Both Midwives and Maternity Nurses play vital roles in ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and their newborns, yet their responsibilities and areas of expertise differ significantly.
Understanding these differences can help expectant and new parents make informed decisions about the care and support they need during pregnancy, childbirth, and the early months of their baby’s life.
In this blog, we will explore the distinct roles of maternity nurses and midwives, highlighting how each contributes to the journey of parenthood in unique and complementary ways.
Midwives
A midwife is responsible for the care of the mother during pregnancy, labour, and immediately after birth. Midwives monitor the health of both mother and baby, recognise signs of complications, and perform necessary procedures during and after childbirth. Whether a woman plans for a home birth or a hospital birth, midwives ensure consistent prenatal care. They assess the health and well-being of the mother and baby, and if emergencies arise, they provide necessary interventions.
Typical Duties of a Midwife
- Examining and monitoring pregnant women.
- Assessing care requirements and creating care plans for mother and baby.
- Providing antenatal care in hospitals, homes, and GP practices.
- Conducting screening tests.
- Offering information, emotional support, and reassurance during pregnancy and after birth.
- Taking patient samples, pulses, temperatures, and blood pressures.
- Caring for and assisting women in labour.
- Administering medication, injections, and intravenous infusions during labour.
- Monitoring the baby during labour.
- Advising and supporting parents in the daily care of their newborn.
- Maintaining accurate records.
- Identifying high-risk pregnancies.
Maternity Nurses
A maternity nurse is a professional who guides new parents through the initial stages of parenthood, building their confidence and supporting them as they adjust to life with a newborn. They listen to your needs and provide a bespoke service to help both you and your baby settle into your new routine. With extensive experience, maternity nurses assist with feeding (both breastfeeding and bottle feeding), bathing, changing, and settling the baby, as well as taking care of the baby’s laundry and nursery.
Families may choose to hire a maternity nurse for various reasons, such as being first-time parents or having experienced a traumatic birth.
Typical Duties of a Maternity Nurse
- Providing advice and overseeing feedings with parents.
- Bathing, changing, and settling the baby.
- Organising the baby’s laundry, nursery, and equipment.
- Establishing a feeding and sleeping routine for the baby and mother.
- Monitoring the baby’s weight gain, growth, and development.
- Offering emotional support to the parents and family during the transition.
- Ensuring confidence in parents regarding handling and bathing the baby.
- Preparing bottles and sterilising feeding equipment if bottle feeding.
- Observing and advising on breastfeeding, and resettling the baby post-feed.
- Providing support for distressed parents or those experiencing postnatal depression.
Key Differences
- Scope of Work: Midwives support mothers through pregnancy, labor, and the immediate postpartum period, while maternity nurses assist parents and newborns in the first few months at home.
- Settings: Midwives work in hospitals, midwifery-led units, and expectant mothers’ homes as part of a medical team. Maternity nurses typically work privately within a family’s home.
- Focus: Midwives handle medical care and complications during pregnancy and birth. Maternity nurses focus on day-to-day care and settling the family into life with the newborn.
In summary, midwives provide medical support during pregnancy and childbirth, ensuring the health and safety of both mother and baby. Maternity nurses offer practical and emotional support at home, helping parents navigate the early months of their baby’s life and fostering a smooth transition into parenthood.
