pediatric ward, before I started my career as a midwife.
What are the tricky parts with your job?
With the great happiness of having a baby also comes the underlying knowledge that not all childbirths will go as planned. Part of a midwife’s role is to support families through difficult times, such as having a sick child, a mother going through a hard baby blues or maybe even developed a postnatal depression, you need to use all of your senses and abilities to create useful tools for the families that they can use in order to make things easier or better.
What is the strangest/funniest/best experience you’ve had training to be a midwife?
Well that must be when I was working in labour room and we delivered an albino baby with white hair for an Emirati family in Dubai, the grandma looked at the baby and looked at me and said – mashalla he looks just like her, and she touched and smelled my hair constantly.
Informative morning with Nightingales lead midwife Malin. An event for new mums to be, where you can ask all the questions related to pre and post birth and learn more on how Nightingale can support you on your journey through motherhood. Held in the beautiful Alma café in the gold and Diamond Park with delicious treats and goody bags for everyone.
There are so many things to consider when caring for a newborn baby. The professional assistance of a maternity nurse will help you through the new experience.
The first months of becoming a new parent are all at once exciting and daunting. There are few things in life to compare to the pure joy of bringing your child home for the first. There are also so many things to consider when caring for a newborn baby. Throw in a perpetual lack of sleep or a difficult birthing experience and you might want to consider enlisting the professional assistance of a maternity nurse or midwife.
What is a Maternity Nurse?
A professional, qualified, registered nurse or midwife specializes in care for newborn babies and postnatal mothers. A maternity nurse provides nurturing, professional support, care and education for new parents on how to care for their newborn baby. They also provide parents the opportunity to rest and recover from the birth of their child.
A maternity nurse or maternity midwife is a knowledgeable, experienced, DHA registered healthcare professional who specializes in providing fundamental advice, support, care and relief to parents and newborn babies. They help ensure the first few weeks with a new baby are a smooth, comfortable, relaxed and highly delightful experience for everyone involved. Their assistance provides parents valuable time to rest and recover from the birth of their bundle of joy. They empower new parents to feel comfortable and confident in their ability to care for their new baby once the maternity nurse leaves.
Duties of a Maternity Nurse
Maternity nurses and midwives perform a wide range of duties aimed at providing relief and comfort for parents and their new baby. Based on your specific needs and requirements, they can provide care and observation 24-hours a day.
In the case of premature birth, you can request a nurse that has been trained in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). These specialized nurses are experts in providing the specific care required for nurturing a premature baby.
Maternity nurse duties:
DHA registered maternity nurses and midwives provide fundamental advice and guidance about feeding, bathing, clothing, and establishing routines and sleep habits for newborn babies. They also physically perform all of these duties with you, addressing all of your questions and concerns.
For those mothers breastfeeding, maternity nurses will observe, encourage and advise on breastfeeding, as well as provide breast care in the event of a mild complication (such as a clogged duct).
For those mothers bottle-feeding, maternity nurses help ensure all feeding equipment is clean, sterilized and ready for use day and night.
Maternity nurses check on the baby’s well-being and growth and assist with mother’s post-natal recovery (to include post-circumcision care).
Maternity nurses will care for your baby, allowing you time to rest and recover, to include feeding, bathing, changing nappies and soothing the infant when they cry.
For those families with big brothers and sisters, maternity nurses also help integrate the new baby into the family, providing a smooth transition into the new family environment.
Night time maternity nurses and midwives, help establish essential sleep routines for the baby. They wake during the evening to feed and change the baby, allowing the parents to experience a good night’s sleep.
Types of In Home Maternity Care
Each family has their own unique needs, requirements, and schedules. Depending on your circumstances, a maternity nurse can come during the day or night. In some cases the maternity nurse can live with your family during the duration of their contract, providing 24-hour care and assistance after the baby is born.
Daily Maternity Nurses: can work up to 12 hours a day; up to six days a week. Daily maternity nurses are an ideal option for families unable to provide live-in accommodations for their maternity nurse.
Night-only Maternity Nurses: work during the night and early morning hours, up to 6 days a week. They provide essential relief and support for parents who are looking for extra sleep or for those situations where the baby is frequently waking during the night.
Live-in Maternity Nurses: reside in your home, in their own living quarters. They provide round the clock care and assistance for new parents and their baby.
Is a Maternity Nurse the Same as a Maternity Nanny?
No. While some of the duties performed by a maternity nanny are similar to that of a maternity nurse or midwife; a maternity nanny is not a registered medical professional. Maternity nurses and midwives are DHA registered and medically trained to care for postnatal mothers and their newborn babies. They are trained to administer medications, treat postpartum depression, provide advice on breastfeeding and much more. A maternity nanny is simply an in-home childcare provider without medical training.
Regardless of whether you require a maternity nurse a few hours a day, during the night or around the clock, Nightingale Home Nursing has a plan that will fit your needs. We take pride in knowing that our DHA registered nurses and midwives provide parents with the nurturing support and care they need to rest easy knowing their newborn will be cared for by a professional, experienced, licensed nurse or midwife in the comforts of their home. Contact the Registered Maternity Nurses and Midwives at Nightingale to learn more about how we can help you welcome your new baby!
