baby nurse...

It has come to my attention recently that "baby nurse" is a profession that is still alive and well. As anyone in my generation can imagine, I was quite surprised. If it weren't my lack of memory of having a baby nurse (story to come), I would assume it was like a wet nurse, which I assumed was a profession that died with other professions such as Civil War Confederate General.

Now, so that you will not be shocked to find this profession still exists and thus make uneducated judgments (I would never do that. haha) I will sit my child in front of Noggin (it's like preschool...on TV) with his Easy-Mac lunch (don't judge, you know you like it too) and put my to-do list aside for the sake of research.

The last time the words "baby nurse" were heard was in telling a story about when I was about to be born. The short version is that my mother and her best friend (BFF) were pregnant at the same time. I was due in December, Chad (the bff's son) was due in January. My mom had lined up a baby nurse to do whatever baby nurses do. Well, much to my father's chagrin (competitiveness, apparently) Chad came on December 10...early. I didn't come until the 17th. Apparently in the week after Chad is born, BFF stole the baby nurse. That is right. I was deprived of the baby nurse experience, as was my mother and father. However, BFF and BFF's Husband and Chad really enjoyed her. While it is still vague on what she did (at least to me), she apparently cooked really well and BFF's Husband was very sad to see her go.

And now, 22 (almost 23...I round up 6 months after or before a birthday) years later, the elusive baby nurse role is back.

Here is what I have found:
At first, I made quick judgments as the first googles were from NYC, California, and New Jersey.
I recanted, when I found Baby Nurses, Inc. in Charlotte. So it is not a Yankee thing or California Raisin thing.

According to California Nanny Company: " Baby Nurse is an experienced trained infant/newborn specialist who comes into your home in the first weeks of your infants life to assist Mom and Dad with the day-to-day care of their new baby. " They are also working 24 hours. However, contrary to what I thought, Baby Nurses are only there to care for and teach you about baby. They do not do housekeeping or cooking. A Doula wears more hats, as they put it, and the Doula will do housekeeping. Also according to California Nanny Company "What a Baby Nurse will do for you and your baby will be unbeatable by any family member or close friend." (marinate on that) And Baby Nurses will cost a pretty penny, but I'll let you check that one out.

Now, I wouldn't be a good researcher if I didn't check out more information on this Baby Nurse deal...

According to Baby Nurses America, they again say that Baby Nurses do not cook, but keep the nursery tidy, swaddle, offer constant support and wake up with the baby during the night, diaper, etc. Baby Nurses are not usually RNs. They are "non medical" (I think this means suped-up, super-human, grandmother type) You must provide a comfortable place for Baby Nurse (BN) to sleep (they recommend a roll away), and BN's must be fed, although they often eat whenever they want. BN can travel with you as well. You must pay for BN and her roll away cot. They add that if you are nursing the BN can bring the baby to you, ready to nurse, or you can come to it, and they are responsible for putting the baby back to sleep. That way a 3-4 hour (that must be an exaggeration?) experience at 2:30 a.m. becomes a relaxing (nothing is relaxing at 2:30 except sleeping) bonding time with your infant (I prefer bonding while sleeping or bonding during daylight hours, personally)

(I'm getting sarcastic on you...can you tell? I should be nicer. Contrary to what it sounds like, night feedings are not awful, and I actually did enjoy bonding with Wiley. But I have to be devil's advocate to this BN-thing, right?)

I will wrap this up. There is info out there on BNs if you google it. It seems that they can come for as little (7 days) or as long (6 mos) as you want. They also can help out with multiples.

My lasting thoughts to an altogether too long post on BNs: I will withhold a black or white judgment as I was lucky to have a sweet newborn on a fabulous schedule and 2 very wise grannies to tell me what in the world to do with this child; however, newborns are hard work--they don't do very much, so you are not really getting any interaction (Baby Einstein and Barney do not count as personal interactions) at first. If I had a colic-y baby I might be singing a different song regarding extra help. If I had a baby with special needs, I would be singing a different song; If I had multiples, again, I'd be singing a different song. (Speaking of which...Angelina Jolie-look-alike-Baby-Mama-with-far-too-many-kiddos-for-anyone-to-keep-their-sanity had baby nurse(s?)...she fired them, but I'm not sure why. And if I had 14 kids I would have multiple BNs).

Obviously, it depends on what you are comfortable with, where you live, etc. but as for me, I think I would like a MN (a Mama Nurse) who would put me to bed, feed me, clean my living space, and entertain me. And then maybe I would get W. a TN (Toddler Nurse who will magically make tantrums disappear and potty training happen).

Okay, that is all. I am really hoping I don't offend the BN's out there or the BN Employers. Do you have a BN? Do you know someone who has a BN? Do you ever want to read a post this long about BNs?

(and to whom inspired this post, you had better leave me a comment...hehe)