A Maternity nurse provides total care for mother and baby. She advises on breast feeding and any problems arising from it, teaches first time mothers how to bath and become comfortable around baby, helps establish a routine and provides moral support for the mother when she most needs it.

The maternity nurse will deal with all the baby's laundry, sterilize bottles and prepare light meals for the mother if she is not up to it.

The maternity nurse should involve any other children in the house with the baby but shouldn't be expected to look after other siblings - she is there primarily for the care of mother and baby.

Maternity nurses earn anything from £500 + per week. (It can be even more for twins).

Daily maternity nurses earn anything from £150 to £300 per day. If their services are needed only during the day or only during the night, the rates are lower.

They usually take care of their own tax and National Insurance contributions because they are self-employed.

If the baby hasn't arrived by the time the nurse is due to start work, she should be paid half pay for the first week and full pay for the second week of waiting.

Maternity nurse fees can be claimed from PPP if your nurse is an SRN (a registered midwife) and you have had a caesarean or other birth complications.

Find out how she feels about bottle vs. breast-feeding. You want to find someone who will support you in any decision you make rather than forcing you in one direction or the other.

Find out if she is a smoker.

Find out what she feels about routine. If she has a very strict routine that she likes to adhere to then make sure you're happy about it before you book her.

Find out how she works with you as a mother. You want to be a team rather than feeling pushed out by her. Remember that it is a very sensitive time.

How does she feel about you popping in to see the baby whenever you wish? You may, in the middle of the night, have an overwhelming urge to check your baby is alright and you must be able to feel that you can go to the baby's room and see your baby without upsetting your nurse.

If you want to use any special equipment such as a breathing monitor on the cot tell your maternity nurse about it before hand.

Find out what sort of emergencies your maternity nurse has had to deal with and check that her first aid is up to speed.

Think about what sort of maternity nurse you want. Some have very definite ideas about a baby's first weeks and will start encouraging routines as soon as they arrive, others are laid back and go with the flow.

Talk about the sort of problems that you might encounter during the first few weeks such as colic and reflux and ask how your nurse would help you deal with them.

The weeks after the birth are a special time for you as a family, talk to your nurse about her eating schedules and how she relaxes, you want to make sure that she is sensitive to your needs to be alone with your family and new baby.