As a mom who drove herself bonkers EBFing and not sleeping more than 3hr at a time for nine weeks while I recovered from a c-section, the ONLY way I'd have another baby would be if I could get a night nurse. I was miserably depressed and so out of it from sleep deprivation that I nearly got into wrecks on two ocassions. PPs who did it on your own, congrats, but don't pass judgement against those who need a little help. You can never know the challenge of living with a collicky baby until you experience it firsthand.

I can understand if the mother has health issues or complications from birth but I think it is one of those requirements of motherhood to get up in the middle of the night with your baby or babies. There are agencies that place night nurses so the OP should call one and ask their rates and what a night nurse can do. I doubt you are going to find someone for babysitting rates though ($15/hr).

Night nurses do not do housekeeping, that's a doula.

Anonymous wrote:Is it still helpful to have one if you plan on nursing? Because nobody can help with that part.

She could still bring the baby to you, burp the baby, diaper the baby, change clothes if necessary, etc. Depending on the nurse/situation/pay they could also do light housekeeping like folding laundry, dishes, meal prep, etc. Of course, I wouldn't expect heavy duty cleaning like scrubbing bathrooms, and you wouldn't want her running a vacuum or anything...

Truly amazing to me how none of these 'moms' can cope with parenthood!! I used to work as a night nurse (and was paid much more than $15/hr OMG!!!). Worked 7 days a week, 24hrs a day for 3 months at a time. No falling down stairs or whining from me. Then I had twins of my own and somehow managed, amazing! When you tell yourself you can't do it, well then I guess you just can't.

Is it still helpful to have one if you plan on nursing? Because nobody can help with that part.

Anonymous wrote:PP that is rude. I honestly moved in with my inlaws for nearly 2 months and didn't make it downstairs til 3pm those days bc of the shock that sleep deprivation caused me. I would've loved a night nurse!

I fell down a flight of steps because I was so tired during the first week of being a mom.

Anonymous wrote:Take care of your own baby. Except for unique situations, night nurses are ridiculous. Welcome to parenthood.

Bite Me. My oldest didn't sleep through the night until he was 17 months old. I was a zombie. I wish i had a night nurse.

My mom is currently serving as one for my sister, ha ha... my sister goes to bed and my mom takes care of baby (no matter what baby is doing - sleeping, crying, needing to be changed), and when the baby seems hungry, she brings her to my sister, then takes her back when she's done eating. If you can get the grandma kind, they're quite a good deal cheaper.

I hired one privately in March and paid $20/hour. Well worth every penny.

PP that is rude. I honestly moved in with my inlaws for nearly 2 months and didn't make it downstairs til 3pm those days bc of the shock that sleep deprivation caused me. I would've loved a night nurse!

Take care of your own baby. Except for unique situations, night nurses are ridiculous. Welcome to parenthood.

i had a night nanny. they bathe, feed, burp, diaper the baby so you can sleep.also cleaned bottle/pump stuff and folded baby laundry. Agency ranged from $20-23/hr. hired my own for $15/hr and she's better than anyone the agency sent!

varies - i paid $26 an hour. takes care of the baby in the middle of the night, so you can get sleep. that's what i needed/wanted, but other people have more complicated issues.

Just out of curiosity, how much does a night nurse in Montgomery county cost, and what exactly does a night nurse do?